The Birmingham age-herald., 1924-08-27
TWO INFLUENTIAL REASONS

It appears that two factors comDlneo to cause the busting of the Klan influ- ence from the Democratic party organ ization in Ohio. These two factors are apparent also in causing anti-Klan pro- nouncements from the three party tickets. In the first place, the Klan is secret, not to say mysterious, organization. Undoubtedly that secrecy was assumed and that mystery carefully developed in order that the organization might be im- pressive. There was mystery as to it's membership and it's numbers. Although some election outcomes have been attrib- uted to the strength of the Klan vote, there is no means of knowing definitely whether such claim is justified. Recent results in which anti-Klan candidates have easily won indicate that the voting strength of the organization is actually less than had previously been generally believed. It is possible that there is going on a popular revolt against this invisible influence and a popular resentment against its mystery. Many believe that there have actually been recent with drawals from the ranks of the Klan it. self on the part of those who at heart do not approve of secret and covert tac- tics.
 Besides the secrecy, the second factor thought to have been influential in arous- ing party hostility to the Klan is the Klan's evident political purpose. As a secret organization, having no purpose but its own ritual and seeking to influ- ence neither government nor the admin istration of law by hidden activities on the part of individuals whose identity is unknown, the Klan would have aroused no antagonism. But as body strongly suspected of secretly seeking to wield a political influence, it cannot escape being feared and shrunk from by those organ izations whose purpose is openly and frankly political, and who operate ac- cording to statutes fixed for their guid- ance and control.
 The Democratic organization in Ohio took the view that the Klan is properly a separate party, if it seeks to act as a unit whose control and program proceed from councils to which the rest of the party is not admitted and the plans of which are not disclosed.
 Mir. LaFoilette, Mr.. Davis and MT. Dawes, the latter presumably speaking also for MT. Coolidge, have declared themselves against the Klan as secret political influence within. their respective organizations, and also against whatever purpose it may have of discriminating against persons or candidates because of racial or religious reasons. The constitu- tion of the United States has predicated that attitude as unlawful, and no major candidate yet dares to come before the people of the United States on a plat form subversive of fundamental consti- tutional principles and provisions.
 It is recalled that both the Republican and the Democratic conventions sought to establish their position in this matter without specifically mentioning the Klan They have been criticized as guilty of evasion. As a matter of fact, however, the language of the platforms is funda- mental. It refused to make the Klan an issue, because it is believed that it is but a passing phase. The platform decla- ration of the Democratic party particu- larly is so broad and fundamental that A. o.,,o,,- ,o+ apIxy tho Elan of tOdaU hut the similar phenomena of the past, and whatever future form the same spirit of intolerance may take. In conformity with the platform declaration, therefore, the Democratic party can have no traffic with any organization that goes counter to the meaning and intent of the plank which deprecates any program of widen ing racial or religious schisns among American citizens.
 If the Klan desires to come out into the open, with open declaration of polit- ical purpose, and with the formation of a responsible party, that is it's own affair. But the friends of Democracy will not permit any boring from within, nor any effort to creep into authority under the mantle of the party. There is evident throughout the country a general pop ular, partisan and political sentiment contrary to the policy of secrecy which the Klan has adopted.
 MADISON'S HEALTH UNIT
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