The Modern Ku Klux Klan Part 19

If every State in the Union will pa.s.s a law along similar lines to the above Tennessee statute, there will be no Ku Klux parades, no midnight burnings of the fiery cross, and no repet.i.tion of the tar and feathers occurrences that have been prevalent in the State of Texas. I think that there should be a modification, however, of the Tennessee statute, making it a misdemeanor to go about disguised in the daytime, and a felony at night.

There are already enough laws on the statute books of the States against mob violence, a.s.sault, murder, mayhem and other crimes, and the enforcement of these laws will go a long way toward killing the "masked terror." No law, however, is enforceable unless public sentiment is behind it, and if the public officials, especially the sheriff's forces and the city police departments are filled with men sworn to obey "unconditionally" the orders of the "Invisible Empire" and to use "any and all justifiable means and methods" in the accomplishment of the Ku Klux program even public sentiment can do but little. In this connection, I want to call attention to an editorial which appeared in the _Searchlight_, the official organ of the Ku Klux Klan, under date of July 23, 1921, which reads:

"It is sometimes amusing to note the ridiculous situations which ignorance oftentimes leads men, even of more than average intelligence. For instance, it doubtless is amusing to members of the Knights of the Ku Klux Klan to hear a judge instruct a grand jury to probe that organization because of its 'lawlessness and un-Americanism,' when they know that anywhere from a third to one-half the members of the grand jury are members of the K. K. K., and know that the good judge is all unconsciously making an a.s.s of himself by attempting to express an opinion on a subject that he knows nothing about."

The attempt of the Ku Klux Klan to enlist the police authorities in its organization and bind them with its vicious oath is the most serious count in the indictment against the system. The potentialities are far-reaching, and unless the organization is checked in that direction, the consequences must necessarily be grave. How the situation, in that respect should be met, I leave to others.

The foregoing suggestions are merely intended to set people to thinking, and from these ideas may come better suggestions as to the proper methods which should be pursued in checking and eliminating the rising tide of Ku Kluxism. It should be carefully remembered, however, that the task of wiping out Ku Kluxism will not be an easy matter. The organization is headed by a shrewd individual who has already tasted the sweets of success. All the energy that desperation and cunning can devise will be used in resisting any effort that will be made to suppress the organization. Behind this individual are thousands of fanatics, who for one reason or another believe that this "n.o.ble cause" is the salvation of the country. While fully one-half of the men who have parted with ten dollars went into the organization out of curiosity, and will probably drop it, the other element will do all it can to keep the movement alive, even in spite of the exposure made by the _New York World_.

Behind the publicity of the _World_ should therefore come the united efforts of every agency in America which discountenances such a scheme.

Every organization engaged in civic work should bring all the available pressure to bear upon the legislative branches of both State and Federal governments to secure the enactment of suitable laws against Ku Kluxism.

Then when adequate laws are secured, the power of public opinion should demand that these laws be enforced and irresponsible and secret government, private regulation of the public peace, interference with law-enforcing authorities, and cla.s.s hatred and prejudice should be crushed.

Half-hearted measures will do no good. Unless the American people are prepared to deal vigorously with Ku Kluxism, they may as well turn over to the system the free and untrammelled right to carry out its secret program, because mild measures will have but little effect in stemming the tide this movement must inevitably bring should its propaganda be successful.

CHAPTER XVI

THE _World's_ EXPOSURE

I turned over to the _New York World_ early in July, 1921, the facts and doc.u.mentary evidence I had in my possession, and initiated the exposure with the understanding that the paper would make a complete investigation before printing a single story. Under the direction of Mr. Herbert Bayard Swope, the Executive Editor and Mr. William Preston Beazell, a.s.sistant Managing Editor, the investigation was immediately begun. Mr. Rowland Thomas was a.s.signed to handle the investigation and direct the efforts of the force which began working on it. This work was done for two months, during which time I acted as an a.s.sistant to Mr. Thomas.

On September 6, 1921, the _World_ began the publication of its series exposing the Ku Klux Klan. a.s.sociated with the _World_ were thirty other newspapers covering practically the entire United States, and for twenty-one days the exposure of Ku Kluxism held over five million newspaper readers spellbound in their absorbing interest in the story of the organization. The series comprised twenty-one articles, and occupied the front page in the _World_ to the exclusion of every big piece of news of national or international importance.

The exposure covered in the main facts and doc.u.ments which I submitted to the paper. It fully substantiated and vindicated the charges made by me in my letter of withdrawal that the organization was un-American, that it was being propagated by spreading religious and racial hatred, that it was a money-making scheme for the benefit of a few insiders, that its oath was illegal and its ritual a sacrilege, and the various other matters referred to by me which are set forth in my letter in a previous chapter. With but few exceptions the entire American press agreed with my position in the matter by endorsing the _World's_ exposure, and a vast number of the most prominent men and women in America publicly expressed themselves as gratified over the action of the _World_ in showing up the Ku Klux Klan.

One of the most interesting developments made by the _World_ in the course of its exposure was its publication of facts collected by the paper in connection with the relations of Edward Young Clarke, the Imperial Kleagle and head of the Southern Publicity Bureau, and his business a.s.sociate Mrs.

Elizabeth Tyler.

On Sat.u.r.day, September 10, 1921, four days after the _World_ commenced the publication of its series, Mrs. Tyler arrived in New York and engaged an elaborate suite of rooms in one of the most conspicuous hotels in the city. She had obviously been sent by Clarke for the purpose of securing favorable publicity for the Klan, and immediately upon her arrival gave a story to an evening paper as "bait" for the Sunday papers. Although her mission was but a partial success, she did succeed in getting her picture in a few papers, together with prepared statements deploring the "unjust attacks" that had been made on the organization, and expounding its "n.o.ble aspirations." She was particularly emphatic on the proposition that one of the main objects of the Klan was to "protect the purity and chast.i.ty of womanhood and to preserve the sanct.i.ty of the American home." She stated that women were to be admitted to membership, that she had been made the first woman member, and that she would have charge of the women's department. While she was in New York "Emperor" Simmons issued one of his typically bombastic proclamations, composed in pure Simmonsese, designating Mrs. Tyler as his "Grand Chief of Staff." This proclamation read as follows:

"To all Genii, Grand Dragons and Hydras of Realms, Grand Goblins and Kleagles of Domains, Grand t.i.tans and Furies of Provinces, Giants, Exalted Cyclops and Terrors of Cantons, and to all citizens of the Invisible Empire, Knights of the Ku Klux Klan, in the name of our valiant and venerated dead, I affectionately greet you:

"In view of our Nation's need and as an additional force in helping on the great work of conserving, protecting and making effective the great principles of our Anglo-Saxon civilization and American ideals and inst.i.tutions, the Imperial Kloncilium, in regular session a.s.sembled, after deliberate care and earnest prayer, decided that there shall be established within the bounds and under the supreme authority and government of the Invisible Empire an organization that will admit the splendid women of our great national commonwealth, who are now citizens with us in directing the affairs of the Nation.

Which decision of the Imperial Kloncilium I have officially ratified after serious, careful and devoted consideration of all matters and things involved by this move.

"In view of the foregoing, I hereby officially declare and proclaim that such organization does now exist in prospect. Plans, methods, ritualism and regulations of same are now in process of formation and will be perfected at an early date and officially announced.

"I do further proclaim that in order to have the proper a.s.sistance in the formation and perfecting of this organization, I have this day and date selected and officially appointed Mary Elizabeth Tyler of Atlanta, Fulton County, Ga., to be my Grand Chief of Staff, to have immediate charge of work pertaining to said woman's organization under my authority and direction.

"Further information will be duly and officially communicated from time to time.

"Done in the Aulic of His Majesty, Imperial Wizard, Emperor of the Invisible Empire, Knights of the Ku Klux Klan, in the Imperial City of Atlanta, Commonwealth of Georgia, United States of America, on this, the ninth day of the ninth month of the year of our Lord, 1921.

"Duly signed and sealed by His Majesty.

"WILLIAM JOSEPH SIMMONS, "Imperial Wizard."

Mrs. Tyler went back to Atlanta, complacently happy in the proud consciousness that she had "pulled" a wonderful piece of publicity.

On Monday, September 19, 1921, however, the _World_ and its a.s.sociated newspapers printed a story that sent a shock of consternation into the hearts of the entire Ku Klux organization, stripped the mask from Mrs.

Tyler and Clarke, and sent a ripple of merriment and disgust from one end of the country to another.

The story, which has been fully verified by the _New York World_, read as follows:

(_Special Despatch to The World from a Staff Correspondent._)

"ATLANTA, September 18.--The _World's_ exposure of Ku Klux took an astounding turn here yesterday when a staff correspondent obtained evidence of the truth of rumors which have long been matters of gossip in Atlanta. This evidence proves that:

"1. A few days prior to October 31, 1919, Edward Young Clarke of Atlanta, who is at present, by appointment of Imperial Wizard Simmons, the Imperial Kleagle or boss organizer of the Ku Klux Klan, and Mrs. Elizabeth Tyler of Atlanta, who recently, also by appointment and proclamation of Imperial Wizard Simmons, was made Grand Chief of the newly formed woman's division of Kluxters, were arrested at midnight and in their sleeping garments, in a notorious underworld resort at 185 South Pryor Street, Atlanta, run by Mrs.

Tyler, and taken to the city prison, where Clarke was immediately placed in a cell and where Mrs. Tyler, after being searched, was also locked up.

"2. The two prisoners gave a.s.sumed names, as 'Jim Slaton' and 'Mrs.

Carroll,' respectively, and being unable to obtain bail at that hour, were imprisoned until morning, when Francis Clarke, now managing and then city editor of an Atlanta newspaper and brother of Edward Young Clarke, now Imperial Kleagle of the Ku Klux Klan, appeared at the city prison and by giving $50 bonds effected the release of both prisoners.

TRIED UNDER REAL NAMES

"3. On October 31, 1919, 'Jim Slaton' and 'Mrs. Carroll' were brought into the Recorder's Court in Atlanta for trial on charges of disorderly conduct. After consultation with Policewoman Davis, who had partic.i.p.ated in the raid and arrests, Recorder George E. Johnson ordered the prisoners docketed under their real names of Edward Young Clarke and Mrs. Elizabeth Tyler, and under those names they were tried, found guilty of disorderly conduct and sentenced to pay $5.00 fines or each work twelve days on the streets or other public works of Atlanta. They paid the fines.

"4. Additional charges of possessing whiskey, based on the finding and seizure of such liquor by the police in the Pryor Street resort at the time of the raid, stood against both Clarke and Mrs. Tyler, but were dismissed when J. Q. Jett of Atlanta, the son-in-law of the Mrs. Tyler who is feminine chief of the Ku Klux Klan, came into the Recorder's Court, claimed ownership of the seized whiskey and was fined $25 by the court.

"5. Clarke, Imperial Kleagle of the Ku Klux Klan, in its drive for $10 'one hundred per cent' Americans, consecrated and baptized to uphold and enforce the law and protect the sanct.i.ty of American homes and the chast.i.ty of American womanhood, at this moment stands on the public records of the Fulton County (Ga.) courts and the Atlanta City police courts as a man who has deserted and abandoned his wife and child and has not to this day denied these charges.

TESTIMONY GIVEN BY POLICE

"Imperial Kleagle Clarke and Mrs. Tyler were arrested at midnight in their bedclothes in the resort, according to the testimony of the witnesses, Policeman Jameson, since dead, and Policewomen Davis and Voss, still on active duty. The resort was at 185 South Pryor Street, corner of Fair Street, and it was operated by Mrs. Tyler. The raid occurred a few days prior to October 31, 1919, which is the date of the hearing before Recorder Johnson, at which the verdicts of guilty were rendered and sentences imposed. The numbers of the cases of the City of Atlanta versus E. Y. Clarke and the City of Atlanta versus Mrs. Elizabeth Tyler on the Recorder's docket are 17,005 and 17,006, and the page number of the 1919 docket upon which they are listed is 305.

"Most surprising in view of Clarke's efforts then in progress to make America dry by collecting funds to help the Anti-Saloon League is the fact that the police found whiskey in the house and seized it.

"But next morning as stated the super-Prohibitionist and the Ku Klux feminist were absolved from the legal responsibility involved in the discovery of liquor on the premises when Jett claimed the whiskey and paid the fine of $25."

This story created one of the greatest sensations of the whole exposure, and was a blow to the entire propagation department. One Kleagle, A. B.

Bate of New Jersey, wired to "Emperor" Simmons demanding the immediate removal of the offending pair. In reply to his telegram he was summarily dismissed as a Kleagle by Mrs. Tyler herself. For a few days chaos reigned in the Ku Klux Kamp. Clarke at first denied the truth of the story of his arrest, then made excuses, and then sent in his resignation to the "Emperor." Mrs. Tyler issued a statement branding Clarke as a "weak-kneed quitter," and repudiating him entirely. Simmons, knowing that the pair of professional publicity uplifters had made his organization declined to take any action against either of them, declaring that he had heard rumors of the story, but attached no credence to it.

Aside from showing up the records of a precious pair of "uplifters," the Clarke-Tyler episode has no great bearing upon the menace of Ku Kluxism.

But the aftermath of the story's publication developed two sinister things that make necessary its introduction into this narrative. One of these was the printing in the _Searchlight_ of a violent article which was practically a call to arms against the Catholics and others who were attacking the Klan. The other was the theft of the police records in the city of Atlanta, covering the cases against Clarke and Mrs. Tyler, obviously an inside job and showing the extent to which Ku Kluxism had control of the public officials of that city.

The incendiary article in the _Searchlight_ from the pen of one Carl F.

Hutcheson was headed "American Patriots, Hark!"

"American patriots! The womanhood of this country has been criminally a.s.saulted in the most diabolical and satanic manner known to the human race--_an attempt_ has been made to ruin the character of a good woman by the most dastardly methods of current times. That dastardly, cowardly and infamous instrument of murder comprises certain daily and powerful newspapers of this country!

"Murder! Yes, murder of the worst type! Those murderers who wield the pen, and strew infamy throughout every nook and corner of this nation by their millions of papers with their thunder-bolts of publicity against fair woman! Every word written in opposition to a great patriotic woman of Atlanta reeks with the blood of a grand innocent lady of Southern birth and standing. A woman's character destroyed (only temporarily), but that arch enemy of Americanism, the _New York World_, and its string of subsidized, patronizing, fawning and syncophantic sheets through America, commonly called 'newspapers,'

but which are nothing more than organs, _and specialists as character a.s.sa.s.sins of the most despicable, contemptible and depraved sort_!

"The unwarranted murderous attack sprung from the brain of Pulitzer, who disgraces the name of his great father. His paper is located in a city and community where woman's virtue is played with, and her fair name is no higher regarded than a mere chattel lying upon a crockery-shop shelf for sale at a few pence. Had the so-called editor above referred to, and his blasphemous sheet, had any measure of fairness, justice, and just common canine decency, an effort to materialize effort in its opposition to the Knights of the Ku Klux Klan, he and his corps would never have focused their salacious and foul guns upon a lone, defenseless woman! I said alone? Defenseless?