Americus times-recorder. [volume] (Americus, Ga.) 1891-current, 1922-12-16
EXECUTIVES FAIL,
TO AGREE UPON
STATUS OF KHAN
Fifteen Governors Guests Of
President Harding At
Luncheon
SITUATION IS CANVAssED
Present Laws Urged BY Governor
Of North Carolina AS Sufi-
cient To Handle Problem

WHITE SULPHUR SPRINGS, w.
Va, Dec. 16.-Chief executives of
Is states, attending the governors
conference here, were preparing to
leave for Washington after session
following today's luncheon and a
conference with President Harding
Monday, presumably on the subject
of prohibition enforcement. Gov
o1nors Sproule an! Praus, through
whom Harding extended his invita-
ton over the telephone, said that
the president had not indicated the
subjects to be discussed.
Kansas will not drive the Ku Klux
Klan from the state by force but
will expel it by refusing to permit
it do business within the states
boundaries, Governor Allen declar-
ed in an address prepared for de-
livery today before the governors
conference. Writ is being sought in
Kansas Supreme court, he said, that
would make disappear the "blazing
AeFoss and pasture parties where men
mask themselves, put on fantastic
ceremony in an open field to terror
ibe the entire neighborhood."
With the members of the COVER
nors' conference still agitated from
a heated midnight debate on the Ku
Klux Klan, Governor Sproul, of
Pennsylvania, announced as chair
man that on action will be taken
by the state executives at their an
nual meeting either on the khan +
prohibition.
The debate, which furnished the
conference with it's first touch .of
excitement, followed a sweepink de-
nunciation of the khan by Governor
Olcott, of Oregon, and centered on
an address made by Governor Park
er, of Louisiana, in which he called
on his fellow governors that they
place themselves squarely on record
against the invisible empiie and de-
clare prohibition almost d farce.
Governor cameron Morrison, of
North CaroliAab interpreted Gov
ernor Parker's statements as ehal-
lenge to him, himself and the other
governors present to declare them
selves on the Ku Klux Klan. He OBJ
jected to this and to Governor Park
er's attack on prohibition.
81 am as strongly opposed as any,
one here to secret societies that un-
furl the banner of religious intol-
erance. So far as the khan is con-
cerned, ! do not know much about
it. l know onl yone member of the
khan in my state and he is one of
our finest, most upright citizens"
said the North Carolina executive.
''If the khan is as lawless as Gov
ernor Parker and Governor Olcott
say it is, it should be dealt with
under existing laws.
$50 far as propaganda is con-
cerned, | do not believe in meet
ing it with force, nor do l believe
in passing legislation directed against
the khan or any other secret soci-
ETY., putting forth such propaganda.
The best and only way to meet such
propaganda, in my opinion, is by
education.
]. ''Why not meet members of the
klan and argue it out with them
face to face?"
At this point overnor Kilby, of
Alabama, arose and said:
How can you argue face to face
with masked MANI" he asked the
North Carolina executive, and con-
tinuing, declared the klan and pro-
hibition were two of the TOUGHEST
subjects before the country.
Commenting on overnor Parker's
idea that the conference should pass
resolutions demanding a federal law
requiring the semi-annual registra-
ito nof all. members of secret organ
izations with the Department of JUS
tice, Governor Morrison declared he
was opposed to the governors reso:-
luton.