The Washington times., 1922-07-22
LAWLESS
POLICIES
=. OPPOSED
Imperial Wizard Simmons, OF
lAtIanta. Summons chieftains
To Final concIave.
By DOUGLAS G. TINsLEY.

respondent. ..
tcopyriEht. 1922. by International News
Service.)
ATLANTA, Ca, July 31.-Early
action summoning the chiefs OF the
Ku Klux Klan for a final conclave
at which the knights Of the "in-
visible empire" will be ordered to
disband their hosts is reported con-
templated by William Simmons,
imperial wizard Of the hooded
hosts. 7
Follow After Forrest.
According to reports, Colonel Sim.
mons, originator Of the twentieth
century khan, soon is to follow the
example of Gen. Nathan Bedford
Forrest, grand wizard OF the old
oSder. Forrest, after his followers
had degenerated into an organiza-
ton for the wreaking OF private
vengeance, abandoning the original
purposes for which II was formed
during reconstruction days, officially
swept It from the face Of the earth
as An organization.
Colonel Simmons, imbued at the
time of the organization OF the new
khan with the ideals of the Old South
and American supremacy, Is said to
have become disgusted with the
tendency OF the new khan In some
quarters to fail In upholding the
ideals on which it was founded by
him.
Old Klan Was Important.
The offspring Of the old khan,
which for many years following the
civil war held an important place
In the community life Of the South
In the restoration and maintenance
of order. is charged by its enemies
with having degenerated into q
vehicle for the wreaking OF private
vengeance.
The modern followers of the
Fiery Cross" are beset by antago-
nistic action in many States ranging
from actual indictment of some of the
leaders to prohibitions against parad-
ing in the mask and hood, which 10
an important palt Of their regalia.
Torn by internal dissensions. even
In the palace" itself over the con-
duct Of its affairs, the hooded hosts
In, half a dozen States are said to be
in almost open revolt against the
present management of the klan's al
fairs.
The large numerical strength Of
the khan, it is claimed, may result
in it's ultimate downfall because Of
the difficulty attendant upon prop
lerly disciplining such large numbers.
Klan Blamed for Outrages.
Scores Of "outrages." including
various floggings in many sections,
are laid to the door of the khan. Re-
sponsibility for them is gleefully fas,
tened on the klansmen but We
hemently denied by them.
Some sections of the South which
stood solidly behind the original khan
in reconstruction days seem to look
with little favor on the modern or
der! and scattered communities have
even gone so far as to prohibit the
public parade of its members in
masks.
Some months ago Imperial Wizard
Simmons, to whom the khan donated
q magnificent residence, was granted
a six-months' leave of absence, con-
ferring upon. Edward Young Clarke
the duties Of imperial wizard in his
absence.
Now comes L. D. Wade, former
grand secretary of the organization.
who charges he was ousted without
cause by Clarke and calls on the lat
ter to resign, charging him with run
ming the affairs of the organization
through a committee appointed by
himself and asserting that the klans-
IfSen in half a dozen States are about
to openly revolt against Clarxe's
regime and will refuse to contribute
1Rny more money to the cause until
Clarke and his followers are ousted."
On the Pacific coast the khan is
charged with staging a raid in In.
elewood, near Los Angeles, which
resulted in the death of a constable.
For alleged participation in this raid
two of the former Pacific coast
kleagles and a number Of other klans-
men are under indictment. The khan
denies responsibility for or participa-
tion in the raid, which. its officials
claim, was staged by private citizens
10 break up a bootlegging establish
ment run by a Mexican.
Criminal Acts Denied.
This and a score Of other acts
charged to the khan, but with which
n denies connection, have resulted
q, Investigations, proposed State
and municipal action. all tending
10 discredit the organization.
That the khan Is strong numeri-
caIly is not questioned even by its
enemies. Essaying politics, II made
n remarkable showing In Oregon.
wbere II almost elected its suberna.
torial candidate. In Texas and
oklahoma political campaigns are.
being waged almost entirely on the
khan issue.
Many Of its critics in the South,
where It numbers among its men,
bership many leading citizens, de.
clare that the principles on which
The organization was founded are
nod and they approve them. They
obiect, however, to the hooded re-
gala. the masked faces, mysterious
narades and the endeavor to raise
IN "Invisible Empire within the
confInes OF a democratic republic.
These and correlated things, 1t Is
believed. are responsible for re.
norted contemplated action by Colo.
snI simmons toward possible disso-