TRUTH ABOUT THE KU KLUX KLAN.

Dunstan Times, Issue 3149, 25 December 1922, Page 7

TRUTH ABOUT THE KU KLUX KLAN.

(By J. W. T. Mason).

The success of tho Ku Klux Klan in carrying the Texas elections is causing Americans in the northern States to examine more dispassionately the purposes of that mysterious organisation. The North and South in America, are still separated by many differences of environment, just as they were in the period that preceded the Civil War. The North is inclined to take a supercilious view of the South, and to pay scant attention to its local problems. The sudden emergence of the Klan as the dominant political power in Texas has come as a shock to people who have been led to believe that the Klansmen are a lawless, night-riding aggregation of white caps, who terrorise their enemies by gun and pistol. This picture is obviously untrue, because Texas would not have endorsed so overwhelmingly at the polls any such organisation . The Klan in Texas has among its members most of the middle-class people, and the leaders of commerce, finance, and industry. Its members liken it in essence to the Vigilantes who kept order in the pioneer days of Western America, when the law did not operate. The purpose of the Ku Klux Klan, as far as the Klansmen define their activities, is to make Texas a better community to live in. Texas is the only State of the can Union that was 1 an independent country before it joined 1 the United States." The Texans revolted' from Mexico and established their 1 own Republic before they applied to America for admission. That spirit of independence still exists in Texas. It has tended to develop rather an individualistic type of administration. There is no more overt corruption in Texas than anywhere else in America. But justice is easy going or harsh according to personal predilections. Sheriffs are inclined to thie view that their friends are always innocent. Judges can be persuaded to do favors out of good fellowship. In addition, there is the perpetual Mexican question. Many parts of Texas have a' majority of Mexicans. These people frCm the backward Southern Republic have crossed the Rio Grande and naturalised themselves. Their children are American citizens by birth. But the temperaments and personal characteristics 1 remain Mexican. The Texan himself, usually an AngloSaxon, will not tolerate Mexican government. Give a Mexican sixpennyworth of authority and he will swagger about as if he were an emperor. In many places Mexicans band together to carry local elections and keep the Texans out of office. Mexicans in office are not liked by the "white" Texans. The l Klan's activities, idealistically presented, are to prevent political corruption, to compel a fair administration of the law, and to save the government of Texas from passing into the hands of backward races. The mystic conclaves of the Klan and the ostentatious secrecy are regarded as weapons wielded in the interest of civic purity. Of course, the Klan acts by snap judgment, and givesi its victims no chance to be heard in their own defence, except on rare occasions. It is a faulty system. But the Klansmen say no other system Works as effectively in keeping before the people of the State fear of the law and respect for civic virtue.