THE KU KLUX KLAN.

Waikato Times, Volume 103, Issue 17365, 29 March 1928, Page 10

THE KU KLUX KLAN.

LOSING ITS INFLUENCE. The Ku Klux Klan, a strong political factor in many states of America four years .ago, has lost the greater part of its membership and influence, according to indications given in dispatches to the New York Times. Only in spots has the Klan been stimulated to renewed activity by the candidacy of Governor Alfred E. Smith of New York for the Democratic nomination for President. This seemingly is the case in Florida. In Kansas, according to a dispatch from Topeka, the nomination of Governor Smith, a Roman Cathode, would cause a revival of the Klan. In the New York State the Klan, never politically important, has dwindled to almost nothing. There is a good deal of anti-Catholic propaganda aimed at Governor Smith going out from the State, but it is not traceable to Klan sources. In the opinion of the Governor's friends, these attacks on him originate mostly with au organisation known as the Sons and Daughters 3f Washington, with headquarters at \lbany. This is an anti-Catholic organisation, but so far as known is lot affiliated with the Klan, and has lad little influence on the vote in New i'ork. The Klan influence also has iiminished greatly in the adjoining States of New Jersey, Massachusetts md Connecticut.

In the Southern States of Arkansas, Alabama, Georgia and Mississippi where the Klan was formerly strong, dispatches state that it has lost most of its influence, although a weakened Klan in Alabama will try to prevent the election of Smith delegates there. In Indiana, another former strong Klan State, the Klan's inilunce is expected to figure much less in politics than it did four years ago. Waning of the Klan strength also is reported from Ohio, Illinois, Maine, Michigan and Oregon. What is left of the Klan in the North will be opposed to the election of Governor Smith, if he should be nominated for President, but will have little power to prevent his nomination, because its membership is mostly Republican. In the South the Klansmen will oppose his nomination, but arc not regarded as being in a position to oppose him openly for election. Dispatches giving the Klan situation in two States follow: The only general election held recently in Maine which afforded concrete indication of Klan strength was the special primary of a year ago last Fall, when Arthur B. Gould was made the Republican nominee for Senator. One of Mr Gould's opponents was Hodgdon Z. Buzzell of Belfast, who was avowedly the Klan candidate. He polled 10,000-odd votes, of which it is generally estimated that 12,000 was Klan. The Klan membership of the Legislature of 1927 was slightly under that of 1925. In Portland the Klan strength has fallen off from about 900 to 200 or 300 in four years. The organization is less strong in other parts of Western Maine, although there has not been such a shrinkage everywhere as there has been,in Portland. The strength of the Ku Klux Klan in Ohio, which reached its peak in 1924, when Joseph B. Siber. endorsed by the hooded organisation, ran second to Myers Y. Cooper in the Republican Gubernatorial primaries, is now almost negligible. In Mayoralty and Congressional elections during the last two years, candidates who obtained support of the Klan were badly beaten. No meetings or gatherings of any ■ importance have been held in the State for more than eighteen months, and the organisation is rarely mentioned in the newspapers. Four years ago many candidates for State and municipal offices sought the endorsement of the Klan. Those who secretly fought it dared not come out in the open, believing that to incur its enmity would be inviting defeat. Radical changes will be seen at the primaries and elections this year. Neither the Democratic nor the Republican parties will seek aid from the Klan.