Evening star., 1937-09-14
GRAVES ADMITS
KLAN AFF|L|AT|ON
Governor "Can't Recall"
Ever Meeting Hugo Black
at Sessions.
BY RUSSELL B. PORTER.

H OooLAA -. L OR GASs
MONTGOMERY, Ala, September
IA iN.A.N.A).-Gov. Bibb Graves of
Alabama admitted today he formerly
was member of the Klu Klux Klan,
denied he still is, and said he could
not recall" ever meeting former Sena-
tor Hugo l.. Black. now an associate
justice of the Supreme Court of the
United States, at any Klan meetings
or conferences.
He disclaimed any knowledge of Klan
membership, present or past, on the
part of Justice Black. Gov. Graves re-
Gently appointed his wife, Mrs. Dixie
Graves, as United States Senator from
Alabama to fill the vacancy created
when President Roosevelt nominated
Senator Black to the Supreme Court
and the Senate confirmed him after
discussing reports connecting his name
with the Klan.
The Governor admitted attending
the Klan celebration in Birmingham
on or about September 2, 1926, follow
ing the Democratic primaries in which
he was nominated for Governor for the
first time, and in which Mr.. Black was
nominated for United States Senator
for the first time. He could not recall"
the presence of either Mr.. Black or
Imperial Wizard Hiram w. Evans OF
Atlanta at that meeting. as alleged in
the series Of articles written by Ray
Sprigle for the Pittsburgh POST Gazette
and copyrighted by that newspaper and
the North American Newspaper ALI
ance, Inc.
Admits Receiving Badge.
He admitted receiving on that occa-
sion what he called some kind of q
badge" or what Mr. Sprigle called a
gold grand passport or life-member-
ship card in the Klan," and making an
acceptance speech in which he pledged
loyalty to Klan principles. He said he
did not attach any great Importance to
this gift, and did not even read its
inscription. He dropped out Of the
Klan when he became Governor in
1927, never rejoined it, and does not
know what became of the badge" or
SIdIlO pdSSpOIt, 1lc duUcu.
Gov. Graves identified photostatic
copy of a letter on Klan stationery
signed with his name and addressed
from Montgomery on August 13, 1928,
to James Esdale of Birmingham, deal
ing with plans for Klan meeting and
volunteering to speak, as probably
genuine" and the signature as prob
ably my signature"
Il was a Klansman," he said. II
never made any secret of it. I ad-
mitted it at the time. I belonged
to the Klan, just as I belonged to
every other Protestant organization
there was. I joined everything to
which I was eligible. I was what was
called a 'jiner' in those days.
Il joined the Klan as Protestant
patriotic organization, just as many
Catholics have joined the Knights OF
Columbus and many Jews the 'B-Nai
Birth Its slogan was for State and
Nation and it was on that patriotic
basis that I became a Klansman.
Later its purpose was misconstrued,
and some people did things that may
have helped on this misconstruction.
"At any rate, when became Gov
ernor I discontinued all my associa-
tions with it, as I did with all other
organizations, except the Scottish
Rites Masons and the Shrine. With
these exceptions, have had no con-
nection with any secret organizations
since I became Governor, and have
none now"
In answer to question, Gov. Graves
said he did not write formal letter
of resignation from the Klan, but
merely dropped out" by not paying
his dues and not attending any
meetings.
The rule was" he explained, "that
when you quit paying dues you quit
being member. They all knew that
had quit when I didn't pay any
more dues and didn't function any
more as a member"
Replying to another query, he ad-
mitted he had never returned the
badge" or grand passport" to the
Klan, but added. Il haven't seen it in
wa SSoAc3 oiAd ~ 0AdAl dlllOuilL W dS
much as some people seem to think it
did"
The Governor laughed away the sug-
gestion that he still had the status of
a Klan member in view of the nature
Of the badge" as q symbol of life
That's nonsense" he said.
Confirms Report.
Governor Graves confirmed as sub |
stantially correct, SO far as he could |
recall from memory, the stenographic
report Of his acceptance speech at the |
1926 Klan meeting, as related in the
Sprigle articles. ST
He explained that what he said was
in line with his original conception OF |
the Klan as purely a patriotic organ |
ization. He passed over without COM
rnant thn rafaroxcn fn bivre