The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1923-02-23
KHAN CON ROvERSY
BROUGHT BEFORE
SENATE MEMBE rs
Peddy Charges ku-KIux With
Irregularities in Texas Sem
atorial Fight-Contests
MayfieId's Place
WASHINGTON, Feb. f.--(

WASHINGTON, Feb. f.-(By AS
ISOLATED Press.)-The controversy
over the Ku Klux Khan was brought
into the United States Senate today
with the filing of proceedings con-
testing the right of Earl B. Mayfield
to become a senator from Texas.
The contest was brought by George
e. B. Peddy, republican, an "indepen-
dent democratic" candidate for the
Senate in the election last November,
who declared himself elected despite
the majority credited by election Of
ficials to Mayfield, the regular
democratic NOMINEES. A scathing in
dictment of the khan, of which 1T was
charged that Mayfield was member,
was included in the petition, and was
placed on file with Mayfield's creden-
tials to be considered when the new
Congress meets next fall.
Charges Fraudulent Acts.
Khan officers were charged with
illegal and fraudulent" acts in the
petition, which also alleged fraud in
counting the ballot, Illegal expendi-
lures of more than $4,000 in May
fields behalf, and numerous other
Irregularities. Among the charges
laid at the door of the khan were
that ii had attempted to erect a super
government to "seduce and defile the
public conscience" to gain CONNER
cial and other dominion, to accom-
plish prostitution of the Christian re-
ligion to exercise brutal and ty-
rannical control and discipline" and
to "engage in illegal and immoral
practices"
The Senate was asked to preserve
and recount the Texas ballots. to in
vestigate the Texas primary and
a II
from taking the cath when the next
Congress convenes. His credentials
having been received, however, the
whole matter, under usual Senate
procedure, would be referred to the
privileges and elections committee
when Congress reassembles and
pending the committees investiga
ton, the oath would be administered.
Claims Conspiracy.
The contestants petition declared
that Mayfield was mot honestly or
lawfully elected by virtue of the fact
that Peddy's name was kept off the
printed ballot because of the alleged
conspiracy" of the khan, and for
other reasons. The document COM
prised about $4,000 words, and was
accompanied by many exhibits, in
GLIDING alleged copies of letters be-
tween khan officers, naming May
field as klansman and urging
klansmen to support him.
In support of a charge that May
field used his power as state railroad
commissioner to further his cam
paign, one of the papers accompany
ing the case, accused him of threat
ening oil and railroad companies In
seeking campaign contributions.
"You tell those d. that If l am
not elected to the Senate, l will be
railroad commissioner four years
more and they had better kick in or
they will be sorry" Mayfield was
quoted as informed by Mike Mona
mara. deputy oil commissioner. 1t
was charged also that Mcnamara was
told to get $4,000 in contributions.
CHARGES oUTLISED
IN PEDDY STATEMENT
WASHINGTON, Feb. %. - (By
United Press. )-Summarized. the
grounds on which George E. B..
Peddy is contesting Mayfield's right
to the seat are:
/. That Peddy's name was He
saIly kept of the ballots.
2. That of $4,000 votes cast for
him only 10000 were counted.
Many of the votes east for Peddy
being counted for Mayfield.
8. That Mayfields name was il
legally placed on the ballot in the
general election because he and his
alleged co-conspirators'' violated
the primary laws.
4. That Mayfield and his asso-
cts, including the Texas Ku Klux
Khan, broke the preliminary election
laws of Texas by spending more
than 100000 in the preliminary
campaign. the legal limit being $780,
600. and by falling to file correct
report of expenditures.
5. That Mayfield and others in
Guiding the Ku Klux Khan, entered
into a conspiracy to violate the cleo
ton laws and did violate and that
Mayfield knew OF and was party to
Immoral and illegal practices" by
the khan.
The petition contained violent
attack on the khan, declaring that
Mayfield and others had conspired
to subvert the khan from it's an
nounced purposes and members of
the Texas khan were deceived by
Mayfield and those associated with
him, the petition charged and were
thus led to aid and abet the alleged
Illegal purposes ascribed to May
field and his friends.
O O O
Khan Accused.
The alleged conspiracy to twist
the klansmen to their own purposes
had as it's general, real and true
purposes" according to the petition,
the following:
SUPERVISION of visible government
into a mendacious invisibility where
corrupt and unpatriotic men and
women, unrestrained by laws or
morals may possess and exert power
over the lives and liberties of the
peoples.
20. Enthrallment of commerce
and industry and restriction of the
fruits and benefits thereof to ia
vored groups of avaricious confed-
crates.
49, Prostitution of the Christian
religion and defeat of its blessed
strivings."
In support of these allegations.
the petitioner submitted charges
that the khan in Texas had packed