Atlanta tri-weekly journal. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1920-19??, 1922-12-12
KHAN Prosecuting
HIM, W|NDER MAN
WRITES GOVERNOR
r. L, Woodruff Says Next
Masked Man Who Stops in
Front of His Home Will Be
Shot Dead

r. L. Woodruff, one of the leading
large manufacturing and mercantile
interests at Winder, the county
Hardwick that the Ku klux Khan OF
that county is threatening him be
cause he was foreman of a grand
jury that indicted several klansmer
for night riding activities, the gov
ernor revealed Monday.
In two letters of considerable
length, the text of which the COVER
nor did not make public, Mr.. Wood
ruff asserted that the Ku Klux Klar
of that county recently held a
masked parade at night; that they
stopped in front of his home and ex
hibited some sort of symbol which
is generally understood to be a warn
ing that the khan is about to strike
that they likewise stopped and ex
hibited the same symbol in front OF
the home of Duke Ross, a prominent
Winder lawyer; that he (Mr. Wood
ruff fully expects the khan to com
NIT some outrage upon him and ex
poets no protection from the local
authorities; that he has served notice
that the first man who stops in front
of his home again in mask will
be shot dead.
On the day after the khan parade
Mr.. Woodruff further stated, a
luncheon was held in Winder and he
knew it was to be attended by
klansmen, and he accepted an invi.
tation to be present and speak on
condition that he be allowed to read
a statement, and in this statement
he took a strong stand for law and
order against the methods and masks
of the khan.
Bolt Mass Meeting
On last Friday morning, he further
informed the governor, a mass meet.
Ing of citizens was held in the Bar.
row county courthouse at his call
and a resolution was introduced de.
claring for law and order, and call
ing on klansmen who believed in
law and order, and the protection OF
life and property by lawful means
and the sanCtlty of homes and the
protection oil women and children
either to stop night riding by their
khan or Withdraw from Its fellow.
ship.
The resolution, Mr.. Woodruff stat
ed, was defeated by d vote OF fifty
to thlrty-SeVen, and the men voting
against it got up and left the hall,
while the others remained and signed
their names to the resolution. Mr..
Woodruff stated that a second mass
meeting will be held in the court
house next Friday morning at 10
o'clock and second attempt made
to get it adopted.
I'VE are going to keep on until
we get a mass meeting that will
said in his letter.
Governor Hardwick explained that
there was nothing he could do under
the law unless the sheriff, or the
mayor or the superior court judge
certifieS to him that the civil au-
thorities cannot protect life and prop
erty, in which event the governor S
duty is to send the militia. The gov
ernor said he was coming to the con-
clusion that there ought to be a
state constabulary in Georgia which
could be employed on the governor s
command to protect life and property
and to preserve the public peace.
Copy of Resolutions
The resolution introduced at the
mass meeting last Friday, according
to a copy sent the governor, was
as follows:
Whereas. The practice of might
riding" by bands of masked men,
either as members of a secret order
or otherwise, and the acts that flow
from such practice, we deem to be
lawless and crime breeding, subver-
sive of laws and good order, fright
ening to women and children, dis
turbing to all elements of society.
demoralizing to labor and causing
the immigration of laborerS and
others, to the injury of farming and
business. causing men to arm them
selves for the protection of their
homes and property, leading to crime
ranging from the frightening of in
nocents to the high crimes of arson,
murder and lynchings.
Wherefore, be it resolved, That
we most earnestly condemn the said
practice of might riding" by bodies
of masked men or women and the
crimes that attend or are clOaked I'M
der such practice.
THAT we deplore the crimes that
have been committed by masked
men in our community, our state
and country, either under the pre-
tense of lawful warrant, or of regu-
1ating the conduct of individuals
and the community.
THAT we call upon all officers of
the law to redouble their efforts to
apprehend all violatOrs of the law
pIedging them our united and indi-
Vidual assistance at all times.
Demands CnmaSking
"That we call upon all officers of
the law who have taken any Obli'
cation in a secret order or other.
wise, by which they are bound to
protect or connive at infractions
of the law by any one, in violation
Of the constitution and laws of the
state and the United States, to either
withdraw from such order or to re.
sign from office.
THAT we call upon our law max
ers, both city and state to enact
such leg. Station as will make it a
crime for masked bodies of men or
women to be and appear on our
streets and thoroughfares
That we call upon all good citi.