The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1922-12-26
kLAN SEEKS POWER
IN POLITICS, CHARGE
OF HENRY U. JOHNSON


are in the habit of saying that their
organization does not attempt in any
wise to interfere with freedom of re-
ligious opinion. or with the right OF
any person to worship God according
to the dictates of his own conscience.
In proof of this declaration they cite
the fact that the Catholics and the
Jews have their churches and their
synogogues, where they are accus-
toned to assemble and hold their re-
1igious services without molestation.
These statements are entirely SUI
perficial and illusory. They may mis-
lead the ignorant and the unthinking,
but will not deceive those who brush
sophistry aside and go straight TO the
heart of a subject
Antagonism to the Catholic and the
Jew because of his religion, is one of
the tenets of the Ku Klux Khan. This
is not denied The organization places
a han upon him and seeks to prevent
him from exercising the right to hold
civil offices because of his religious
convictions.
Candidates Defeated.
At the last general election the Re
publican candidates for Auditor OF
State and Clerk of the Supreme Court,
both men of integrity and we'll qua1ifi-
ed for the position, were badly defeat
ed, while the remaining candidates on
the tickets were elected by decisive
pluralities, and this solely because one
of the defeated candidates was a Cath
Ole, and the other deemed amenable
to Catholic influence. Every man with
a grain of sense knows this statement
to be true.
Turn out the Catholics and Jews
from the national, state and municipal
offices now held by them, and defeat
those of them that hereafter aspire to
hold such positions" is the slogan of
the Ku Klux Khan No difference how
lofty his motives how exemplary his
character, how great his intelligence,
or how well his equipment for public
service if the aspirant be of these
prescribed religions he is to be denied
the privilege of holding public office.
1t avails nothing that he is public
spirited that he pays taxes, obeys the
law and supports government Loyalty,
or even that he fought in the World
war for the freedom OF mankind What.
does all this count with these Klans-
men who boast of their red blooded
Americanism and insolently claim a
monopoly of the virtue and patriotism
of the country And what do they in
their blind intolerance care for the
great economic loss which is entailed
upon the nation by depriving it of the
talents of vast body of the citizens
who are willing to serve it.
Edict Of Klansmen.
'fYou may think as you please on
religious subjects and worship God
whenever and wherever you desire,
but, if you are Catholic or Jew, we
will penalize you for so doing and will
~ Ind oil pnSi-
lions of public trust and authority;
these are tie privileges you shall for
felt, this is the penalty you shall pay,
for clinging to your religious convic-
tions,' is the edict that comes from
the sacriIegious lips of the Klansmen.
If this is not interference with free
dom of religious opinion and denial
of the right to worship God according
to the dictates of conscience, what is
it?
And this. too, from the subject of
the invisible empire! Think of it,
Mr.. Editor an invisible empire" in a
free public!! How can the two exist
together?
The spokesman for this vicious or
der also seek to justify the existence
by saying that Klansmen have as
much right to maintain a secret soci-
ETY. as the Catholics, the Jews and
Negroes. They cite the Masons, Odd
Fellows and Knights of Pythias as
kindred organizations to their own
Even a child can see the fallacy OF
this declaration at glance, can dis
cover the vast difference there is be
tween the secret society and the fra
ternaties named and the Ku Klu2
Khan.
Vast Difference.
The former are non-political and
are organized for social purposes anC
to promote the prosperity and materia,
welfare of the members. They seeE
simply to build themselves up, not te
tear down and destroy others. This
is true even where the membership is
confined exclusively to those of {
particular race or religion. None o.
them are grounded in race prejudice
none of them seek to practice religious
intolerance upon any class whatever
The members make no effort to con
ceal their membership, nor to hide
their identity. Indeed, they openl!
avow it. Their membership is there
fore known to all men. Hence, if an!
wrong is committed by the society o.
by any of its members, the public
knows where to place the responsible
ity. with whom to reason and remon
strate or whom to punish.
But the Ku KluX Khan is the exac
antithesis of all this. 1t is formed TO
political purposes anditis grasping aft
err political power and controls. 1t ha!
its foundations deep in race hatred
and bristles with enmity against thu
Israelite and the negro, and agains
every citizen who was not born upol
American soil. 1t openly ayows hos
tility to the Catholic because of hi
religion and is given over to the prao
tice of religious intolerance and Pre-
scription 1t is sowing the seeds O
discord and creating unrest and diyis
ion among the people at one of tn
most critical periods in the nation
history, at time when there is sor
need for harmony and cooperation
upon the part of all citizens for tn
solution of the many difficult prob
lens. both national and international
which confront them. The member
are not known. They conceal thei
features behind masks and studiousl
hide their identity. They write amor
ymous and threatening letters to pei
sons residing in divers localities VIII