The call of the North. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1923-1924, 1923-08-24
they WILDLY CRY
We ARE PROSECUTED
WILD EFFORTS MADE TO BE-
| CLOUD THE ISSUES
-K.K.K

Portland, Ore.-Luther i. Powell,
king kleagle of the Pacific North
west domain of the Ku Klux Khan,
has issued statement regarding the
passage ofthe Oregon school law, and
the misinterpretation placed upon it
by its enemies, in which he points out
that the religious element Of the bill
was injected by the opponents, not by
the advocates, and that it was never
intended that the measure should
bring about religious contentious.
"A government founded on the will
Of the people will preserve their lib
critics in exact proportion to their
understanding Of its principles and
no MORE" he said. "The foundation
Of such understanding is a common
school education. The bill required
that and that only. 1t neither re-
quired nor prevented anything else.
Privately anything desired might be
taught, including all religion or no
religion. It did not tax away and
constitutional or other rights.
"Private Schools" he continued.
are generally under various religious
denominations, each endeavoring to
increase its membership and power
by shaping the mental development
of the young. The purpose is laud-
able and the field open to all sects,
but in the accomplishment Of this
purpose and the tendency is to get
away and depreciate the public sys-
tenn. It is for the perpetuation of
the public schools that we contend
and not for the destruction or injury
of any religious sect. The religious
question injected into the controversy
came from the opposition.
Objections From Two Sources
"The objection to the bill, then,
came from two sources-those who
wished to work their children and col
'ect their earnings, and those who OBJ
ject to the requirements that the
public school curriculum shall be
taught privately no matter what else
is or is not taught; as frank dec
laration of either of these directors,
the cry Of religious prosecution is
all that is left.
"The coward who was a Stacker in
the World War shouted his religious
scruples against wars, while he re-
manned at home and profteered.
"When the Turk is threatened with
punishment for numbering Armeni-
ans, he answers that the Mohamedan
religion requires him to put unbe-
levers to death and he screens re-
ligious persecution is an attempt is
made to stop his bloodshed.
"Church organizations which have
burned countless thousands as here
tics who differed from them in re-
'igious beliefs cry religious persecu-
ton when it is proposed that child
rem shall learn common-school stud
les, and discounting the fact that at
the same time they may be taught
the religion of the church in the
home or private school.
"There is a fundamental principle
involved which means the ultimate
perpetuation or destruction Of free
institutions, based upon the perpetu-
alton or destruction of the public
schools. tn defend them from an
croachments, either open or secret,
is the settled policy Of the Ku Klux
Klan, and with its white robed SEN
tinels keeping eternal watch, it shall
for all tice, with it's blazing torches
as signal fires, stand guard on the
outer walls Of the temple Of liberty,
cry out the warning when danger ap-
pears, and take its place in the front
ranks of defenders of the public
schools"