The Telegraph-courier. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1888-1946, 1924-10-09
THOUSANDS HEAR
ATTACK ON KLAN
-
Attorney P. O'Donnell and
Others DenOunce Khan
at Meeting Here.
PUBLICITY Is WEAPON
Foe of Khan Declares Publicity
Is Most Potent Weapon to
use in Opposing Khan.

A capacity crowd was packed into
4he Elks' club auditorium and filled
1t to overlooking on Monday to near
Attorney Patrick H. O'Donnell of Chr
cago and several others attack the hu
Klux Khan movement and appeal to Ke-
nosha to put an end to the organlza-
tion. Attorney O'Donnell is one of the
organizers of the American Unity
league, an anti-Klan organization, and
is its national president.
Recently a branch of the American
Unity league was organized in Kenosha
and the meeting held on Monday eve
ming was under the auspices OF this
local branch.
The crowd was so large that an over
Aow meeting was necessary. People
wern packed into every corner of the
auditorium and balconies, and there
were hundreds left over who gathered
in front of the Elks' club and were adj
dressed by the various speakers after
they had finished delivering their mes
sages to those in the hall proper. 1t
was estimated that not less than three
thousand people attended the two
meetings.
O'DonneII Appeals to All.
In launching his attack on the Khan,
ATTORNEY O'Donnell made use of all
the oratory and wit that has made him
country. 1t was an impassioned ap-
country. It was an imprisoned ap-
neal that was greeted by rounds of en-
thusiastic applause. He appealed to
all classes of people, irrespective of
religion or nationality, to unite In
the movement against the Khan which
he denounced as menace to all Am
erica.
Accusing the Klan of attempting
union of church and state by trying
to bar from office by secret power
those not agreeable to it, he declared
that the Klansmen were acting con-
trary to the constitution and the de-
sires of the forefathers Of thu coun-
try. He outlined the history and
growth Of the American Unity league
explaining that its object was to lift
the veil of secrecy from Khan member
ship and that it intended to do this
very thing in Kenosha.
He declared publicity was the most
Khan, relating how the paper, "Toler-
ance," published by the league, had
published names of Klansmen in other
communities and greatly lessened the
grip of the league there.
Pleads for Rationalism.
In carrying on a campaign against
the Khan he advised all mot to perse-
- Ln mi in or
TO get excited and do rash things, but
make firm resolution that the consti-
tion of the United States was to be
obeyed to the letter,
Judge r. v. Baker, the first speaker
to be introduced, attacked the Khan
on the grounds that "if Klansmen were
100 per cent American as they boosted
they would know the Constitution of
the United States and not enter into
any such organization which did not
conform with the preamble of the Con-
stitution," which guarantees to all the
right to worship God as they pleased.
He declared the Khan was sowing the
seeds of hate and such an organization
should not be fostered. Il
Colonel A. v. Smith, of Waukegan,
states attorney of Lake county, was
another speaker. He told Of the cam
paign in Lake county, where he had
won out against the opposition of the
Khan. F. w. Weise, also of Wauke-
gan, denounced the action of the Khan
in Lake county.
Each speaker, after completing his
address, appeared before the overflow
crowd where he was again enthusiasts
,cally received. Announcement was
made that another meeting of the kind
would be held on next Monday evening
at Polonia hall. Attendants at the
meeting were invited to become mem
bers of the local branch of the Ameri-
can Unity league, under whose aus
.pices the meeting was Aeld.