Atlanta tri-weekly journal. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1920-19??, 1923-08-21
CLARKE UNDECIDED
IN XII KLUX OFFER
MADE BY SIMMONS

In comment on the telegram sent
Saturday by William Joseph Sim
mons, emperor of the Ku I<lux Khan,
to Edward Young Clarke, at Indian
apols, urging Mr.. Clarke to return
to Atlanta and assume control of the
khan and Of the Knights Kamelia,
Mr.. Clarke was quoted in an Indian
apolis news dispatch Saturday night
as saying that he has not yet
reached a decision in regard to the
matter, but that If he returned he
would endeavor to act as peacemak
er. Emperor Simmons telegram
was sent simultaneously with the
citation by Judge George l.. Bell, OF
the Fulton superior court, of three
imperial officers of the khan to APP
pear before him on September 1 to
show cause why they should not be
adjudged in contempt of court.
Message to Clarke
Mr. Simmons telegram to- Mr.
Clarke was as follows:
The development and progress
of the Ku Klux Khan is stopped anc
disintergration is setting in through
out the entire bounds of the Invis
ible Empire due to the lack of lead
ership and want Of constructive pro
grams of activity. My inability tt
confer with you about the genera
unsatisfactory condition of the klar
necessitates this message.
Your return from protracted va
cation rehabllitated physically anC
mentally IS in the good providence OF
God. The stress under which the
Khan is now passing calls for your
leadership as the storm calls for the
pilot The Order of Americanism
constructed through your genius is
threatened everywhere with disor
ganization. Every constructive plan
has been abandoned and the organi-
zatlon is without objective and with.
out leadership capable of making and
deflnlng scheme for progressive
operation. You alone can allay the
restlessness in the order and reclaim
the membership that is breaking
away.
am appealing to your great love
Tor the cause in which you have
served and sacrificed so unselfishly;
and L am appealing to your friend
ship which has been unbroken and
unWalVerlng for me, and 1 am APP
peallng to your patriotism in all
thlngS to lay your hands upon the
organization and undertake with me
to restore it to the original founda-
ton and direct it to the ACCOMPLISH
ment Of its original purposes and
heal the breach of dissension and
harmonic conflicting elements. us
ing your extraordinary genius to the
accomplishment of this difficDlt
problem.
Without consultation with YOU.
put after consultation with nv
closest friends and advisers in At.
lanta and throughout the nation. and
IN conference with the executive
committee of the knights Kamelia
and the Kamelia, we are rendering tn
you and l am officially designating
you as sir knight supreme of the Or
der knights Kamelia, and vesting in
you administrative authority to di-
rect all the activities of that order
within your discretion.
1t will be your duty from me to
establish the government and pre-.
scribe the regulations and require.
ments for the knights Kamelia and
oy Vestlng this authority in you /
automatically assume the same re.
latlons to the knights Kamelia. that
| sustain to the first order of the Kl1
Klux Khan.
Promised Unlimited Resources
This title and honor which [ am
now comforting upon you makes Won
an executive and administrative of.
flcer in the Ku Klux Khan, ranking
over and above all other officers
IN the Ku KluX Khan other than N.Y.
self. -'''
You are also hereby designated
as herald supreme of the Kamelia
and vested with full and complete
authority to plan and to direct the
work of extension of that order.
In this emergency when you are
again called to serve, it may be. to
suffer L feel sure you will not
tail the cause or myself or the
American people. 1 know your
great heart and you dare not de-
cline or refuse this call.
Il am directed to assure you that
practically unlimited resources an
men and money are at your com
mand to assist you in performing
the great task committed to YOU.
and [ most earnestly ask that YOU
forego any personal plans you may
nave in your mind and return to
Atlanta for conference with me.
WILLIAM JOSEPH SIMMONS
Emperor
knights of the Ku Klux Khan"