The Birmingham age-herald., 1924-01-03
KHAN ISSUE NAY BE s|DETRACKED.
Underwood Only Candidate Who Has Declared Himself.
 Coolidge Non- CommittaI
wAsHINGTON BUREAU I THE AGE-HERALD ~~~raa~~kA> m N I-. .


 The politicians in both major po- litical parties are preparing to exert their every effort to prevent the in- jection into the forthcoming cam paign of the Ku Klux K!an as an issue.
 It becomes apparent. however, that it will be the result of strenuous and persistent persuasion if they suc- ceed. It is indicated that the fresi- dent, Calvin Coolidge. will lend a hand in bringing about a state of af- sary for him either to declare for or against the klan. -
 The candidates, apparently, are hopeful that they will not be com pelled to take sides. Only one, Sem ator Underwood of Alabama, has said anything which might be construed as position.
 The letter of Edward Young Clarke. imperial giant. and past imperial wizard of the organization. to Presi- dent Coolidge, declaring that the klan constituted a national menace, and the statement of the White fairs in which it will not be neces- House that the letter was written to save the nation, has caused wide discussion throughout the east. Certain internal dissentfo1 among klansmen, r@ultinC in lawsuit, and a murder trial tn Atlanta growing out of the killing Of one important klansman by another. has led to an idea that the organization was crum- bling. The letter of Clarke, and his promise continually to agitate the alleged danger of the klan, will make the klan, it is indicated here, an issue for speculation up to the date of the conventions.
 R. B. Creager of Texas, member of the republican national committee, has proceeded against the klan, and declares that he will urge the adop- tion by republicns in convention of an anti-plan plank. He will fall, it is believed.
 The effort of politicians to keep the klan down as political issue Is reflected in the plan of the Senate to consider leisurely the contest filed against Senator Mayfield of Texas, and to proceed along the charge that in his election more money than the law allows was expended, rather than along the charge that klansmen, in conspiracy, brought about his election.
 It is freely predicted here that whereas in the Mayfield case the klan will be the underlying feature. the motif of the scheme, in fact, 1t will not be mentioned formally in the re- port of the Investigating committed. It Is said that to preclude the possi- bility of the klan taking the most prominent part in the debate on the floor, the committee will not render it's report until after the conventions have concluded their work.
 In some quarters 1t is predicted here that every candidate will be forced to declare himself respecting the klan, or more particularly wha. it Is alleged the klan stands for.
 Senator Underwood has not mem toned the klan. But in Texas he de- clared that if an issue Is ever raised between an organization and the con- stitution involving freedom of speech and worship, he will stand with the constitution. This statement was &C., cepted by the klan as inimical to 1t, and Mayfield's Weekly, klan jour nal, proceeded against the Senator with singular bitterness. It Is not regarded as possible that any other candidate, in tse event he has to take position. will be out of line with that assumed by Senator Underwood.
 The klan Is not southern or demo- cratic. It Is stronger in Indiana than in any other state. It concerns re- publicans as vitally as democrats, 1t appears.