San Antonio light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1911-1993, 1924-03-22
'Iany Democrats Attribute
Georgia Victory to
Kluxer Support.
SAY HE IS MEMBER
Supporters Deny That Ex-
treasurer Took Oath
While in Capital.
BY DAVID LAWRENCE.

Copyright by The San Antonio Light.
Washington, ID. c., March 22.-
The most important result of the vic
tory of William Gibbs McAdoo in the
Georgia primaries Ahas been the de-
mand voiced by leading Democrats
here that he declare himself at once
as to the Ku Klux Khan.
Democrats, obviously not too friend
ly to the McAdoo cause, are attribut-
ing the victory in Georgia to the in
fluenee Of the Ku Klux Khan point
ing out that McAdoo carried the dis
tricts in which the late Senator Tom
Watson was strong and that the Nc
Adoo campaign received n good deal
Of support from the Ku Klux Khan
followers, while Senator Underwood
who denounced the organization was
the natural victim of their hostility.
There is no way to prove these
assertions, but it is fact that the
ku KluX Khan question has become
an acute issue inside the Democratic
party and that Mr.. McAdoo cannot
hope to win the support of the New
York, Illinois, Massachusetts, or New
Jersey delegations unless his record
on the Ku klux Klan question is sat
isfactory to them. The Democratic
party in the states just named draws
much of its strength from the Irish
Catholic population and no one with
the slightest faint Of Ku Klux Khan
support will receive their votes.
Must Make Statement.
Mr.. McAdoos managers for some
time have been aware of the effort
to stamp their candidate with the Ku
Klux Klan mark and have heard the
usual rumors that the former secre-
tary of the treasury took the oath of
membership while he was in Wash
ington, all of which is denied.
But man is known in politics by
the company he keeps and the opposi-
ton to McAdoo is getting ready TO
charge that in certain states the lead
ers in the Ku Klux Khan are active
in McAdoo's behalf. This is diff
cult to combat because in the follow
ing of every candidate are groups
which lend their support, but which
do not necessarily determine the course
Of the candidate himself.
1t is for this reason that a state
ment from Mr.. McAdoo on the Ku
klux Klan question is expected. The
very fact that his opponents have
turned from the oil controversy to the
Ku Klux Klan issue is sign that
they realize his increasing strength,
but even if the oil sQuabble had not
arisen, it is certain that a demand
would have been made for a declara-
ton from Mr.. McAdoo as to where he
stands on the question of secret or
CARNATIONS which have for their
avowed object the DEVELOPMENT of a
preferential status in America for
those groups which are allied with the
Klan.
Manager May Speak.
Senator Underwood of Alabama, de-
rived considerable prestige in the
Northern states by his denunciation
of the Khan, and if the issue should
become sharply defined at the con-
vention and Senator Underwood's po-
sition on the klan is more acceptable
to the Democrats of New York, New
Jersey, Illinois and Massachusetts, he
would stand better chance of win
ming their support than any other
candidate.
The convention itself, will be held
in. New York where the anti-Klan
atmosphere is bound to bring about
the adoption of a plank in the Demo-
cratic platform which places the
party on record against secret or
ganizations Of the Ku Klux Klan
type.
The American Legion convention
faced the question and the prediction
is freely made here that the two
political parties will have to meet it
in June Mr.. McAdoo's victory in
Georgia where the Khan was organic
cd, puts the burden Of proof on the
candidate. His friends. however, in
sist that he is glad of the opportunity
to make his position clear.
David +. Rockwell, campaign man
ager for Mr.. McAdoo will be here
today and may have something to
say on the subject.