Drop the Klan, Editor Says to Democratic Party, July 1, 1924

Why Should the Party be Cumbered with the Klan?

Why should the Democratic party be cumbered with the Ku Klux Klan/ Why should it just as well say that the body politic should not have the itch, or as a remedy for the itch suggest some healing potion to remove the itch, or if it favored the itch torment the body with something to keep the itch alive? The party has about as much to do with the Kaln in the natin as it has to do with the itch on the human body.

The truth of the matter is that the Klan is on to the body politic what the itch or boil would be to the human body, and it must run its course before it will heal, for the man who would join the Klan and seeks to have it interpret the laws, since as in organization it does not assume to be making any, needs to be put through a course of seasoning along the lines of healthful and fundamental treatment, until he shall be brought back to a normal condition of citizenship.

All the Democratic party in its platform needs to say to any citizen is that we recognize the society has provided simple rules and laws (or its regulation), with the properly constituted order of government behind it as expressed by the people of the country at the polls, and in connection therewith has denominated certain representatives and officials to enforce these laws for us, since as individuals we have not time to see that they are enforced, and to call upon all good citizens to obey these mandates from the people and vote the Democratic ticket.

The Ku Klux Klan does not deserve to be dignified by any mention in the platform, either directly or indirectly, and the party leaders in New York should tell the fellows from Oklahoma, Texas and Indiana and other states where the membership of the Klan hail from and desire to inject it into the political life of the party that they must go back home and get right, and they shall not injure the party by attempting to inject into its counsels and policies absolutely unhealthy and extraneous matter, that the sentiment of the people as a whole has already discredited and discounted.

From the editorial page of The Wilson Times, July 1, 1924; P.D. Gold Publishing Company, John D. Gold, editor.