The daily worker. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1924-1958, 1927-10-11
By PAUL CROUCH.

These letters are a symbol of terror
in the South. Protected by a mask
and the darkness like other criminals,
the Klansmen use FEAR as their
weapon to keep the workers enslaved
through the "Invisable Empire" to
the capitalist system, especially in the
Southern states. Race prejudices are
exploited, religious antagouism
aroused, and the hatreds created by
nationalism are converted into cash
by the grafters of the Ku Klux Khan
Few workers in the South dare say
anything n-complimentary about the
Klan, except in a whisper and then
to none but their most intimate
friends. 1t reminds one of the days
Of Czarism.
Murder, arson and almost all other
crimes are committed by the Klans-
men with impunity, for throughout
the Southern states the advisable
Empire" is the sinister government
of the dark, ruling it's domain with
Fascist methods OF terror. Even in
Indiana, the head of the K. X. K
thought he could follow the example
of the Southern Klansmen and get
away with rape and murder.
Khan Hates Communists.
1t is only to be expected that Com
munism is the word most hated and
feared by the Klansmen. In the class
consciousness and organization of the
workers they see the end Of their
power. They are ready to use any
method to prevent the wage slaves
Of the South from organizing for
struggle against the Khan and CAPT
talism.
On recent visit to my parents in
North Carolina, l had my first
(probably not my last) opportunity to
observe at first hand the methods
used in the South by the reactionary
element represented by the Khan and
the American Legion--the twin
groups of American Fascism.
Newspaper Abuse.
A short time before my visit, the
Wilkes Patriot published an editorial
entitled, "The Coming of Crouch" l.
was denounced in the most abusive
and vindictive language, and difficult
shedding in his native county of
Wilkes" was predicted for me. The
exact meaning of difficult shedding"
was soon given practical demonstra-
ton by use of the bomb and the
fiery cross" the emblem of the K.
X. K.
Before my arrival, many threats
against me were made by those who
fear the organization of the workers
in the South. l was told that officers
of the American Legion wished to
have the meeting suppressed by force.
One man stated that though he did
not believe in my views, he thought
should have the right to speak with
out danger of being mobbed. Much
ugly talk" and mob spirit" was re-
1 ported.
Blast Near House.
l arrived Friday and spoke the
following day. The night of my ar
rival, a tremendous explosion in
front Of my fathers home was heard
for miles. An eye witness states
that fiery cross" about rs yards
from the house burst into flames and
that an unusually terrific explosion
followed about one minute later. |
made a personal examination of the
remains of the cross. 1t was made
of pine, fastened together with wire,
covered with rags and saturated with
] oil A five CrallpY, fovry or
from the cross was about one third
full Of crude OIL
The Klan threat evidently was in
tended to intimidate me so that
would not speak, and to brighten the
people in the section so they would
stay away from the meeting, fearing
that it would be suppressed by mob
violence. 1t did not prevent me from
speaking and, considering the cir
cumstances, there was a rather large
audience, several times the size of
religious meeting the following day.
Copies of the Young Worker were
! given to all at the meeting. The edi-
tor of the Wilkes Patriot, the mayor
of North Wilkesboro and the head of
the local post of the American Legion
were present, but most of the au-
dience was sympathetic and m ny ex-
pressed approval of my speech. One
farmer came thirty miles to hear me.
81 never thought about these things
before" was a statement made by
more than one in the audience. The
efforts of the Klansmen to intimidate
me were denounced by many farmers.
Its shame" they said.