When I became thorough acquainted with the thing, I withdrew from it, as I felt that it was dangerous, vicious and absolutely out of place in the American Republic. I therefore decided to expose it, and to make the “Invisible Empire” visible to the people of the United States. To accomplish this desired end, I turned over to the New York World all of the information I possessed; and that great newspaper, after three months of nation-wide investigation, told the people the truth about Ku Kluxism, and the “Invisible Empire.”
Supplementary to the work of the New York World, I offer this book, which consists largely of articles written as an investigator for that newspaper, many of which were used as a basis for its investigations. To the World belongs all the credit for this exposure and investigation, and when the American people fully understand and thoroughly realize what Ku Kluxism means, they will, of course, feel obligated to the World for its work in undertaking and carrying out the task of eliminating this un-American movement from this country.
Personally, I wish to express my deep appreciation to Mr. Herbert B. Swope, Executive Editor, Mr. William P. Beazell, Assistant Managing Editor, and Mr. Rowland Thomas, of the New York World, both for having taken hold of the matter and so ably handling it, and also for their many acts of courtesy shown to me while the work was in progress.
HENRY P. FRY.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
| Page | ||
| Preface | [iii] | |
| Chapter | ||
| [I.] | Introduction | [1] |
| [II.] | Joining the Ku Klux Klan | [12] |
| [III.] | My Withdrawal | [17] |
| [IV.] | What is the "Invisible Empire?" | [31] |
| [V.] | Propagation News-Letters | [52] |
| [VI.] | The Ku Klux Oath | [66] |
| [VII.] | The Ku Klux Ritual | [82] |
| [VIII.] | Anti-Negro Propaganda | [94] |
| [IX.] | Religious Propaganda | [107] |
| [X.] | The Original Ku Klux Klan | [121] |
| [XI.] | The Prescript of the Old Klan | [138] |
| [XII.] | Comparison of Old and New Klans | [163] |
| [XIII.] | Lawlessness and Crime | [180] |
| [XIV.] | Simmons Forced to Act | [196] |
| [XV.] | Suggested Legal Remedies | [211] |
| [XVI.] | The “World’s” Exposure | [223] |
| [XVII.] | The Klan Before Congress | [234] |
| [XVIII.] | Conclusion | [251] |