The decision by the United States Supreme Court upholding the New York State law compelling authorities information as to their composition and membership may have an secret organizations to file with the immediate effect on the unmasking of the Ku Klux Klan in the state of New York.
District attorneys in every county may have the task of unmasking the Ku Klux Klan in their districts by forcing the organization to comply with the law that requires secret organizations to file copies of their constitutions, bylaws, rules, oath of membership and roster of members with the Secretary of State.
The question was put before the county prosecuting officers in a letter from Secretary of State Robert Moses in which he told the officials that the enforcement of the Walker law, under which secret societies and corporations are compelled to file copies of their oaths and members, rested with them. He further pointed out that the department of State is without power to dissolve a corporation or direct its activities.
The records of the corporation bureau of the State Department as they relate to the “Knights and Women of the Ku Klux Klan, Inc.,” were outlined by the Secretary in his letter to the county prosecutors. The attention of the district attorneys is called also to the fact that the United States Supreme Court recently upheld the Walker law and declared that Article V of the civil rights law was constitutional.
Secretary Moses said that his department has no way of knowing whether or not the “Knights and Women of the Ku Klux Klan, Inc” requires an oath as a condition of membership or whether or not it is, in other respects, a corporation of the kind required by Article V to file a copy of its constitution, by laws, rules, oath of membership and list of members. Nevertheless, he states, the fact remains that no such papers have been filed by this corporation or by any unincorporated association with a name containing the words “Ku Klux Klan.”
“I am furnishing the desired information in order that you may take such action as you think proper, if you hav reason to believe that the provisions of the article of the civil rights law mentioned are being violated in your county,” Mr. Moses wrote the district attorneys.
Similar information has been placed before Attorney General Albert Ottinger by Mr. Moses, who pointed out to the head of the legal department of the State that Alpha Pi Sigma, Inc., was incorporated in 1923 and changed its name to “Knights and Women of the Ku Klux Klan, Inc.,” in 1925.
In a statement accompanying the letters, Secretary Moses called attention to the fact that the Department of State has received many inquiries as to the “status or lack of status of what is popularly known as the Ku Klux Klan.”
In view of the fact that some inquiries indicate that there is a misapprehension as to the powers of the Secretary of State over such corporations, Mr. Moses points out that the head of the State Department is required by law to examine and file certificates of incorporation, if they conform to the statute, and that he has no power or control over their activities and no authority to dissolve them.
COMMUNICATION TO THE EDITOR
Dear Sir:
Referring to a news item which appeared in your issue of October 11th, I beg to advise you of the fact that the Zanesville U. J. C. was inaugurated in April-May 1926, and that final payment of the pledges of $4,025–was made already on September 17th to the District Chairman, Mr. Edward J. Goodman, Columbus, O., as you may see from the enclosed final report.
I may also add that since then a further collection (and remittance) of $10-was made on account of unpaid pledges.
I would appreciate very much if you would make corresponding correction and give Zanes-ville the credit that is due our town on account of its being first to complete its payment of U. J. C. pledges.
Yours very truly,
S. LEVOR, Treasurer, U. J. C.
Zanesville, O.
The annual membership campaign of the Northeastern Hebrew Orphan Home’s “Feed an Orphan Club” went over the top at a banquet at the Adelphia Hotel, Philadelphia, Pa. At $6.90 a week for the support of an orphan, a goal of subscriptions covering 10,000 weeks, or $69,000, had been set. The sum was oversubscribed by more than $5,000, Morris Shapiro, chairman at the campaign committee, announced at the dinner. Speakers were Judge John E. Walsh, of the Municipal Court, and Abraham Wernick.
Help ensure Jewish news remains accessible to all. Your donation to the Jewish Telegraphic Agency powers the trusted journalism that has connected Jewish communities worldwide for more than 100 years. With your help, JTA can continue to deliver vital news and insights. Donate today.
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.
