The north Mississippi herald., 1923-02-09
KLAN CLAIMS NO
RIGHT TO TAKE LAW
INTO ITS OWN HANDS
Its Only Object is to Assist the
Officers in the Enforcement
of the Law. Will See That
It's Members are Protected
but VIII Not Defend the
Guilty.

Chicago, Jan. 26.-Ku Klux
klansmen have no right to take the
law into their own hands, said Hir-
am Wesley Evans, imperial wizard
OF the organization, who also in a
statement charged Governor Parker
OF Louisiana with political of other
motives in instigating the Mer Rouge
investigation in the Watt Daniel and
T. F. Richards case today.
Asked if the khan would defend
any men who have been arrested
or indicted in the Louisiana case,
Evans said: :
ut would depend entirely upon
the condition of the klansman. If he
was unable to provide defense for
himself, we would most certainly
see that his rights as klansman
were looked after and that he got
justice. We would not use any effort
anywhere to prevent a man from
paying the just penalty for a crime
committed"
There is no set of circumstances
under which the klan would have
right to take into its own hands
or be represented in any way for
the enforcement of the law except
insofar as their sworn duty as
klansmen would place them under
the officials charged with the en-
forcement of the law, Evans said.
Every klansman specifically
takes the following oath, which has
never been published before.
Il Furthermore promise to swear
that | viii always, at all times and
in all places, help and assist the
duly constituted officers of the law
in the proper performance of their
legal duties"
"There is nothing contained in
any oath that in any way permits,
allows or condones law violations.
"The mask is but a protion of
our regalia. 1t is only worn in our
klaverns during the ceremony of
naturalization or in limitations, or
when special dispensation is granted,
in public parade, to the grave of
klansman or man who has served
the country in an outstanding way,
or upon an errand of charity. On the
two latter occasions it is not worn ex-
cept that the khan may express, as
a klan, either is sorrow or its sympa-
thy and that this action might not
be considered indivually expressed
but representative of the khan.
"The khan is not attempting to
build upon the personality of men
but upon the foundation of prin-
ciples. The khan is not political
organization, but if it is builded on
men instead of principles it might
become such, hence the organization
In maintaining its secrecy, prevents
its exploitation for personal profit
And finally, it is necessary, in many
sections of this nation that we pro-
tect the identify of our members
from the persecution of un-Ameri-
can aliens or foreign influences
which would persecute the member
ship of the khan merely because they
were members as evidenced by the
persecution of members of the khan
being meted out in Chicago today
simply because they believe in our
principles and have inculcated them
into their national life.
"The enforcement of the law be-
longs TO the enforcement officials
of the government or of the several
states. We hold no right to enforce
the law, either upon bands Of mask
ed men or other criminals. We claim
and strenously cndeavor to see that
the enforcement officers of the law
should see that all law violators
masked or unmasked, are brought
to judgement and proper penalty in
flicted.
"A klansman would vote (if he
lived up to and fully exemplified
the spirit Of klan kraft) always for
the man who could best serve his
country, regardless Of his race, creed
or political affiliation.
"We do not advocate religious
prejudice. We are an organization
Of Protestant Christians. We advo-
cate Protestant Christianity, but
not religious prejudice"
Asked regarding rumors concern
Ing the eligibility Of others than