HOW THE MODERN KU KLUX KLAN WAS ORGANIZED
_Something about those who sit in judgment on the affairs of the
"Invisible Empire"; their troubles in court._
William J. Simmons (who carries a bogus title as "colonel") is the
"Imperial Wizard" of the "Invisible Empire, Knights of the Ku Klux
Klan." He organized the masked men on Thanksgiving night in 1915. Some
of the organizers associated with him had belonged to the original Ku
Klux Klan which rampaged in the southern states after the Civil War,
killing hundreds of negroes and whites, and which was put out of
business by President U.S. Grant after the states had failed to do so.
Simmons and thirty-four others secured a charter from the state of
Georgia on December 4, 1915. It is signed by Philip Cook, who was then
secretary of state of that commonwealth. Later, on July 1, 1916, a
special charter was issued by the Supreme court of Fulton county, Ga.
The granting of the charters followed the organization of the Klan
which occurred with midnight ceremonies on the top of Stone mountain,
near Atlanta, Thanksgiving night.
THAT COLD WINTER NIGHT
In referring to the first ceremonies, Simmons has written as follows
in the official records of the Ku Klux:
"On Thanksgiving night, 1915, men were seen emerging from the shadows
and gathering round the spring at the base of Stone mountain, the
world's greatest rock, near Atlanta, Ga., and from thence repaired to
the mountain top, and there under a blazing fiery cross they took the
oath of allegiance to the Invisible Empire, Knights of the Ku Klux
Klan.
"And thus on the mountain top that night at the midnight hour, while
men braved the surging blasts of wild wintry mountain winds and
endured a temperature far below freezing, bathed in the sacred glow of
the fiery cross, the Invisible Empire was called from its slumber of
half a century to take up a new task and fulfill a new mission for
humanity's good, and to call back to mortal habitation the good angel
of practical fraternity among men."
It will be noticed that Simmons refers to "a temperature far below
freezing." The official weather reports of the region for that night
show that the temperature was thirty degrees above the freezing point.
Simmons had a fraternal order in mind when he organized the Ku Klux.
He had been an itinerant Methodist preacher and organizer for the
Modern Woodmen of the World and had not met with success in either
capacity. He was a good talker but lacked the "punch" to put things
over. The Ku Klux Klan did not prosper under his direction. Then he
met Edward Y. Clarke and Mrs. Elizabeth Tyler. Clarke and Mrs. Tyler
were the owners of the Southern Publicity Association of Atlanta.
During the war they had been publicity agents for various "drives,"
managed for the Y.M.C.A., such Y.W.C.A., the Salvation Army and such
enterprises. Clarke saw the value of the publicity that could be
coined from the old name of the Ku Klux Klan and entered into an
arrangement with Simmons to promote the Klan. He agreed to give
Simmons $100 a week if Simmons would follow his directions. Simmons
was to brush up on delivering speeches and writing articles for _The
Searchlight_, a magazine which Clarke founded as the official organ of
the Ku Klux.
From this joining of forces Simmons, Clarke and Mrs. Tyler have become
rich. The Klan has extended its membership to all except three states
and it claims that 500,000 to 700,000 Klansmen are in its ranks.
Clarke is the "Imperial Kleagle," or boss salesman of memberships.
Mrs. Tyler is Grand Chief of Staff in charge of the woman's division
of the Klan.
WHAT POLICE RECORDS SHOW
Investigation of the police and court records of Atlanta disclosed
that Clarke and Mrs. Tyler were arrested in their night clothes in a
house that Mrs. Tyler owned at No. 185 South Pryor street, Atlanta.
This occurred in October, 1919. Clarke gave the name of "Jim Slaton"
and Mrs. Tyler gave the name of "Mrs. Elizabeth Carroll."
The cases were on the book of the Recorder's court as City of Atlanta
versus E.Y. Clarke and City of Atlanta versus Mrs. Elizabeth Tyler,
page 305 of the docket of 1919, case numbers 17,005 and 17,006. The
police were put on the trail of Clarke and Mrs. Tyler by Clarke's
wife.
In addition to the charge of disorderly conduct, a charge of
possessing whisky illegally was placed against Mrs. Tyler and Clarke.
This was an amazing charge against Clarke because he had been known as
one of the leaders of the anti-saloon movement in Georgia. The whisky
charge was dropped when J.Q. Jett, son-in-law of Mrs. Tyler, claimed
ownership of the whisky and was fined $25.
The Klan is supposed to stand for respect of women and children. The
records of the Atlanta courts still contain charges against Clarke
that he deserted and abandoned his wife and child. He never has denied
the charges. Mrs. Clarke went to work to support herself and her
little son. A suit for divorce was filed in October, 1919, by Mrs.
Clarke, who charged that her husband had deserted her three years
previously. After his arrest with Mrs. Tyler Clarke agreed to pay his
wife $75 a month. Since Clarke has become prosperous in the Ku Klux
Klan he has bought his wife a $10,000 house.
RECORDS ARE STOLEN
When newspaper men began to investigate Mrs. Tyler and Clarke, they
discovered that the official records of the Atlanta police department
and the Recorder's office had been mutilated. Somebody had stolen the
pages from the books containing the records of the cases. Members of
the Ku Klux Klan are numbered among the police and official attaches
of the city and newspaper comment indicates that they helped smother
the case in behalf of their leaders.
SCANDAL OF "CHAPLAIN" RIDLEY
Another leader of the Ku Klux Klan is "Rev." Caleb A. Ridley, who is
the "Imperial Chaplain" of the order. He is a right-hand assistant of
Mrs. Tyler and helps her to edit _The Searchlight_.
Ridley also has had an experience in the recorder's court. He was
arrested on complaint of the husband of Mrs. J.B. Hamilton, who lives
on Cooper street, Atlanta, not a great distance from the Central
Baptist church, where Ridley preaches. Recorder Johnson dismissed the
case against Ridley.
Mrs. Hamilton testified that Ridley used to walk past her house when
she sat on the porch and smile up at her. One day, without being
invited and with no encouragement from her, he walked up on the porch
and sat next to her on a swing. She said he chatted with her about
church questions, although she was not a member of his church. Then he
placed his arm around her, tried to embrace her and said something
that she thought was not proper.
One witness testified that he had seen Ridley go on the porch and sit
on the swing. He had seen Mrs. Hamilton push Ridley away from her.
Ridley was supported by his flock. Several women testified in behalf
of his character. He said he visited Mrs. Hamilton because she looked
lonely.