Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1924-10-01
Discussion Aroused
AS to Khan Holding
Meeting at High School

Considerable discussion has been
aroused by an item in Tuesday eve
nings Lewiston Journal regarding the
lecture and secret session Of the
Knights Of the Ku Klux Khan to be
held in the Gardiner High school audi
forum on Thursday evening. Oct. 9.
AZ usual in such cases. sides have been
taken. and while some are very
indignant over the fact that the audi
forum II to be used for this purpose,
the more thoughtful ones point out that
the assembly hall is for hire to anyone
providing the parties are responsible
and have money to pay for the same
and these same ones say that surely
the Ku Klux Khan can fulnll these re-
qutrements.
The item In the Lewiston paper re-
ports that little white cards. tickets
for the gathering State Knights Of the
ku Klux Khan. will speak upon the
most powerful. secret, nen-political.
and thoroughly American organization
in existence Your personal friends
urge you to fail not in attending and to
keep this communication secret" Su-
perintendent OF Schools L. w. Gerrish
Is. OF course. Of the opinion that the
assembly hall is for hire, and as it has
been let to any organization that wish
ed 1t, no distinction should be made
here. The new high school building
was made possible through contribu!
lions from the citizens Of Gardiner
and supposedly persons of all creeds
and races contributed to the fund, so
therefore it would seem as II they were
entitled to the use of the auditorium
on compliance with the stated condi-
lions. The rental 10 nominal. usually
covered by the cost Of lighting and
5anitor service.
when the campaign for the new
building was on. 1t was pointed out
that the assembly hall was perhaps
one OF the greatest advantages and
that the long-felt want for hall in
which community affairs could be held
would be filled. As everyone knows,
IT has indeed filled this want and has
been used as the gathering place for
various meetings, lectures and plays
1t has a seating capacity of 600 and
has one Of the best lighting and VEN
tilating systems Of any hall in the
State.
The opposition claims that IL the
Gardner High school auditorium is
used FOR meeting Of the Klu Klux
Khan then it will be the first public
school In the State to open its doors
to this particular organization. Some
go further and say that If this Is not
the first time a school building is to be
be used in the United States is surely
Is In the New England states. If this
fact fs true. we would seem to be in
for plenty of publicity for a while,
and as some have said, not exactly
the kind of publicity to boost the city.
An extremely interesting fact
brought out by an examination of the
iacts IN the case discloses that Thurs
day evening" Oct. 9, is the date set for
the monthly meeting Of the Parent
Teacher Association, which is always
held In this auditorium, an important
organisation in the city. This organ
ization has done SO much good work.
and attained such prominence that its
regular meeting cannot be easily
changed. Someone has asked, "Will
the Parent-Teacher Association be
asked to change the date Of its meet
Ing to accommodate the Klan?" This
Is hardly a fair way Of putting the
question. but the meetings of the Pa
rent-Teacher Association have always
been held on the second Thursday of
each school month. ever since the or
sanisation was started. and it would
seem as II there must have been some
Misunderstanding when the hall was
let.