The Omaha morning bee. [volume] (Omaha [Neb.]) 1922-1927, 1923-07-02
$50 Attend:
Policemen
atch Hall
Order Prevails at Gathering
Addressed by State Kleagle:
Fifty Present From
Lincoln.
Principles Are Set Forth

AttuA 43t men ana women attend
ed private" meeting OF the knights
Of the ku Klux Klan Sunday after
noon at the Swedish auditorium
Fifty Of those present c8rre from
Lincoln with the state kleagle. F. L.
Cook, who was the only speaker.
Police Officers Rogers and Whalen
were detailed 10 wait outside" for
developments. The officers stated
that their top sergeant" and not
Commissioner Dan 3. Butler. ordered
them there. They said everything
appeared orderly.
|. According to the policemen Il was
funny 10 see those who went inside.
Before entering tha building, a num-
Der Of men would look up and down
the street. apparently TO see II some
one whom they knew saw them go in.
duck" When Seen.
we had to laugh" said Officer
Rogers. One doctor, two attorneys
and one insurance man whom We
knew ducked when they saw US.
They turned their heads
Rogers stated that an unidentified
man was taking the number Of IL
eenses Of cars parked in front Of tbs
haIl.
A reporter for The Omaha Bee who
sought to gain entrance 10 the meet
/ ing was halted until a messenger
made further inquiry from other per-
sons.
rs this a private meeting as sdver.
tised?" asked the reporter.
Meeting Is Private"
Yes replied The first sentry who
was stationed on the first landing.
But who do you happen TO be and
what brings you hereg'
When told tho caller was a news
paper reporter the sentry laughed
and begged the scribe to walt.
Have you any credentials" the
reporter was further asked. NO" hs
replied.
The reporter was then advanced TO
the next two sentries who informed
him that II he wrote the facts he
would be admitted.
The reporter had TO pass another
sentry al the outer door and still an
other on the inner door which made a
total OF SIX sentries.
kleagle 0rafes.
Kleagie Cook was speaking. A
white pitcher filed with icewater
was on a stand near an American flag.
The klan organization takes no
law into its own hands" said Cook.
We believe n law enforcement
through the proper law enforcement
officers and by them only"
We have good reasons fer our Sc
cret membership adn ore IS that L
the crooks. bootleggers, gamblers and
flaw vielators dent know Who we are
we can set the information that lands
them where they belong: then. toe
if our enemies don't know who we
lare they can't throw a monkey
wrench in our machinery.
We know this is high class Or
ganiEation and that NE are right and
that IS why We viii not ba hundozed
into quitting.
Iowa Ranks Third.
Cook said the state Of Iowa had
the third largest Klan organization
in the country. lie said II was er-
lroneously reported that The local
klavern was dishanded. Instead. he
said. It Was growing in membership.
A shot at Mayor Dahlnaan was
taken by Cook because he was denied
a permit TO stage Khan meeting al
the municipal auditorium twe months
lago.
II talked with Jim for an hour.
said Cook. He told me that our
Organization was no good TO anyone.
But the Catholics. Jews. negroes and
others have all ben able 10 hold meet
lings in the auditorium.
Cook also laughed at the alleged
torture machines said To have heea
used n the Mer Rouge Ia murder
land scored the newspapers for Their
latitude toward the khan.
Explains Attack.
Ia part of his denunciation Of tie
Catholics Cook said. When We say
Roman Catholic. we make no rel.
erenee whatever 70 the people in tbs
country who accept Catholicism as =
religion and means ~ worshiping
the Deity, FOR it IS my private opin.
ion publicly expressed that I don ,
believe per cent 81 the Cathoh :
know they are being dictated 10 BY
the pope
Cook also told ot the negroes q
This country who. he said. are Wei
) organized and seek equality. racial
social and political
Cook iaudcd Henry Ford and char
acterized him as a great man" n,
made no reference TO the Jews. whe
are blocked from joining the Khan.
Before leaVing the sStage. Ceeb
asked those present IL they desired 4
put any questions in regard 20 tbs
organization Ne enc responded.
Cook also asked those who "has
enough nerve 10 nn out application
II llunk4 sn fha AaH ..ssa s,,,.. -.