The Constitution Wins

The Atlanta Constitution and Executive Editor Ralph McGill buckled down to work 13 years ago to drive the Ku Klux Klan out of Georgia. The Constitution repeatedly headlined hooded assault and fiery cross burnings, prodded lethargic cops into jailing several of the ringleaders, kept up a constant drumfire of ridicule. When Indiana Veterinarian James A. Colescott was chosen Imperial Wizard of the Klan, Editor McGill wrote: "For the first time the Klan has chosen a proper man, a veterinarian skilled in dealing with dumb animals."

The Klan fought back. Hooded Klans men paraded around the Constitution building, sent the Constitution and McGill letters filled with threats and abuse.

Slowly the Constitution, joined by the Atlanta Journal and most of Georgia's other dailies and weeklies, made headway. A bill was introduced into the state legislature two years ago to ban the wearing of masks, but was defeated by an 89-65 vote.

Last week the Constitution and the other papers won a complete victory. Georgia's Governor Herman Talmadge signed a new, even tougher bill, which banned the whole paraphernalia of hooded terror.

In celebrating its victory, the Constitution had some sharp things to say about he way Northern newspapers had covered the fight. When the first bill was debated, said McGill, the story was given front-page play in the North. Last week, after thumbing through 30 Northern newspapers, McGill angrily wrote: "Let anything suggestive of Ku Klux Klan violence happen in Georgia or the South nd the Northern and Eastern papers are certain to give it front-page play and bitter editorial condemnation. But we have searched in vain for comment on ... passage of the antimask bill, which . . . signals the death and burial of the Klan nd its code in Georgia ... It is much easier to criticize than to praise."

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