LE KU KLUX KLAN.

By John Moffatt Mecklin. French translation by A. and H. Collin Delavaud. Payot, Paris,

Professor Mecklin's clear and concise book on the Ku Klux Klan appeared a little over ten years ago when the activities of that ridiculous but sinister organization were at their height. It is a compliment to the author that a French translation should be issued at this late date, when the Klan is to all appearances dead. Professor Mecklin has added a short chapter on the decline of the movement. He notes that whereas in 1924 the American press .published 396 articles on the Klan, in 1933 only five were printed. The Klan has virtually vanished from our consciousness. Does this mean that the American people have become more tolerant—that their prejudice against negroes, Catholics, Jews and foreigners has abated? One would like to think so. Certainly the economic crisis of the last five years has been gruelling enough to make the old racial and religious hatreds seem effete. But deep-rooted prejudices have an uncanny way of renewing themselves. It is not impossible, for example, that in some future American Fascist movement certain of the attitudes of the unlamented Klan may reappear.