The Denver Jewish news., 1924-08-07
Shall JeDs Fight The Klan
Inquiry Sent Out BY Jewish Telegraphic Agency Regard
ing the Controversy Between Dr. Stephen Wise and
Mr.. Samuel Untermyer Answered BY Various Jewish
Leaders.

S. Wise and Mr. Sumncl Tntermyer
concerning the attitude To bc followed
hy American Jcwry In the Ku kluN
klnn question. the Jewish Tclegraphic
Agency sent ont an inquiry 10 a mum
her Of prominent Jewish leaders all over
the country asking for their opinion In
the question.
The fret replies to this inquiry re-
vonl the interesting fact that there Is
almost unanimous agreement that the
Jews should not organize separate
Jewish organization 10 combat the
Khan
While condemnation of the Klan is
expressed 10y all, the opinions a. tO n
Jewish stand ON the question vary from
one advocating policy of severely let
ting the problem alone to one urging
Joining with all liberals to fight the or
gnnization because uf its un.American-
ism.
Hon. Ahrnm /. ElkuS. formcr Am
hassador To Turkey. writes:
II am not in favor of participating
openly against thc Ku Klux Khan. al.
though I am tempted to do so. still
think the burden ought to he borne by
the churches Of the Protestant faith
They ought to bear the burden"
Mr.. Ben Selling, the well-lnow phil
anthrCpisi and influential Jewish citi-
zen on the Pacific Coast. expresses al
most similar sentiments:
1T is my opinion that we Jews-as
n group-Should leave the Ku Kluy
Klnn severely along Is n problem
AS Mr.. Samuel l'niermyer has aptly
put it-for the Protestants.
Let us go our way-leadng better
live, Abeing helpful, loyal citizens, at
tending TO our duties ms such and rely
ing on the Justice of onr cause
Mr.. AdClph Krails. president OF the
Independent Order of Znai Birth. the
largest Jewish fratcrnal organization
in the United States, writes as fol-
lows:
Il believe it To he self-evident that
it is II serious mistake for any Jew
Hs n Jew. or for any Jewish organiza-
tiOn as II Jewish organization 50 to act
in connection with the ku Kluy Klan
aS TO create the impression that the
menace of the Klnn is one concerning
the Jew primarily ms Il lew In my
opinion il is just us serious blunder
for Catholics. though they are the
ajor objective of Klan attack, to take
II similar stand.
AS Jews. we do step aside. hut he
cause we are Jews we are not to he
denied our rights as American citizens
To stand mp and fight for the protection
of those principles and rights inherent
in American citizenship.
The menace of Klanism Is not mere
" the menace of religious warfare he
tween PrOtestants and Catholics. nor is
il merely the menace of commercial
hnycott or social discrimination against
Jews. II is n far greater menace. one
which undermincs the very foundation
upon which the structure of American
Freedom and liberty has been erected.
In the face of such n menace. every
citizen who loves his country will for
get that he is Jew, Catholic or Pro-
tcstant and will remember only that
he is nm American and that America
is SYNONYMOUS throughout the world
with democracy. liberty and freedom
for all its citizens.
Il believe that all subsersive move
ments thrive on opposition where that
opposition Is expressed In terms of local
disSension, violence or eXtrn-legnl ac-
tivity. In my opinion, the fate of the
Kmn will be sealed only when the ini-
plications inhcren, in Klanism are full
ly understood.
Let MS be in the future, as we have
been in the past-vltnlly concerned In
the preservation of the fundamental
concepts of American citizenship. up
nolulnS inc Tlenl 10 me- llptriN anu
the pursuit of happiness. and let us
continue to use every means in our
power to instill loyalty to our coun
try. love for It's institutions, mutual uu
derstanding among its citizens. ant
support for its laws. BY contributing
our efforts to the building up of thai
l.
come, if it is not already here, wher
the 'white-robed and hooded gentry vii
learn that there is only one law in th'
land and that that law is to be ad
mhistered by the courts and not by al
invisible empire
The opinions of the leaders of tn,
Inwigh pplnit "a ra mora rinI