Every member of the Ku Klux Klan is guilty of treason to the United States and is a traitor to the ideals of America, is the statement made by Dr. Stephen S. Wise before the National Democratic Club, Sunday, speaking on “The Attitude of the Jew Toward the Klan”.
“There is in point of fact, no such thing as a Jewish point of view in regard to the Klan. The Klan is an attack upon the integrity of American life and may be, therefore, repelled from only one point of view, that of unequivocal faith on and devotion to America. But I am not excited or worried over the Klan. Nor will I ever become excited or worried over this body as long as I have faith in American ideals.
“Every member of the Klan is a traitor to his country. Every member commits treason. The Klan is a peril, a real peril. It is as anti-Christian as it is anti-American. Why do not the Protestant churches in America challenge the danger which is in their midst? Where are the Bishops of America? Instead of bothering their heads about hereby trials and doctrinal controversy, why don’t they deal with the Klan?”
Rabbi Wise challenged the Klan to permit him to speak on the Klan in the largest hall it could find in Georgia, Tennessee or any other State in which they have a stronghold. “I should not be afraid to go there in their midst and tell them what I think about them”, said Rabbi Wise.
The Archive of the Jewish Telegraphic Agency includes articles published from 1923 to 2008. Archive stories reflect the journalistic standards and practices of the time they were published.
