Life — January 25, 1923 — page 14: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

ASHINGTON, January 23.— There is a growing tendency in Congress to speak lightly of the Ku Klux Klan; but Sounder will never be found among the detractors of that remarkable organization. Let Me State Positively that my high opinion of the Klan is not the result of prejudice. I am not a member. I will not say that my name has never been on the roster, but there was a little difficulty with one of the Kleagles some time ago over whether my dues + AGAR. « With Kleagle Eyes Sounder Sees the Good in Ku Klux Klannishness Soy for forming Junior Klans over the whole country, and I urgently advise thoughtful parents to enroll their sons at the earliest opportunity. These Junior Klans will be pat- terned closely on the senior organi- zations, and will give the boys of the nation a chance, during their im- pressionable years, to get thoroughly imbued with the spirit of Klandom. Klanboys will receive thorough instruction in fire building, tarboiling, stake driv- boy will so forget himself as to settle a quarrel by means of:a stand- up boy-to-boy fight. Instead he will run and tell his Klan, which, hay- ing mustered sufficient numbers and having made sure when they can catch the culprit quite alone, will administer punishment in a more honorable manner. A Strong Feeling of patriotism will be inculcated in: the Klanboys, until it will become almost second nature with them when they beat up some little were five months in arrears or only four. I know I was right in the dispute; it is really a point of honor with me to keep metic- ulous track of my little in- debtednesses. But for all that I harbor no resentment against the Klan. I realize that business is business, and that even. Wizards, Beagles and Kleagles have to eat. Ob- viously if dues failed to come in, a lot of these officers would have to go to work. Indeed I have the very warmest re- gard for the new conception of law and order, chivalry and justice which the Klan is giving us. My only fear is that the organization is not going far enough. It is mak- ing a very thorough job of training us to the new ideals, but is it giving a thought to boy, or raid an apple orchar« or a candy store, to wave the Stars and Stripes and a once put their deed on a pa triotic basis. The boys, by the way, car go in quite extensively for orchard raiding and _ similar boyish pranks on their weekly hikes, since they can always show that the mischief w done by gangs of rowdies who weren't Klanboys at all In Order to Prepare children of even tenderer years for the great message of Klandom, I have suggest- ed putting up little boxes of Klan Kraft toys for the Christmas trade next year. Each box of Klan Kraft will contain, besides a doll’s com- plete Klan regalia, miniature tar and feather sets, whips, knouts, branding irons, a coil of rope and so on. our children? Is there not grave danger that with the passing of this Klan-imbued generation, American manhood may slip back into old ideas of courage, fair play and a square deal for everyone. The Danger of that seems to me so threatening that I have made earnest representa- tions to prominent Klan officials, who, I am glad to say, have ap- proved my suggestions. Plans are already nearly complete An Ameriklanized House of the Future. ing, flogging, whipping, the hue-and- cry and other healthful, out-of-door sports. A great deal of stress, too, will be put on honor and chivalry. Any boy found guilty of being frank or open, of telling the truth, of accept- ing blame when he could have shifted it on some one else, or of showing mercy to any victim of the organization, will be severely dis- ciplined. Of course under Klan chivalry no As They Watch their little tots playing with the pretty toys, parents will experi- ence a happy glow in feeling that they have given their children some- thing that not only amuses but that will help them to grow up to be strong, manly Klansmen like, their daddies. Until my suggestions are actually in force I shall not feel sure that we have entirely made: over: Ameri- can manhood and brought “the new era of life in America” that the Klan promises us. Sounder. S “M of A mig clea one C Qui E. Yor M Her only mort comicbooks.com