Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1946-08-20
Georgia 5pearheads
Fight 10 Destroy
Resurgent Khan
Second OF Sir Articles. J
By Henry Lesesne
Associated Press Correspondent

Associated Press Correspondent
ATLANTA, Aug. 20.-Georgia Il
the birthplace Of the Ku Klux Khan
and 1t is here that the big fight tt
destroy the hooded order Is taking
shape.
The modern Khan came into be
ing on Thanksgiving night. 1915, or
Stone Mountain near Atlanta. In
the early 1920s, 1t mushroomed into
a national organization.
1t was at the base of this same
chunk of granite that the State
order, apparently defunct a few
years back, was revived in October
of last year.
Even at that time-before mass
full-regalia initiation meeting last
spring drew the spotlight on the
resurgent Klan-the Georgia Grand
Dragon claimed a membership OF
10000. The Grand Dragon, DR.. SAM
uel Green. an Atlanta physician,
hasn't been giving out any mem
bership figures lately, but he in
Inmates the Georgia members now
number several times that many.
Disclaims Lawlessness.
Last month, after Georgia nomi-
mated red-gallused Gene Talmadge
for Governor in the Democratic pri-
mary-the actual Georgia election
DIR, Green estimated 100 900
Klansmen or former Klansmen
helped elect him.
Mr. Talmadge and the Khan have
the same openly professed aim-to
maintain the Southern tradition Of
white supremacy. DR.. Green dis
claims for the Khan any Jew. Cath
ole or CLIO batting. He insists his
order is law-abiding and has as
much right to exist as the Masons.
To various charges or insinuations
that the Khan might be involved
in intimidation or terrorization of
minority, groups, DR.. Green replies:
"Preposterous. No telling what we II
be accused of next"
Soon after the recent lynching of
four Negroes in Monroe County by
an unmasked band of white men, DR..
Green issued a statement saying the
Khan had nothing to do with it and
deploring SUCH lawlessness.
The Khan was revived in Georgia
at about the same time the CLIO was
mapping it's organization campaign
in the South and at the time the
Negro was being given the green
light to vote in the primaries.
Newspapers Aid Fight.
The fight on the Khan in Georgia
is supported by the newspapers gen.
orally. 1t is spearheaded by Gov.
Arnall, who had the State legal de-
partment prepare a suit to revoke
the Khan charter.
The suit, in Fulton County (At-
lanta) Superior Court, probably will
be heard in the fall.
DR.. Green says his Association Of
Georgia Klans" has no legal connec-
ton with the old invisible empire
of the Knights of the Klu Klux
Khan.
The old xxx went underground
in 1914. The Federal Government
was after it with a tax bill for
$500 900. A lien for this has re-
Gently been filed in Atlanta. Until
1912, the Khan maintained national
headquarters here.
PrOf3tjnR ChaPFed
Dan Duke, an assistant attorney
general who prosecuted some Khan
fogging cases here a few years ago,
Is handling the States suit against
the present organization. He terms
the Khan "the ragtag and bobtail
Of the old order" and says that DR.
Green's claims of no connection
with the old Khan interferes not at
all with the suit.
Gov. Arnall says the Khan has
violated the nonprofit and nom
political provisions of its charter
He also charges 1t has engaged in
unlawful acts-charges that DR..
Green denies
In its suit, the State charges the
Klan's ultimate aim is to force its
doctrines upon the State of Geor-
gia by violence, terrorism and hate
and to organize police officers, taxi
cab drivers and others so 1t car
seize the State government.