Spectacular Array Presented by Klan in Mamoth Parade

8/13/2019 Spectacular Array Presented by Klan in Mamoth Parade

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Richmond Item [Richmond, Indiana], Oct. 6, 1923 (pp. 1-2) The original spelling and punctuation are preserved to the extent that they are discernible.

Spectacular Array Presented By Klan In Mamoth Parade

Over 30,000 Persons Witness Ku Klux Klan Demonstration; City Trafc Is Suspended DuringParade

The largest Ku Klux Klan demonstration ever given in Wayne County was viewed last night byapproximately 30,000 people, including beside Richmond residents, visitors from this vicinityand outlying towns. Fully 6,000 members of the Klan participated in the monster parade at 8:15oclock, which in magnitude and impressiveness has had few equals in this city.

Order Preserved

The best of order was preserved by police and special details of police and Klansmen during theentire proceeding, and nothing occurred to disturb any phase of the evenings program.

Throughout the day machines and buses entered the city carrying persons from the moredistant places such as Marion, Muncie, Anderson and Dayton. Toward evening when thoseliving nearer came pouring in, the crowds began to assume mammoth proportions.

During the day preparations were made at Exhibition park for the initiation, and the arena infront of the bandstand was prepared for the crowds which attended the speeches given there atnight.

The program started at 5 o'clock at Glenn Miller park with band concerts and an address by anational Klan speaker. Following this 5000 men, women and children, oats of all sorts,automobiles, bands and drum corps were marshaled into line. The parade moved at 8:15 from

Exhibition park.

Trafc Suspended

Its course led down Main street to the court house, back on South A to Eighth st., thence toMain, and back to the park. Trafc was suspended along the route for over an hour and a half.The curbs from uptown to down town were lined and congested with parked automobiles andpeople, virtually ghting for places. Only an avenue wide enough for the parade to pass throughwas kept open by guards.

The parade itself was a spectacle not easily forgotten. Led by a vanguard of ten prancinghorses upon which were seated robed ofcers of the Klan, the parade stretched along MainStreet for many blocks. It is estimated at least half an hour was required to pass a given point.

A number of ery crosses borne on machines and trucks were in evidence. Ten or twelve bandsand drum corps provided music and cadence during the march. The Muncie Girls band and theDarke County band from Greenville attracted more than usual interest. The oats were many,varied and interesting. They depicted either and symbolic form or told by banners the aims andfeelings of the clan on different questions. Several hundred members of the women's branch of


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the mysterious order marched in a prominent place in the line. Torches and ares of vivid coloradded to the impressiveness of the parade.

Initiation In Park

Naturalization or initiation of candidates took place at Exhibition park after the grand parade.Spectators were permitted in the grandstand but were not allowed on the open eld. As whiterobed sentinels holding red ares were stationed in a great circle around the grounds, thecandidates assembled before an electric-lighted ery cross 100 yards from the grandstand.

The master of ceremonies standing before the candidates on a raised platform, then gave theinitiation in a loud voice through a megaphone, enabling all present to hear. While the bindingwords were being pronounced, two large crosses in the background were ignited and blazed up,lighting the entire eld. The American ag was prominent at all times. The audience was able tohear all of the initiation ritual with the exception of the last part.

Brilliant Fireworks

Fololwing initiatory exercises a Klan speaker addressed a large crowd from the bandstand atRoosevelt eld, setting forth the beliefs of the Klan, and attempting to dispel alleged misbeliefsconcerning the organization. In his speech he endeavored to explain some of the points in thecovenant of the Klan that have been misconceived by the public. He declared the Ku Klux Klanis not arrayed against any sect or creed or race, and that the organization was propagatedprimarily for the purpose of upholding true Americanism and forwarding the manhood of thiscountry.

A brilliant display of pyrotechnics concluded the program for the night. The reworks could beseen for a long distance, and included three beautiful set pieces in color. They were theAmerican ag, K. K. K., and 100 percent.

During the early night and while the parade was in progress, an airplane circled the sky, bearingand illuminated ery cross. This is an innovation in this section and consequently attractedmuch attention.


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I;o1e Oyer 30,000 Persona :Witness Ku Klux Klan 'ct Demonstration;- ci ty Traffic Isng Suspended . During Parade1-)f1-

irProbe of M'Cray

Dealingar-6pened-Y + l N D I A N A P O L I S , Tnr te and a.n address by a nat ional i 'Klan speaker . Fol lowing thi11 6.000 : hmen, wo Jlen and c hildren. floats or fall aorta , automobl lea . band < and rdrum corps. were marshul l ark. f

Traff ic Suapended-H s ooure led down Main s t r ee t to

the court pouse, back on South A to sEigh th s t reet , thence to Main, and aback to the p a r k . Trat f lc was sus- t

pended a.long the route or over an , iill gi it ana a. l -T.l\e cu rbs G m uptown to down town were l ined andooTQte ited "With pa tked - auton:iobllea land people, . v i r t ua l l y f igh t ing forplaces. -Only an a.venue wlde enoughfor the parade to pass lhroui ;h waskept opon ~ Y gua rds . t

T h A pa re.de _ l i e l L WU/ "- ~ J 1 9 Q lJ s L ano t , eRslly forgotten . L :< l by a , an

guard of t en pra.nclng horses 11pnn 11Til . th t , ,h t ' 1 ; t l ' \ 9 " \ . G l ' \ o + ,.. t _ ,..\..,.....11 ... A . . 1 I 1


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_ s E C T A C U L A RRR Y ISPRESENTED N P R DE

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dId (Cont inued F r o m P ag e One) Mat tn g . red flares, were s ta t ioned In a COtie g r e a : t C i t - c r ~- lll 'Q'11'Hd _ t 1 T h_ 1 r ~ u m t s ; t;:h 01l'ndldate11 al'IHmbled before an elec- bep t r lc- i lghted f iery cross 100 ya.rds w

iw t 'rom the grandsta.nl . tht- T h e master ot ceremonies s tand ing .

betor6 thA candidates on a raleeO to~ ; pla.tform, then gave the lnlt latlon In thor a loud voice throtigh I \ megaphone, th

; } - AnR.hllng all preeent t o hear. Whi l e ]e

the binding words were being pro- Thl id nounced, two t r p crossel'I In t h e ltech background Wf're tirnlted and blazed IA'he:he ~ ~1 _ l ~ h t l n gthe ent i re field. T h e A m - ta trlil erlcari t'lag was prominent_ _m all m i;he t imes. The audience was ahle to he

bea-r all of the lnltlatl-on rltue.l with ' ratnd. the exception of the le.et part . 'lay Bri l l iant Flreworka to

Fololwlnw lnl t la.tory exercleAe a ceKlan epe-aker addressed a large . I>OI

v- orowd from: thE ba tub tand t Roose iii ay \'"elt flel

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Spectacular Array Presented by Klan in Mamoth Parade