The Birmingham age-herald., 1924-02-27
Those Opposing Evans Administration Forms
 New Organization
HOODS AND SECRECY < TO BE FORBIDDEN
New Order Will Be Known As
 The Knights Of The A.. Mystic Clan
SIMMONS IS ALSO PLAYED
 FOR REGENT SELLOUf
Klan Charged With Lawlessness, Violence And Repression
 Of Free Speech

ATLANTA, Ca, Feb. 26.-{By As socfated Press Organization of a new order; to be known as the sKnights of the Mystic Clan," to re- place and take in the order known as the aKniehts KAmelia," was voted here late today by the gathering of men op- posed to the present administration of the Knights of the Ku Klux Klan. The resolution providing for the creation of the new order was adopted by rising vote of 160 to 4. Klansmen represent ing IA states were present at the meet ing, it was announced.
 Specifying that the headquarters of the organization shall be located at Kansas City, Mo, and that the wearing of masks and secrecy shall he banned, the resolution stAtss that the "world shall be- given notice that the order is not connected in any manner with the ku Klux Klan, Hiram Wesley Evans or William Joseph Simmons" II Calls Kan Military Order
 Among reasons outlined for the crea- tiof. of the new order, it was, stated that the charter of the klan had been changed recently "to make the organi- zation 2 purely. military and autocratic organization"
 The resolution condemns the Ku Klux Klan and charges that the order is responsible for lawlessness and that because of acts of violence and of gen. eral lawlessness on the part of certain members of the order, it stands dis graced before it's decent membership and the nation today"
 The adoption of the resolution fol- lowed bitter and extended debate and speeches, in which the Ku Klux Klan and its present administration were denounced.
 The resolution stated that William Joseph Simmons, former emporer of the Ku Klux Klan, had lost the respect and confidence of the men who knew him in selling out of the national organization of the Klan". This paragraph of the resolution it was said at the meeting, referred to the purchase from Simmons of his rights to the lKjan ritual and other properties for S145, ,O00.
 Cries of ahf0w him out greeted Roger Taggart of Denver, when he at- tempted a defense of Simmons. He was invited to make speech after it was announced he was interested fin the formation of the Knights of the Flam- ing Cross" an order said to be fostared by Simmons. John R. Jones of Kansas :. City, who asserted he was a "banished Klansman" denounced both Evans and Simmons in his speech.
 The new organization, according to the resolution will take as it's mem- bers men who ''are white and of the protestant Christian faith" and who can qualify under its rules.
 Clarke Condemns KIan
 Edward Young Clarke, in an ad- dress before the assemblage, announced that he would not accept any posi- ton of any kind in any movement the 5 body might launch" and that he twas in no way affiliated or associated with the movement inaugurated by William Joseph Simmons.' Mir. Clarke declared that his only further activities would be ito seek to force the Klan to cease all lawless and political activities or else try and have the Klan suspended" 1"
 In discussing the Klan Mir. Clarke said in part:
 'sThe real principles of the Knights of the Ku Klux Klan are above re- proach, but Klan craft as practiced in America today is not only reproachable but is fast becoming a menace to free speech, free press, individual lib. erty and democratic government. l want you men to believe me when l say this because am not speaking thus without deep conviction.
 Unless conditions inside the organ igation change soon, real storm is going to break about the heads of those Klansmen whoever they may be, wheth. CT humble members or high officials, who are responsible"
 He asserted that the "present leaders of the organization are apparently bent upon making the organization simply n nOlitieal machine !"