The Minnesota fiery cross. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1924-19??, 1924-02-29

quilted, and when the second man
was arragned the Grand Dragon sent
a message, which was read to the
jury, that the Khan did not support
him nor wish anything but justice.
On the same evidence as I'm the first
case the jury hung. 1t seems clear
that in sending that message Gen.
Forrest admitted his own belief that
the first jury had been swayed by
fear of the Khan.
There were similar cases in Tulsa,
Okla, after the Khan strength there
became manifest, and | was told
that no Klansman had been convict
ed of anything since the Klan-sup-
ported administration took charge.
This is hardly a record to be ac-
counted for by the virtue of Klans-
men. There can be no doubt, too,
that any officials who owe their cleo
ton to Khan support will be inclin-
ed by common gratitude to give
| klansmen all the favors their con-
sciences will allow; some official con-
sciences are very elastic, and the
gratitude of politicians is more than
| that of common men, since re-elec-
tion depends on it. So there is lit
tie doubt that the law in Khan COM
munities is likely to favor Klans-
men-as it does certain other class
es in other places. But this Is an
evil of popular government, not
chargeable to the Khan unless Ii puts
pressure on the law officers, q mat
ter almost impossible to prove.
On the whole however, there is a
good deal to show that the general
effect of the Khan crusades has been
good. The circuit judge quoted in
previous article told me that in his
district the Khan had done Sub
stantial JUSTICE" an Oklahoma judge
confirmed this. Both said that the
general morality and decency had
been improved. My own observations
agree with this. This Judgment is,
of course entirely apart from any
question of the good or evil of the
methods employed.
The same thing is true of crimes,
| even of crimes of violence, in spite
of the general beliefs about the Khan.
The Khan information bureau has
statistics which show a decrease in
crime in the states where the Khan
is strong. For Louisiana they show
80 per cent less crime in the last
two years and in Texas about the
same, together with an increase in
convictions. Statistics from such a
source are subject to challenge, of
course; but it is certain that lynch
ing, which might be supposed a pc
culiariy Klannish crime, has de-
creased more than half in the year
of the Klan's great growth. There
are several instance where klans
have helped sheriffs prevent mob
violence.
While on the subject of crime it
may be well to give DR.. Evans state
ment about the Mer Rouge affair,
since that is often cited as a COM
plete condemnation of the Khan. |
This is the first official statement
that has come from a Khan leader |
on the subject and denies both that |
Klansmen were guilty or that the |
Khan refused to help the prosecu-
ton.
'The true story of Mer Rouge has |
not been told" he said THAT is |
about all the Khan knows about it. |
1t does not know who was guilty nor |
of what they were guilty. II does
know that the prosecution Of the
case has been proceeding on a wrong
theory and against the wrong men.
Ii has been accused Of not aiding the
prosecution; IL has had no Informal
tiOn that II could give. Some such
Information, as yet unyerified, has
recently come to us. III that Informal
tIOn proves correct ID will be given
TO the authorities and the truth
will be learned ut last"
In all this Khan crusading there
has been much talk of abuse Of in
nocent people and Of punishment in