Evening star., 1923-04-04
.KLAN MOVE MEETS
WARFARE At c. v. u.
President Hodgkins Investi.
gates Mysterious Meeting
of Thirty Students.

Investigation of the reported ex-
istence of a chapter of the Ku klux
Khan at George Washington Uni
versity was started today by Presi-
dent Howard L. Hodgkins, following
a mysterious meeting of about thirty
students last night in the university
chapel, at which the Khan question
was discussed. President Hodgkins
also will make an inquiry to de-
termine who is responsible for the
meeting, which, he said, was unau-
thorized by the university authorities.
Two documents purporting to show
that a klan chapter exists at the
university. seized at a meeting by
+. H. Wright, a student, were sub
mitted to President Hodgkins today
by Wright and fellow student.
w. Waldo Girdner.
The documents include a circular
letter by &c. w. U. Klan, No. g. urg-
ing the student members to support
the proposed honor system at the in
stitution, and a paper listing the
names of forty-SiX students who are
said to have signified their intention
of forming a George Washington Uni
versity chapter of the khan and seek
ing aftiliation with the national or
ganization. They were submitted at
the meeting by person who signed
himself THE Crusader"
Would BE Abolished.
a khan organization bearing the
name George Washington CniVer-
sity Chapter" will not be approved.
Prof Hodgkins pointed out, and II
such is found to exist, steps will be
taken to abolish 1t. The university
some of the more than 1000 students
enrolled in the Institution undoubted-
ly are affiliated with the khan, and
that as long as they did not attempt
to become connected with the sup
posed &c. w. L. Chapter" he could
not rightfully interfere.
The initial steps in the investiga-
ton. President Hodgkins said. will be
a quizzing of some OF the forty six
students whose names are contained
in the list submitted to him by
Wright.
His other plans were not revealed.
Notice Found on Board.
Absolute ignorance of who called
the meeting last night was professed
today by students seen at the uni
versity. A notice posted on the bulle-
tin board yesterday, they said, in
formed them of the gathering.
When the lights were turned on in
the chapel. it was said, the two docu-
ments were seen lying on the speak
er's table The cover of one docu-
ment asked that il be read before the
session convened. The other asked
that il be considered at the close OF
the netting. when vote had been
taken as TO whether or not the stu
dent body favored the continued ex-
istence of the ku Klux Khan.
In the absence of a chairman J. 9.
Polk was elected TO preside. and
arguments were put forth for and
against the continued function, of the
Klan. AT the conclusion of the de-
bate it was decided to defer. since
the gathering was too small TO be
representative of the university. The
meeting voted, however. to read the
second communications, which was
done by Chairman Polk.
Obtained From KIansman.
THE Crusader" stated in the open
ing para graph Of his letter that the
document purporting to come from
the G.. w. L. klan was authentic.
since he had purloined it from man
who admitted membership in the
Klan. He said il was taken from an
envelope addressed TO the member of
the organization from which he had
stolen II.
The faculty have just given their
approval Of the honor constitution"
said the alleged khan bulletin. Mem
hers of the khan are urged to support
It when il becomes the privilege of
the students TO consider ii. Cam
paign for il, because II means much
to us. We can operate under its pro-
visions to surprising advantage.
"Item.-Cnder its provisions for in
forming or 'squaking' upon students
who are caught in the act of crib
bing.' we can operate group.
Four or five Of US informing upon
student could practically insure his
expulsion"