Perth Amboy evening news., 1923-09-01

are some OF the fofl-
ments by the newspapers outside Of
Perth Amboy on Thursday nights
rioting:
Mobs and Klans
As between the Ku Klux Khan
meeting indoors in quiet and peace
full assembly and a stone-throwing,
bowling crowd outside, it ought not
to be very difficult to pick the in
stigators of violence and disorder.
There may be-there are, to some
people-obnoxious features about
the Khan but the way to overcome
them is not by mob-rule. Two
wrongs eve make a right, nor
does violence ever beget peace.
Under existing laws the Klans-
men have the right. in most places,
of peaceful assembly, just as any
other secret society has, and no one
should interfere. AS a matter of
/ policy it would be we'll for the
Klansmen to avoid melting trouble
but it ill-becomes even their most
| persistent enemies to interfere with
orderly assemblage.
State and local authorities should
prepare to prevent such outrages as
happened at Perth Amboy last
night, as much for the sake of COM
mon good as for the sake of the
persons directly involved.-Trenton
Times.
. The Moi Spirit At Perth Amboy
The Ku KIux Khan as an orsdniza-
Ition of intolerance is a challenge to
American citizenship. That its num-
cries and secret methods provoke
the mob spirit among opponents who
have no great respect for the law
themselves is not surprising. At
Steubenville, Binghamton, Pittsburgh
and Perth Amboy there has been
rioting of a grave character in which
parading Klansmen have been ston-
ed AID beaten. One of them was
killed at Pittsburgh. The organic
alton demands the protection of the
law, and should have it as a right
when threatened with mob violence
for assembling and holding permit
ted meetings Justice can make 40
determinations. However hateful
land insidious the propaganda of the
Khan may be, the remedy lies in
public opinion, the Legislatures and
the courts. As violence when pas
lsions are infamed breeds V.oience,
the organization will retaliate upon
its balteTs unless il can turn 10 the
law for protection.
The full police powers of the State
should be exerted, if necessary, to
prevent such disgraceful scenes as
occurred at Perth Amboy on Thurs
day night. otherwise the rioting
spirit will become infectious in every
town where the Klansmen show
themselves in public in their regalia.
1t is estimated that there are $4,000
members of the order in New Jer-
sey. Throughout the country the
humber Is believed to be between one
and two millions. The Khan has
supporters in city administrations
and possibly on the bench.
1t is one thing to condemn, an
other to assail 1awlessly, this I'M
democratic organization, which is
poisoning the political life of the
country. Unless the law is impair
tial and the police do their whole
duty IN dealing with the riotous out
breaks against the Ku Klux Khan
when it stands upon it's constitutional
rights, il will gain partisans and
prove a menace.-New York Times.
or Day For Jersey Peace Officers
Opponents of the Ku Klux Khan
not less than its sympathizers u
deplore the mob attack pm the sec
ret organization at Perth Amboy
Thursday night. Such lawlessness
is the stuff on which the Khan feeds.
Violence and prejudice breed true
and their offspring are not better
than the qualities hat begat them.
Prejudice of race or religion and
bigotry settle no problems in a dem
ocratic nation, and certainly moi
violence, whether invoked by men,
bers of the Ku Klux Khan or turned
against them, is no substitute for
lIaw. So far as the published record
shows, the Perth Amboy mob at
tackled men whose only offense was
connection with an unpopular or
ganization. This is dangerous con-
duct.
In view Of the fine reputation the
administrators of the law in New
Jersey enjoy it is surprising to find
that the local police and the State
c~onstabulary proved too weak to
cope with the mob. Ordinarily mobs
are not dangerous unless organized
authority is careless of its response
bilities. This is not to suggest that
the Perth Amboy police department
failed to do all that was practicable
in the maintenance of order, but it
should be a warning to other COM
munities.
Americans cannot safely differ
about mob violence. This country
was settled by men of different races
and faiths, and when they set up an
independent government liberty and
tolerance were foundation stones Of
the Republic. Yet almost within
hailing distance of the Statue o
Liberty the land is ~disgraced by this