THE EVENING HERALD, KLAMATH FALLS, OREGON
rmiHfiiuY, TrccEsmr,n oo, ton
Two
AMERICA AND THE KLAN
to
. THE HOX. 11ENJAM1X LOH1XU YOUNG
S(In IhU iiHlclr, rc-pi Intod from 1'glillc Affnitu, official uiaanxlnei
ol V'lu-lr Sam's Voter, thn Hpt-iiki'r of tlic MiwsacliUKCttB Hunno of Kt
preil tnllvrn, trllH why ho, it IVotratnnt. Ui-Bccmlnnt of the mliilnnl I
llirUnn iM'ttlrm of Nrw UiikIhiiiI, ppoMn iIip Kii KUix klan).
,'CNE problem above all others deserves the careful'
II attention of the American people at this critical i
time in the life of our nation. ' It is a problem
which most foeople are thinking of but which is seldom ;
discussed in public. 'My own convictions upon it are so
profound that I' cannot keep silent !
I have in mind the growing spirit of insolerance and j
hatred which is spreading throughout the Republic. Just)
as the. great need of the world today is tranquillity and :
!e$ce i among the nations, s6 the great need of America j
s franquillity and peace among all the elements of our I
population. Patriotic Americans, whatever their origin j
or occupation, should have' a decent respect for one an
other. We should forever cherish our ancient ideals of j
individual liberty, freedom of conscience and religion, j
freedom of speech and freedom of the press. j
fittfce original Ku Klux Klan wa
a aacret order formed by the whlta
men), of the South In the dark days
of reconstruction which followed ;he
Clv(f war. The North and South aro
today united In common love of flag
and country, and nothing can he
gained by any attempt to arouse
again the hatreds engendered by
slavery, civil war and reconstruction.
But' when we Americana of New
England are asked to join the mod
ern ,Xlan, we cannot help remem
bering that the Ku Klux Klan of
1865 was formed tor the sole pur
posqf of nullifying the Constitution
and laws of the United States, and of
oppeeing, by force If necessary, the
clvtland military officers of our
country. . .v:.
...Whatever that name may signify:
to tie citizens of our southern states,
it tags never been held In honor by
the mn and women who worked
and .fought with Lincoln and with
Grant.' The old order. accomplished
1U purpose of insuring white su
premacy ; in the- South, and it was
1 speedily abandoned. Its dissolution
was .accompanied with rioting and
disorder to such a marked degree
that President Grant sent to congress
In a special message asking
tor legislation to protect the con
stitutional right of free American
citizens. i . .
"White, GcntUe, Protestant
j,' J Supremacy." "
But the present order has no con
nection) with the Klan of 1865. The,
present organization was incorpor
ated' Ju'lylr 1W6; In the state' of
; Georgia. -Tt its'--' nationwide' fra
ternity, operating in secret and hav
ing for its purpose white, gentile,
Protestant supremacy. During the
world war, Americans were working
and f Ishtlng shoulder to shoulder.
The soldiers in the trenches were not
asked" what country their parents
cam4 from, nor were the buyers of
liberty bonds restricted to the mem
bersbf any particular church. ' .
The real spread of the Klan has
com e in the last three years, and
today, it claims several million mem
bersfjlivlded among all the states.
"By their fruits, ye shall know
therot" The Klan has shot across the
continent like a flaming 'meteor. It
has Jfcft behind a trail not merely of
passion' and hatred but of violence,
bloodshed and murder.
JBeveral states of the south lie
prostrate under Its, dominion. Rep
resetjiotire government has been
abandoned, The invisible empire
lioldg.,gway. Unknown, and irrespon
sible leaders, self-styled by the fan
tastic)' names of ..'.'.imperial wizard,"
"cyclops," and " "kieagle." have
passed secret judgment oil men and
on measures. By persuasion if pos
sibly by trickery and fraud, tyranny
oncUoppresslon, the offices of gov
ernment have been taken from the
American people and placed in con
trol 'bt the Klan. r ,
T)ai I exaggerate? The facta prove
ovory statement. Read the testimony
before the congressional comtaJttee
at Washington, read tiie evidence In
the trial before Judge Odora at Iter
Rouge, Louisiana (threats, kidnap
IhK.t'whlppliig, torture and murder.
, in fact. Governor Parker went to
AVashlngton to secure; If necessary,
the ijolp of federal troops In preserv
. Ing 'preserving order and upholding
justice. I have personally talked
wlth'cltlpena i of Georgia, Louisiana,
Oklahoma and Arkansas and have
loarn'ed first-hand of the methods
UBcd.'ln thoso states. Cities, towns
and Counties have, for months,' been
tinde;'a reign of terror. .
v "Promoters H11V0 lU-rti Self-Seeking
V' ; I Ailventui'crs." ,
' (The promoters of the' Klan liavi
bee-; self-seeking adventurers. .The
little ring which controlled the or
ganiznUon In its first years niadi
1 fnbulous profits-from the Initiation
fiiM.f Tho sworn evldonre has shown
tlmt the ?I0 initlntlon fee has, at
tlina, ,been distributed as follows:
1 14 to tho solicitor, $'1 to the stale
oigahizer, EO cents to the goblin, (2
for actual expenses of the order1, and
82. BO to an Inside group known as
. the Southern Publicity association.
On tbls basis of division, 1,000,000
members means 82,500,000 for thai
inside ring. i
it It any wonder that the organ- j
tiers and officers think the Klau Is'
a good thing They have reaped a.j
rich harvest from the blind preju-j
dices of their misguided followers. j
Springing from "obscurity to great
wealth, many have already retired
from the Klan to enjoy eise and .
luxury for the rest of their days. The .
New Englander who joins the Klan i
Is buying the cheapest "gold brick" I
ever offered for sale. . '- - - j
But this movement 13 too' sorlou3 j
to be met with ridtnulo nml launh- j
(v. It should je foujlit out ou the !
merits It should be cyplaiuefi and !
defeitt'l, not by the Catholic, tho !
Jew, and the negro whom i attacks j
but by the de;5tu. white, gentile ;
Protestant peop".e of Ameriot. i
Those of us in Massachusetts '
whoso ancestors came to our shores
with the Pllgr'-ns and Puritans and
whose forefaf'.ers developed this ,
state, created oer government and I
defended her against foreign men-;
ace In every war, should Uke the
lead, against thts un-American and
un-Christlan organization. We are
as proud of our English tongue and '
our Anglo-Saxon blood as any of our j
fellow citizens can be of their raco I
and origin. But we bitterly resent'
tbe iir plication of. the Klan that th? !
American of colonial stock seeks to
dominate and terrorize his fellow
citizens of other racial origin and re
ligious belief. Supremacy, leaders!)!?,.
pnblic and private honor depend on
character and ability. They are not j
founded on .hatred and violence.
Works in Secret and Shrinks From
Light of J)ay."
J regard the Ku Klux Klan as a
hateful thing; hateful because in ,
cowardly fashion it works In secret .
and shrinks from the light of day;
hateful because it substitutes Individ- j
ual whim and mob prejudice for the ,
orderly methods of . American gov-
eminent; hateful because it relies
for Its ultimate sanction on mob vio
lence, the very antithesis of riie !
American ideal of llbeity under the !
law; hateful because it strikes at :
tbe most fundamental of all rights,
the freedom of the individual to wor- ,
ship God in accordance with the ;
faith of his fathers and his own con
science, ' . .
Hatred begets hatred. Violence
feeds upon violence. Many people
were afraid that disorder and rioting
might follow any meeting of the'
Klan In Massachusetts. The Klan has
a perfect right to hold meetings in
its owu building, and to announce .
its doctrines in the free light of pub- ;
lie discussion. We may disagree with
its doctrines, but its members are entitled-
to their constitutional rights !
and their ; own opinions. Public
gatherings of masked men bearing
arms must be prohibited, but If the
members check their Runs at the
door, take off their bathrobes and '
nightcaps and tear up their masks,
their meeting should have every pro- j
tection .which the police power can
afford. ;
The KJuu is merely a dramatic ex- j
ample of the general spirit of Inlol-'
erauce a spirit which has come be- '
fore and may come again. No spe
cial group, based on race or religion,
has any monopoly of Intolerance. In
recent years we have seen examples
on all sides and It should be attacked
by right-thinking Americans whore-
ever it appears. . ' j
Voiding Can Justify Such Movements
Nothing can Justify political move
ments based on race or religion.
Pulse to every theory of our govern
ment, they would In practice divide
tho American .people permanently
Into hoHtllo camps.
Our house would bo divided
against Itself for all time. The possi
bility of a united citizenship would
Toiever be destroyed.
The problem of the melting pot
mny at times seem difficult, but it
can never be solved by religious per
secution or race hatred. It can be
solved only by fair dealing, by educa
tion, by the example of high Ideals
anil by tho cornerstone of our politi
cal faith, tho equality ot all men
before the law.
The Ku Klux Klan Is false to the
Declaration of Independence false
to the Constitution of tho United
States, false to the lessons taught by
WufliliiRton, Lincoln and Roosevelt.
ITlio Ku Klux Klan Is not yet a po-ll'.i.-al
ifaue In 'Massachusetts. But
It Is a political issue in a dozen
states, and the loaders ot the Klau
openly announce their Intention of
capturing every office in the govern
ment including the presidency of the
United Stales. Here Is an issue upon
which patriotic citizens cannot keep
silent. Those who are not publicly
against the Klan must be counted as
belnst with it. There can be no sur
render to force and no compromise
with murder". No doubt .the great ma
jority ot. Klan members are God
fearing, well lutentloned men, but
they must bo judged by the company
they keep.
We should be outspoken against
the Klan. Let us point out that Its
very existence is a betrayal of the
American spirit. Its fires of religious
hatred would speedily dissolve "the
cement that binds the Union."
flu one of the last speeches made
by President Harding, he used these
solemn and reverest words:
"I tell you, my countrymen, the
world needs more ot Christ; tho
world needs more ot the spirit of tho
Man of Xainrcth. It we could bring
luto the relationship ot humanity,
among ourselves and among the na
tions ot the earth, the brotherhood
that was taught by Christ, wo would
huve a restorod world."
Vet us follow his example. Let us
obey the Golden Rulo In practice us
well as theory. Let us do unto others
as we would havo them do unto us.
The tsue Is clear. It Is the Ku
Klux Klan against constitutional
government. It Is the Ku Klux Klan
against the equullty o( all men be
fore the law. The fight Is on and It
must c ntlnue to the end.
WRIGHTMAN TO BE
SPEAKER AT ELKS
LODGE DECEMBER 27
Initiation Ami llnulu't to Ih Hold
And lull Attendance Kxpvclcd
' Says Kxnltctl Ruler
Hon Frank T. Wrlghtnian, past
exulted rulor ot the Salem lodge
of Elks, who is now district depu
ty grand exulted ruler for Oregon
south, will visit the Klamath Fulls
DECEMBER 31 IS
Film DATE FOR
VETERANS' LOAN
Initial Applications May be
Filed and Final Petition
Made by June 20, 1927
"locembor 31 is the lust ditto on
which applicants may file Initial ap
plications stating whether Ihoy, elect
lodge of Elks Thursday. December
Kxaltvd ltulur. Perry , Do LP
said there would be ou liuttutlon
and a banquet following tho cere
monies and that a full nttmdanro
It expected, WrlRhlmuu Is suld to
bo a very entertaining speaker and
In addition to being n grand lodge
officer has been very active lu
Oregon Klkdom for n number of
years.
to tnko tplio cash bonus or tho loan,
under the Oregon stulu aid com
mission's ruling," snyt tlto PncKIc
l.eglou.
"flhould an nupllcnnt petition for
the loan at his disposal under the
terms of the Oregon adjusted com
pensation law, ho will then have un
til June 30, 1037, to mukc his sec
ond, or fl util petition.
"December 81 Is also tho lust day
on which tho cash bonus vuu be re
filndoct uud I he' loan taken In place
of tho cash by thoso who took the
cn mIi through a mlsundurstuiidlng ot
their rights. Tho refund may be do.
ducted from loan proceeds.
, 'Tho number ot Initial applica
tions received to November 15, was
33.29$. Tho number ot cash bonuses
paid to duto Is 21,081, mid the
amount la $ I, Q0u, 900. 42. Loans paid
total 475S In nuiivber'uml 'l 1,8:10, -400
In amount. Repayments on loiiiu
ulroiuly total (400,403.50."
If you want a good fumlly cow at
tend the Auction Halo nt the Countv
Fnlr pavilion. Frlrtnv. l)ir. II. 18-20
'Stationery tho write gift,
rliu tor DnifcS.
Cur-SO
Five linn's tile Jterords nt Karl
Sliopherd's Kci'oril Hendiiimi-ters.
10-20
Universal Klectrle Hoiisehr.ld ap
pliances CuitIiik for 1)iiik. 2"
Hi NTi-m i'ixi:i) !W. ,
11, O. Chlldort was fined MB '"'
costs In tho Justice court yesterday
for hunting without u license. Tito
arrest was Hindu by Cliiine Warden
Mnrtoli Humes.
WHAT NK.T7
A town In New York stnlo has
nnnoiiiieuil that timelier may smoke
If they in desire.
KihIhIi ntiil .lirownles tf'iirrlni
for PniKs. ' EQ.
GOOD
CIGARETTES
$eM "Bull"
JLiLEw. TOBACCO
GREAT P
COATS
SUITS
DRESSES
WAISTS
:OLIDA
1 " l
. ' ' (-... ..
SWEATERS
MILLINERY
FURS
ETC. ETC.
Our Complete Line of Up to the Minute Ready lo
v . . i . ...... I .''
Wear Sacrificed
A c
Big Stocks and a Backward Season Leave us Loaded with Merchandise that must be turned into Cah
Right Now We cannot wait until the Holiday Season is over. We must act at Once We must get the
v '' Money at Once
It Is An Unfortunate Situation For Us, But a Lucky One For You
... . f ,, v : . '." - v '
Winter is just fairly started. You need winter-clothes. Then, too, Christmas is just a few days away and you have many gifts
.to make. For every woman or miss on your list we can .save monay LOTS OF IT.
FUR SALE NOW ON
ops
Coats
.'.'NOTHING CAN COMPARE WITH GIFTS TO WEAR"
mmmmmmmmmmmmtmmBmocavmi mm
All new and up-to-date.
Grouped into six extra specially-priced
lots.
$15, $19.50, $24.50,
$35, $39.50, $59.50
All worth at least a third more
z than the price asked. Many
others at $39.50.
I r- - ::.
All our -Voile and
. Marquisette ..
Extra Specials
Suits
Bath Robes
.Extra Heavy, Beautiful
Designs. Silk Trimmed
$5.95
Straight
WAISTS
Price
i
2
GINGHAM BUNGALOW
APRON DRESSES
Extremely neat and
Desirable
79c
THROUGHOUT 'THE STORE
i .
All our . "'' x "'"? ' :
Silk Blouses
A Splendid Assortment
1-5 OH
200 SILK, JERSEY, POIRET AND SATIN DRESSES
GROUPED IN FOUR LOTS
$9.50, $15, $19.50,. $24,50
. Every Dress in the House Drastically Reduced ' "
HUH I IMF!! V All our winter hats assorted into
II 1 1 I IllhKY 5 underpriced lots and selling
lHlLLUUilil fof leMFthan onc.half their
real value.
$1.95, $3.95, $5.95, $7.95
Your Choice of any( Winter Mat m'he Store for $9.50
For less than the cost of ma
terials. Every suit of the best
workmanship and the materials
and linings the best
$15.00, $19.50
$24.50
AND UPWARD
Sweaters
'I j'i 3 t It
Silk and Mohair Mixtures
,- SLIPONS
$2.95 .
Every Silk and Wool Sweater
' Reduced (,
COME EARLY
; BE YOUR OWN 'JUDGE
OF THE UNUSUAL VALUES