Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1923-03-23

boy who participated masked In
college frolic and got drunk or at
tempted to get drunk to be impris-
oned for five years.
Mr.. Barwise said that while this
was not the intent of the section it
might be possible under a strict in
depreciation of the act.
Il do not think that this legislation
is really necessary but great many
communities are in state OF hys-
terra and so frightened that they feel
that they should have some protec-
ton" said Mr.. Barwise.
Hinckley--Do you think that the
legislature. If it thinks that there is
no need of such legislation should,
just to satisfy this temporary hys-
terra, enact it?
Rep. Barwise-I am in doubt of
its wisdom.
Edward Quinn of Portland. who
in past years has acted as an in
vestigator for the Attorney Gener-
ais department, and recently has
been living in birmingham. Ala, was
the first person to tell the commit
tee anything about the activities of
the Khan in the south. He said
that he had seen it grow and that
had Rep. Parwise done the same he
would realize that there was ground
for this, as he termed it, temporary
hysteria. Mr.. Quinn attended the
first meeting of the Khan in Biz
m ngham and. he said. the decora-
lions of the hall were the Confeder-
ate flags. At that meeting the whole
hostility was aimed at the Catholics
and negroes, but not at the Jews.
| There was a reason why there was
no drive at the Jews. said Mr..
Quinn. Most of the Jews of the
South come from the old families
and fought for the Confederacy and
! there is no power in the south big
enough to harm One who fought for
the confederacy.
Mr.. Quinn told of the weekly par
AIDES held in Birmingham in which
masked men rode in automobiles.
the numbers of which were masked.
These parades were through the
negro quarter. he said and for the
purpose of putting. as the Klan
leaders called 1t. 1.-The fear Of God
in the negroe hearts" He also told
Of whippings and killings by the
Khan in that city and the failure to
prosecute and to convict in cases
where prosecutions were started.
lie said that the killings of Cath
olicr became frequent and the fall
urep to punish so conspicuous that
it lead Gov. O. NeiL who is not a
Catholic. to soy that 1T was the
open season on Catholics IN Ala
bama.
"AIi OF u.s." said Mr.. Quinn. "who
belong 40 orders, whether Masons.
Odd Fellows. X. Of r, X. Of c.. or
Hibernians are proud to wear the
button OF the order, but the MEM
bers OF this order don't want the
world to know of their membership
and such an organization Is not a
good one (applause).
]. A Stewart of Waterville said
that he wanted to ask Mr.. Quinn
ou sstion. He said that he was
neither q propohent or an opponent
of the measure.
has been committed by this or.
ganization," asked Mr.. Stewart.
ut Is impossible to convict where
they have 100 per cent control"
replied Mr.. Quinn, "You couldn't ex-
pect a grand jury. to indict where .
majority of that grand jury are
members OF the Ku Klux Khan. But
I will say that do not personally
know where members Of the Khan
have committed crime"
"How do you expetc to accomplish
2nytnlnR ny lIlS dSSs 0CnSN .AeSRs
Eiaher Of Augusta, a member OF the
committee.
"By this act the names of the Of
f,cers of the society could be ascer-
tained," replied Mr.. Quinn.
isn't there plenty Of law to
cover the case now?" asked Rep.
II am not q lawyer" replied Mr..
Quinn, II am simply here to give
the committee any information that
T have"
Representative Rogers opposed
that section Of the bill requiring
registering OF membership OF or
carnations with city clerks, saying
that it would work hardship on
labor organizations. Such lists OF
names, he asserted. would be fine
black lists for employers.
II have always been taught that
law is nothing. more nor less than
common sense" said Representative
Lamson of South Portland, in OPP
posing the act II have heard of this
invisible empire, but know nothing
Of II. have read some Of it's lit