THE KU KLUX KLAN.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIII, Issue 19328, 15 May 1926, Page 2 (Supplement)

THE KU KLUX KLAN.

RISE AND PRESENT POWER. INFLUENCE IN AMERICA. RIVAL ORGANISATIONS. CLAIMS AND COUNTER-CLAIMS. Keen observers of questions or the (lav in the United States believe the Ku Klux Klan is diminishing in membership anri power, and that it is not nearly as strong now as it was in 1923. 'I he name of the organisation is taken from thp old s-cret society of reconstruction days fallowing the Civil War of the early "sixties." The newer Klan first saw the light of (lav, r , r of flight, about ten years ago. It .speedily secured a firm liold in the southern and south-western States, and then moved forward into the middle west and thf cast. But few footholds followed entry into the far west. There is nothing like going to headquarters to find out exactly what underlying principles dominate a movement like the Ku Klux Klan, says the Herald's San Francisco correspondent. This is what the North American Review did, and that conservative publication gave thirty-one pages in its March-April-May issue to Dr. Hiram Wesley Evans, Imperial Wizard and Emperor. Knight <-.{ the Ku Klux Klan, to teli all about his organisation under the heading "The Klan's Fight for Americanism." The paper gave notice that its next issue would contain articles by Catholics, Jews, coloured people, and a University professor, all in opposition to Dr. Evans' views.

"Last Thanksgiving Day, November 26, 1925, the Ku Klu.v Klan passer] its tenth anniversary," writes I Jr. Evans. " The power to cleanse from within won full control in 1922. The Klan was necessary to meet changing conditions, It, has grown from a handful of members to millions, and has lasted longer than similar movements. One purpose is to develop America first, and chiefly for the children of the pioneers who made America, the Klan is their champion. It is an idea, a faith, a purpose, an organised crusade. It educates millions' in citizensfnp, suppresses much lawlessness, increases good government, restricts immigration, and defeated the Catholic attempt to seize the Democratic party. The Klan supports the growing sentiment agai U radicalism, cosmopolitanism, and alienism of all kinds. The basic idea of white supremacy is favoured, as well as the revival of individualism, which sprang up as Nordic races began to assert' themselves in their great blossoming of the last four centuries. The Oath of the Klan. " The Klan -wants to stop 'invisible government,' and takes an oath to uphold the law and its officers. Private profit for officers of the Klan has been eliminated, and there is a complete change in the 'propagation' of recruiting and the spreading of the Klan gospel. To-day the emphasis is on Americanism, Protestant Christianity, and action through Government machinery. Old moral standards have been restored. The falling birth rate is an evidence of distress. The World War caused ideas to crystallise. Many residents had other loyalties, and were willing to sacrifice America for the countries they had left. "The old-stock Americans distrust the Roman Catholic Church. The .opposition is political, not religious, and there is objection to the Church's failure to assimilate foreign groups into the citizenship. The Klan wants a return of power to the entirely unspoiled and not deAmericanised average citizen of the old stock. Hence the right to.make America.. American and for Americans. For years race and religion have been used by aliens as political platforms. It is the Klan's ambicion to get both out of politics, and to restore the Bible in schools. Negroes will not be permitted to control our civilisation.

"This is the slogan of the Klan: ' Native, white, Protestant supremacy.' The definition given 'supremacy' is 'power of control under just laws;.' The organisation of the Ivu Klux Klan is not yet quite accomplished." When the June-July-August number of the Review appears, and the batteries from the various sources attacked by Dr. Evans get in their views, it will be seen that a real fight is in progress. There is belief that it is well to have a reliable means of publicity give its pages to the presentation of the Ku Klux Klan from both, or all, sides. Secrecy has been, more or less, the Klan's protection, as well as the source of most of the bitter criticism directed against the organisation. It is claimed it is un-American: works in the dark; is secret in the worst meaning of that word; violates, instead of upholding, law; and fails to give Catholics, Jews, and negroes the rights that belong to them under the law, iind which are inherently the part of all living under any form of civilised government. "Supreme Kingdom" Society. A society like the Ku Klux Klan naturally lends itself to duplication, either because of internal difficulties;, or as an outcome of the ulterior motives actuating those who want to make money or to. terrorise. So there came into existence the "Independent. Klan," the "Knights of the Flaming Sword," and recently one. of the United States District Courts decided that the "Independent Klan of America" has no right to use the word "Klan." With the utmost secrecy the "Supreme Kingdom" is being organised in the United States, It is claimed its members "will wear no masks, they will tolerate no floggings, meddle with nobody's private affairs, nor attempt to dictate to the community, section or country. The Ku Klux Klan made a mess of the original plans. The new order will not he openly hostile to, nor aggressive against, any particular race or creed." The spokesman for the "Supreme Kingdom" laughed at the "Klan's attempt to reform," saying that "its members ha.ve dragged it into disrepute." In the "fifties" the Know Nothing Party and the American Party, in the "sixties" the original Ku Klux Klan, and in the "nineties" the American Protective Association, preceded the existing agitation. Alt were secret: societies, concerned about immigration, foreigners, and 'with'-policies something akin to the present-day Ku Klux Klan. AH died natural, or tinnatural, deaths. Mr. Arthur Brisbane, writing in the San Francisco Examiner of April 3, 1926, says that the vote of 306 tc 60 to impeach Federal Judge English indicates that the Ku Klux Klan is less powerful than it was in the House of Representatives. Mr. Graham, Congressman, head of the House Judiciary Committee, declared that the Klan was at the back of Judge English. It used to be said the House was "onehalf Ku Klux Klan at heart." Strengtlrof Ku Klux Klan. The New York Times has published an estimate of the Klan's fortunes, collected by its correspondents. There was a striking unanimity that the Klan is decliningFigures of membership in the different States show heavy reductions. Ohio is said to have had about 300.000 adherents in 1923, and now claims 206.000. In the smaller States the estimates give wide variance between the "peak; year atrd 1926. Peace among the creeds is actuating Dr. S. Parkes Cadman, president of the United States Federal- Council of Churches. He has been addressing largely-attended meetings, organised by three Protestants, three Roman Catholics, arid three His dominant notes are equality of faith, the need of trust and belief in the diversified races that mako up the population of the United States, a seeking after brotherhood, understanding and co-oper..-tion, and that it'is the great business jn religion to unite, in spirit and sCi-\ and not to divide.