1923: Klan Koming, Kleagle Klaims
Winona Republican-Herald
Monday, September 17, 1923
Organization of a chapter of the Ku Klux Klan in Winona was today believed imminent as a result of an announcement by Clark F. Gross, King Kleagle and Grand Dragon of the "invisible empire" in Minnesota, that Klan organizers are "going into every community, either to establish, new branches ot our order, or to help in membership campaigns where there are already Klans."
The announcement was made Saturday night at Austin, where, according to a staff correspondent of the Minneapolis Journal, 400 candidates were initiated into the Klan at a public ceremonial.
Columns of Klansmen from scores of southern Minnesota cities and villages poured into Austin for the initiation, the Journal correspondent said, adding that 2,000 spectators and 1,000 members of the order were present.
The Klansmen, wearing robes and hoods, but without masks, "clogged every road into Austin with automobiles," according to the Journal, while, "ghostly figures in white from peaked cay to the dragging hem of flowing gowns patrolled the roads about Austin in the role of traffic police."
Cities and villages which sent Klansmen to the Austin ceremonial, according to the Journal, included Rochester, Red Wing, Rushford, Preston, Cannon Falls, Zumbrota, Faribault, Fairmont, Pipestone, Owatonna, Mankato, Canby, Spring Lake, Montevideo, St. James, St. Paul and Minneapolis. Winona was not mentioned.
"The ceremonies started with thousands of spectators banked on one hillside while the Klansmen in their white robes were ranged on the other," the Journal said in describing the initiation. "The two masses were separated by the creek which cuts through, the little valley.
"Peter J. Orn, St. Paul, editor of the Call of the North, the Minnesota klan publication, first delivered an address on Klan policies. At the conclusion of this address the great crowd of spectators, visible, in the semi-darkness only in the glow of red fire, were startled by the sudden illumination of the sky by three 10,000 candlepower bombs, throwing a white light over the entire scene.
"As the light was fading, massed hundreds of Klansmen came over the hill, their ghostly white robes relieved by the flaming red cross on their breasts. Slowly they advanced on the platform, where Kleagle Gross and the state ritual team stood resplendent in silken robes of -white purple and burnt orange.
"As the Klansmen reached the foot of the incline and stood before the platform, red fire was lighted in all parts of the grounds, throwing a fiery glow over the scene. A band played the 'Star' Spangled Banner', while the Klansmen stood rigidly at attention.
"At the conclusion of the anthem ritualistic fireworks called Princess Feathers were shot off, covering the sky in a fan shaped figure. As this spectacle faded, three more white light bombs were set off, and with this as the signal 400 or more men appeared through a lane of Klansmen.
"They were the candidates; then followed the ceremonial. The three oaths required of candidates were given by the Klokard, the Klaliff, and the Kludd. These oaths pledge -allegiance to the Klan. As the ceremonial concluded, the candidate knelt on his right knee and the band played 'Nearer My God to Thee,' the three great crosses wrapped in oil soaked gunny sacks were then lighted, throwing a blue and white light that could be seen for miles. Dr. W. S. Harper, Minneapolis, national lecturer, closed the ceremony with prayer.
"Rev. O. F. Fink, pastor of the Austin Christian church, said today that he had resigned his pastorate because of discussion over his activities in the Klan organization work, and that he is going to serve the Klan as Kleagle in Austin.
"Austin Klansmen experienced trouble In finding horses for the ceremonial, farmers and townspeople having so completely motorized this community that 16 horses, wanted for the ceremonial, that had any appearance of being fiery steeds, were not to be found."
The ceremony, which was conducted "under the glare of blazing crosses and the eerie light of red fire," was announced as "the beginning of a movement to organize Klans in every county in the state." A women's auxiliary is also to be formed.
Grand Dragon Gross is quoted as saying. "The Klan has unmasked in Minnesota, as directed by law, and it is gradually unmasking in every-state. This meeting is the climax of an intensive campaign of six months to organize in every county in the state.
"We now have 27 full time organizers in Minnesota. They are going into every community, either to establish new branches of our order or help in membership campaigns where there are already Klans. In addition to the full time organizers we have 13 part-time organizers, making a total of 40. We are adding organizers every week and will put on four more Monday
"The Ku Klux Klan now has about 10,000 members in Minnesota and we have just started our work. We are organizing not only in the cities but among the farmers as well and here in Mower County we have the strongest farmer organization in the state.
"It is our intention to put investigators to work in every community,” he said.
"Bootleggers will be listed and their names turned over to the proper authorities. Moral conditions will be investigated, and the Klan will work hand in hand with the proper authorities. We will assist in every patriotic movement. We will also work against corrupt politics.
"We are spending thousands of dollars in this work over the $10 initiation fee we receive from members. Headquarters for the state have been established in St. Paul and we have had direct telephone lines put to to Atlanta, Ga., and Columbus, Ohio, so that we can' keep in constant touch with national conditions.
"As acting Grand Dragon, I have charge of the robes. I know where every Ku Klux Klan robe in the state is, and I have personally inspected every one to see that the hoods are cut off as required by the Minnesota law. All new robes issued are without masks.
