The last "News-letter" I have read was the one dated June 25. It was read
at a meeting I attended in Chattanooga, and was descriptive principally
of the work being done on the Pacific Coast by Grand Goblin Coburn, who
has charge of that Domain. The report indicated that a vigorous
propagation campaign was going on in California and that people were
eagerly joining the Ku Klux Klan in response to its appeal for membership
on the ground of "white supremacy" over the Japanese. I fully believe that
the Pacific Coast will become one of the strongholds of Ku Kluxism, and
would not be surprised at any time to read in the newspapers of some
surface manifestations of the agitation of the race question. That a
movement managed in Atlanta, Ga., has no business meddling in the
international affairs of this country is so obvious that it is quite
unnecessary to comment further upon it.
The manner in which applications for membership are solicited in
connection with the work of the official lecturers is illustrated in the
following description of a lecture:
"At the regular meeting of the Newport News Klan No. 8, Realm of
Virginia, held in its Klavern, Monday, May 30, a resolution was
introduced and passed by unanimous vote that Your Majesty be
requested if possible to return Col. J. Q. Nolan to Newport News at a
future date to deliver another address. Colonel Nolan spoke at the
Imperial Theater with a seating capacity of eight hundred with the
standing room only sign displayed before he even began speaking.
There were fully as many turned away as were able to hear him. If
possible to have him return we will secure the Academy of Music for
his address and we can promise him a packed house. Colonel Nolan won
the hearts of all who heard him and the request for his return comes
not only from Klansmen but from men and women from all walks of life.
At the meeting following Colonel's Nolan's address, ninety-one
applications were presented and interest has been aroused to fever
heat here. If it can be made possible for Colonel Nolan to return,
please have him do so. At the same time we would like to extend a
warm personal invitation to Your Majesty to come with Colonel Nolan,
for Newport News and our Klan would feel it an honor indeed to
entertain Your Majesty."
Several of the "News-letters" support my claim that the organization is
endeavoring to throw its coils around all public officers. This is seen
for instance in the letter of May 20, 1921, which reads:
"You may state in your weekly letter that in one city in Virginia we
have the chief of police, the commonwealth attorney, the postmaster,
the police court judge, members of the city council and the managing
editor of the leading paper and many other prominent business and
professional men. This is Newport News."
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
Reviews
Reviews
No reviews yet
Be the first to share your thoughts on this work.
Join the Discussion
Join the discussion
Sign in to leave a comment or review.
Sign InorCreate an account