First: To protect the weak, the innocent, and the defenseless, from the indignities, wrongs, and outrages, of the lawless, the violent, and the brutal; to relieve the injured and oppressed; to succor the suffering and unfortunate, and especially the widows and orphans of Confederate soldiers.

Second: To protect and defend the Const.i.tution of the United States, and all laws pa.s.sed in conformity thereto, and to protect the States and the people thereof from all invasion from any source whatever.

Third: To aid and a.s.sist in the execution of all const.i.tutional laws, and to protect the people from unlawful seizure, and from trial except by their peers in conformity to the laws of the land.

Note the vast difference between this and the following page.

One, the pledge to all that is right and uplifting--the other to a single autocrat. The above was formed for the protection and enforcement of law--the Kleagle's pledge, merely a vow to do anything that the Imperial Wizard Simmons might see fit.

MODERN KLEAGLE'S PLEDGE OF LOYALTY

I, the undersigned, in order to be a regular appointed KlEagle of the Invisible Empire, Knights of the Ku Klux Klan (Incorporated), do freely and voluntarily promise, pledge and fully guarantee a lofty respect, whole-hearted loyalty and an unwavering devotion at all times and under any and all circ.u.mstances and conditions from this day and date forward to William Joseph Simmons as Imperial Wizard and Emperor of the Invisible Empire, Knights of the Ku Klux Klan (Incorporated). I shall work in all respects in perfect harmony with him and under his authority and directions, in all his plans for the extension and government of the Society, and under his directions, with any and all of my officially superior officers duly appointed by him.

I shall at any and all times be faithful and true in all things, and most especially in preventing and suppressing any factions, cisms or conspiracies against him or his plans and purposes or the peace and harmony of the Society which may arise or attempt to arise. I shall discourage and strenuously oppose any degree of disloyalty or disrespect on the part of myself or any klansman, any where and at any time or place, towards him as the founder and as the supreme chief governing head of the Society above named.

This pledge, promise and guarantee I make is a condition precedent to my appointment stated above, and the continuity of my appointment as a KlEagle, and it is fully agreed that any deviation by me from this pledge will instantly automatically cancel and completely void my appointment together with all its prerogatives, my membership in the Society, and I shall forfeit all remunerations which may be then due me.

I make this solemn pledge on my Oath of Allegiance and on my integrity and honor as a man and as a klansman, with serious purpose to keep same inviolate.

Done in the city of ...................., State of ........................... on this the ..........

day of .................... A.D. 19...

Signed ..............................

Address .............................

Witness: .........................................

Address ..........................................

This is the oath taken by Kleagles in the Ku Klux Klan. It binds the Kleagle to "Imperial Wizard" Simmons personally in an almost slavish fashion. The oath is taken as a pledge of loyalty to Simmons and not to the order.

CHAPTER VI

HOW THE DOLLARS ROLL IN

_The Klan Claims to Have 500,000 to 700,000 Members. Plan to get College Boys._

The Ku Klux Klan claims to have 500,000 to 700,000 members. As a matter of fact it is generally believed that that number is a hot air figure. It offers a basis for some interesting figures on the money that has changed hands, however.

Every person initiated must pay $10 as an initiation fee. Kleagles who have left the order say that the "initiation" fee is called a "donation" so that the Klan can escape paying income tax to the government, because dues in clubs and societies are taxable.

Of the $10, the kleagle who enrolls the member gets $4. The king kleagle, or state salesmanager, gets $1. The cyclops, or division manager, gets 50 cents. Clarke, the Imperial Kleagle, gets $3 and the office of Imperial Wizard Simmons gets $1.50. On this basis of 700,000 members, Clarke has collected more than $2,000,000. So far as known no public accounting ever has been made.

In addition the person initiated pays $6.50 for a mask, or helmet, and a robe. This he must purchase from the Gate City Manufacturing Company of Atlanta, owned by Clarke. Clarke's fortune grows every time a new member is taken in. If the Klansman rides a horse in ceremonies he must buy a robe for $14--also from Clarke's company.

WATER AT $10 A QUART

Another source of revenue to Clarke is the water used in initiations.

It comes from the Chattahoochee river (Indian for "muddy water") near Atlanta. It is sent around the country as special Ku Klux Klan liquid without which an initiation cannot be held. It costs $10 a quart, money to be paid to Clarke.

Simmons and Clarke live in costly houses on Peachtree road, outside of Atlanta. It is explained that their homes were presented to them by the Klan. It also is explained that some of the money of the Klan goes to Lanier university, near Atlanta, where young students are to be trained to spread the Ku Klux Klan to every village of the country.

AFTER THE COLLEGE BOYS

In addition to the general membership, Simmons started a plan to get college boys into the Ku Klux Klan at $1 a head and with a charge of $5 for masks and regalia. The watchword for the college boys was to be "Kuno." Simmons, according to kleagles who deserted him, explained that he got the college idea from the German militarism system, which started to train boys for the army when they were in school. Simmons wrote this inspiration to attract college boys:

"Klannishners is your creed and faith; therefore, let no angel, man or devil break you from its glorious anchorage. Then when the end of your initiation shall have been reached in this life and you have been summoned to take your place as an inhabitant of the Invisible Empire, as you pa.s.s through the veil you can say to the world in tones of truth triumphant: "I have kept the Faith!" Thus preserving your honor by a faithful allegiance your life shall not have been lived in vain."

THE BOOK OF "KLORAN"

The ceremony of initiation is contained in a copyrighted book called the Kloran written by Imperial Wizard Simmons. The Bible is opened at the 12th Chapter of Romans.

These songs are sung:

We meet in cordial greetings In this our sacred cave To pledge anew our compact With hearts sincere and brave; A band of faithful Klansmen Knights of the K.K.K.

We all will stand together Forever and for aye.

Chorus: Home, home, country and home; Klansmen, we'll live and die For our country and home.

Her honor, love and justice Must actuate us all, Before our st.u.r.dy phalanx All hate and strife shall fall.

In union we'll labor Wherever we may roam, To shield a Klansman's welfare, His country, name and home.

KLEXOLOGY

(Tune--America)

"G.o.d of Eternity, Guide, guard our great country, Our homes and store.

Keep our great state to Thee; Its people right and free In us Thy glory be Forevermore."

CHAPTER VII

KU KLUX KLAN AND THE JEWS

_"Drive them out of the United States" are the words that are used to enlist Jew-haters into the ranks._

In spite of the fact that ever since the beginning of the American colonies, in the war of the revolution and in other national crises, great Jews have helped to make the United States what it is today, the Ku Klux Klan recruits misguided members on the representation that it has found a scheme to drive the Jews out of the country. Anti-Jewish propaganda is used particularly in large cities and in smaller communities where racial and religious flames may be fanned in order to win members and money for the Ku Klux.

_The Searchlight_, the official paper of the Klan, teems with anti-Jewish literature. Secret doc.u.ments and stories are pa.s.sed around privately among the organizers and used in gaining recruits.

"Chaplain" Ridley is one of the most rabid of the campaigners against the Jews. He never lets an opportunity go by to ridicule Jews and stir up prejudice.