The Morning Tulsa daily world. [volume] (Tulsa, Okla.) 1919-1927, 1922-08-19
THE KrAN OATH DISCUSSED.

THE KHAN OATH DISCUSSED.
Mr. G. $, voorhees,. contributing to the narom.
e,er OF Public Opinion Friday suggested that
such department ought TO bo good place
20 discuss the khan oath. The space was gladly
accorded him for hs views, and the invitation
to discuss this very unusual obligation lis &C
ceptcd.
Another contributor less sincere and straight
forward than Mr. vorhces. signing himself
merely "A Republican while dlsclomng mem
bershlp in the khan confesses such rapturous
admiration FOR It and such a twans of gce at
Its demonstration Of political domination In
Tulsa county IN the recent primary as TO Justify
the suspicion that ne dlssemblcs concerning his
relationship TO the organization quite much
concerning his own Identity.
II was an unhappy coincidence that almost
at the very time these men were writing their
eulogies OF the khan OATH pointing out its un-
faltering devotion to the government and the
constitution and denying that It had ever been
guilty OF the crimes charged against 1t by
Mr.. X Y. 2. OF Hcnryetta, that the Khan should
be holding. In official garb, court" In abso-
lutte violation OF the most cherished provisions
IL the constitution and in Defiance Of that
dery government which prctcnse ia made Of
serving.
Since this court proceeding was described in
a most detailed manner by the local official
organ OF the klan and since It was specifically
stated that it was conducted by the khan, no
such academic uncertainty concerning the klans
responsibility prevails In this case as in the
hundreds OF other similar cases which have
made Tulsa notorious during the past 1S
months.
"A Republican" whose contribution appears
in the Barometer column OF this issue, lays
great stress on that portion Of the khan oath
pledgingsloyalty to law and constitutional form,
and obhgating the ncophyte to observe the man
date OF state and national authority above all
others.
An admirable provision, to be sure But un-
fortunately, actions speak louder than words.
What Is TO he said OF this obligation solemniy
assumed In the face OF such fragrant Viola
tion OF law and flouting Of constitutional pro-
visions as was practced by the khan In its mid
night court held west Of Tulsa when some half
dozen citizens had their constitutional rights
trampled under foot while the klansmen fur
ther violated law by impersonating officers OF
the law. further defcd government by taking
the punishment Of fellow citizens into their own
hands and ignoring thr legally constituted means
set zip by the people whole9
The constitution OF the United States specif-
ically says that the government and tho courts
shall presume every citizen innocent untn
proven guilty; that citizen accused of mis-
demeanor or crime shall be faced In open court
by his accusers and have the right to question
said accusers; that he shah be tried by jury
composed OF ~ peers that the verdict OF this
jury must be unanimous before such citizen
can be udJudgcd guilty. that when he is found
guilty he shall not be visited with punishment
unusually severe
For the attainment OF these rights humanity
fought for centuries, and they are essential to
the maintenance OF a just government admin
istered without forteiung the necessary free
dom and liberty Of the individual All OF these
specific rights, guaranteed TO every citzon OF
The republic by the federal constitution, which
in turn Is the corner stone OF every state SOW
ereiguty, were outraged set aside, ignored and
violated by the khan in ITS midnight court so
graphically described by IT'S local organ.
In the circumstances, then, is 1t not grotcslue-
ly absurd to stress that provision OF the organ
izauon's oath which pledges the neophyte to up
hold the constitution and obey tine mandates
OF the ciyil authorities? We submit there can
be but one answer 70 this, an instant admission
that the practice Is diametricaly opposed to
the unmistakoble wording OF the obligation.
Then how shall this be uccouuted for? In the
cath, OF course Nor do have far TO seek
1t is discovered In thai provision of the oath
which obligates the neophyte to uuquestioning
obedience to the imperial wizard both In re-
spect to law regulations orders and customs al
the time existing as well as those which may at
any future time be issued
Here is abandonment of the rights priv.
ilcges and obligations Of American citizenship
which staggers the imagination. How does Il
come that treemen an the sons of patriots vii
voluntarily pass under yoke Of complet,
vassalage to imperial system complete anC
degrading was ever imposed by the king
from which out forefathers rebelled?
And having thus foresworn themselves com