"The Lanier University has existed for only a few years. It has been
a Baptist institution of learning, operating under a charter granted
by the State of Georgia and controlled by a board of trustees of
fifteen men. Some time in July, this year, representatives of this
university approached Colonel Simmons and myself with a proposition
to purchase the university outright and assume, of course, its debts,
which amounted to $50,000. We had our attorney to investigate the
matter fully and we found the indebtedness much larger than claimed.
We therefore rejected the proposition to purchase and submitted a
counter proposition. The counter proposition was accepted and was in
substance as follows: First, that the managing board elect Colonel
Simmons president of the university. Second, that they agree to make
it nonsectarian. Third, that the present existing board elect new
trustees, as named by Colonel Simmons, the present board resigning in
their favor.
"Now, following that is other information, the material part of which
is that the Klan paid to this university $22,474.32, a part of which
was out of the Klan treasury and which is not secured in any way."
Mr. Williamson testified that he had gone over the books of the
organization and had found that while the financial records of the
organization had been accurately kept since June 15, 1921, there had been
no accurate record kept prior to that time, embracing a period of one year
during which time the Klan had been propagated under the contract of E. Y.
Clarke, printed in a previous chapter. The gross receipts of the
organization, according to Mr. Williamson were $1,148,710.97; the books
showed 85,126 members; and statements of Clarke placed the membership at
126,000. The Post-Office Inspector stated that prior to June 15, 1921,
about $151,000 had been spent by the organization, but that he had been
unable to secure any statement as to the manner in which it had been
disbursed. In utter disproof of the claim that the organization had been
established for benevolent purposes, it is interesting to follow a part of
the testimony of Mr. Williamson in detail:
"MR. CAMPBELL. The ritual of the order and the proclamation hold out
the order as one for benevolent and high purposes?
"MR. WILLIAMSON. Yes, sir; and not for selfish profit.
"MR. CAMPBELL. What did you discover with respect to the use of money
for beneficial purposes to the public?
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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