The call of the North. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1923-1924, 1923-09-28

Tulsa, Okla.-With the knowledge
that the controlled press of the coun-
try would give but little heed to the
Klan side of the controversy, the Call
of the North has been requested
to give national publicity to state
ment constituting the reply which the
Tula Klan, No. 2, made to President
H. o. Mcclure, of the Chamber OF
Commerce Mcclure, who at the in
stance of Walton, it is said, demanded
the designations of officials named by
the governor as being members of the
Klan, thus making them undesirable
in his eyes as oficeholders. The re-
fusal of these officials to resign be-
cause of the governors bull-dozing
method is the reason given for the
martial-law proclamation. The state
ment of the Tulsa Klan follows:
Statement of Klan
"The Knights of the Ku Klux Klan
is an organization with legal, lawful
existence, under the laws of our ma
ton and state; organized for the pur-
pose of promulgating, protecting and
defending the rights, liberties and
traditions of American citizenship in
accordance with constituted authority
of the nation, the state, city and coun-
ty in which the particular unit or
lodge may be located; provided, al
ways, that the courts of the land and
the ballot are and shall ever be the
only safeguard of the liberties Of
American citizenship.
Deny Violating Law
"Tulsa Klan, No. 2, as an organiza-
ton declares and states that at no
time or place, under any condition,
has this Klan, its officers or members,
as such, directly or indirectly, secret
ly or openly, violated or broken any
of the laws of the nation, the state Of
Oklahoma, or the city and county Of
Tulsa, and that Tulsa Klan, No. 2, is
now and ever has been ready, willing
and anxious to give its influence, pow
er and best efforts to the apprehen-
sion, and if tried and found guilty,
punishment, as by law provided, for
every violator of law and all crimi-
nails, without fear or favor, whether
a member of this or any other Klan,
or organization, whatsoever.
"Tulsa Klan hereby declares that
it is in no way, directly or indirectly,
responsible for or in any manner has
it contributed to existing conditions
in Tulsa city or county as to the de-
claring and maintaining Of martial
law, the suspension of the writ Of ha-
beas corpus, or the reason therefor;
and we further declare and request
that the citizenship of Tulsa county
and all civic, religious and fraternal
organizations give to the constituted
authorities of this state, city and
county, their best efforts in the sup
preston Of crime, punishment of
criminals and protection of its citi-
zenship from official tyranny or mob
violence.
Pledges Aid to officials
"And, as evidence thereof, Tulsa
Klan, No. 2, does hereby officially and
publicly declare that it pledges and
guarantees, as an organization in
dividually and collectively, to the full
extent of its power, that it will aid
and assist the executives Of this state,
county and city in requiring and en-
dorsing full, complete and absolute
obedience to and compliance with all
law, in manner and form provided by
the constitution and statutes of the
state of Oklahoma.
"In conclusion, Tulsa Klan, No. 2,
asks of the public such confederation
as should be given to those whose pur-
pose is to better conditions, to build
up rather than tear down; in other
words, to be constructive, not de-
structive.
"The enemies of the Klan demand
that the Klan disband and remove
from the state. This demand, or re-
quirement, cannot and will not be
complied with, so long as under the
laws of the state and nation the Klar
is entitled to legal existence.
eve declare it to be the purpose
and intention of Klan No. 2, knights
of the. Ku Klux Klan, to exist and
function as an organization, and We
call upon all good citizens to give ui
their moral support and influence
and in return Tulsa Klan, No. 2, will
do its part in making the city ant
county of Tulsa an abiding place fo1
all honest, liberty-loving, lawabiding
home-making people to be proud of.
without malice and without fear
in the name of American justice ant
liberty, we hereby make this state