"I have heard that you are talking in favor of the Klan?"
"I have said some things in favor of the Klan."
"And you know that I am unalterably opposed to these midnight riders."
"I know you are opposed to the Klan."
"And yet you talk in their favor?"
"If I want to I do. This is a free country, and I, with the Klan, believe in the freedom of speech." She spoke with spirit.
Matters were taking a turn that he had not anticipated. "Of course, of course you have a right to say what you please about this matter, but you understand that I have a right to employ whom I please."
"Certainly, and if you do not want me in your employ I am ready to quit."
"Now be reasonable, Ruth. You know that I am an old friend of your father and want to do the right thing by you. At the same time I do not want to injure my business. You see that I have a great many customers who are opposed to the Klan. If you are talking in the bank in support of the Klan you are liable to injure the bank's business."
"I don't think I have been discussing the Klan in the bank. The only thing that I remember saying here was in a conversation with Pearl Gardner, in which I was telling her of an article that I read and indorsed that explained the Klan's position on the race question. If you do not want this question discussed in the bank I agree not to do so, but I reserve the right to discuss this question or any other when off duty and hold to whatever opinion I please."