Atlanta tri-weekly journal. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1920-19??, 1922-10-05
IMPERIAL WIZARD.
T. Y. CLARKE, QUITS
As HEAD Of KHAN
Wizard Says Work Has Been
CompIeted-Desires to Re-
Iinquish Temporary Au-
thority to Col. Simmons

Edward Young Clarke, imperial
wizard pro tenn. of the Knights Of
the Ku Klux Khan, on Wednesday
announced his withdrawal from all
official connection with the order,
to take effect November 10.
Notice of Mr.. Clarke's intention
was transmitted to the Nathan Bed
ford Forrest khan, of Atlanta, of
which he is member, at their meet
ing last Thursday night. but public
announcement was not made until
Wednesday, when the text of his let
ter to the local khan was given out.
In giving out the letter Mr.. Clarke
stated that his reasons for with
drawing from official connection
with the order were substantially as
follows:
1. AS far back as a year ago, when
the attack upon the khan was at
its height and when he was the
principal target of the attack, he an.
nounced his intention to stay in his
position until he had completed the
organization of the machine, and
that this work now has been COM
pleted and the machine is ready to
be turned over to other hands.
2. During the last week in No.
vember there will be held in Allan
ia the first national convention of
the order and at that time. it will
be necessary for the government of
the order to be in definite hands
without any pro tenn officers and he
is DESTROYS of relinquishing his tenn
porary authority to Colonel William
Joseph Simmons, the imperial wiz.
ard and founder of the order, who,
during a six-months period of rest
and recuperation, has been com,
pletely restored to health.
3. There are now pending in
the courts several cases brought by
his enemies which he could win
fighting them through to a person
al vindication, but in fighting them
he would necessarily and inevitably
damage to some extent the machine
which he has devoted so much time
and effort to building, and, there
fore, he prefers 10 eliminate himself
as a personal factor in any litiga-
ton against the khan, so that Colo
mel Simmons may take it over as a
complete machine free from. any in
ternal disturbance.
Business Needs Attention
4. His personal business affairs
are in need of more attention than
he can now give them and after he
Withdraws from the order his inten-
ton is to devote his entire time to
his business.
Mr.. Clarke stated that the Nathan
Bedford Forrest khan passed resolu
tons urging him to withdraw his
announced intention of resigning
but that his decision was final and
he so notified his loyal friends Of the
Atlanta Khan, who, he stated, have
attacks upon the khan on his ac-
SOuI16 WCl 1IlOSI OlIlSl III N1llu1SIlNO
Has Been Storm Center
Mr., Clarke, it is said, has for
several months been the storm cen
ter of attacks from a faction within
the ranks of the khan who demand
ed his resignation and had also been
the object Of a vigorous and per-
sistent fight by the so-called in
surgent klansmen, who have de-
manded his removal.
The insurgent leaders, many of
whom have been in litigation with
Mr.. Clarke and the khan, are said
to have been ousted from the khan
by Mr.. Clarke. A number of them
are said to have been former Of
ficials in the order.
A year or so ago while he was
still the head Of the cation
department of the khan and asso
GATED with Mrs. Elizabeth Tyler in
that work, the New York World con
Quoted crusade against them and
the khan, publishing many sensa
tional charges.
Despite all this opposition, a few
weeks ago Mr.. Clarke was made i'm
perial wizard pro tenn. to succeed I'm.
perial Wizard W., J. Simmons, who,
it was stated, has suffered a break
down IN health.
Mr.. Clarke's friends hailed this ac-
ton as vindication of Mr.. Clarke
and expressed the opinion that he
would soon iron out all friction with.
in the ranks ofthe khan.
However, reports of the attacks
within continued and the so-called in
surgents kept up their fight.
Whether any of this opposition
had anything to do with Mr.. Clarke's
resignation is not known.