Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1923-03-28
500 PLUS CROWD
THEATRE TO HEAR
XII kLUx SPEAKER

"All you people who would like u
see the Ku Klux Khan organize in thi$
city please RISE" was said to the Sat9
ering which had assembled at the Sif
yer Theatre in Waterville last evening
to listen to an address on the Ku Kluk
Klan. For a minute a hush fell ovS
the entire gathering, and then ike
we'll drilled army the entire mass aro4e
as one man.
The doors opened at Z o'clock ana Il
10 minutes past line reaching neay-
ly across the street was trying to pa9<
in. 1t was estimated that there wee
at least 600 people present, and "JiH
Pray. manager Of the theatre, w4s
heard to remark: IF people would onSy
turn out to my picture shows as tnSy
do to these meetings would soon Pc
a rich man." The speaker when intro-
duced caused a great surprise and n
first a disappointment among the az
dience. as 1T was expected that PT9i.
Farnsworth would give the address, OPT
he was unable to attend and sent "a
substitute. It was impossible Tor tee
press to learn the speakers name rs
he absolutely refused to give 1t opt.
and cautioned the members Of the press
who were present not to use any nan,$s
whatsoever He was simply introducfd
as the speaker Of the evening and 4as
first words were: II am an American
and suppose that you people are tte
same, and that is good enough Tor rs
ALL" During the speaking he told tfe
audience to buy the morning papqs
and find out if the members OF the
press were liars or not.
The speaker claimed that the object
Of the khan was not 20 fay the Cathoaic
religion. but was organized for the pqr-
pose Of teaching Americanism. max
good citizens by instituting Bibles an
the public schools. and to extinguHh
the rottenness and corruption frsn1
politics. He said that the khan is TO
ing through in spits Of all obstacles
and that it was going to have lottto
do with in electing the next governor.
In speaking Of the Catholic religion.
he said: 1.-THE khan is not ORGANIZED
for fighting the religion, but winery
foreign power dictates through ats
representatives it is time for the peo-
pie of the United States to wake mp.
If you want Bishop Watch OF Port
land to dictate your affairs. Keep right
on as You have been. The khan sta9ds
for a cleanup from Aroostook to f8t-
terry, but they do not believe In tar
and feathers. If they did, the organ
ization would no doubt number 15,0p.-
thing to get anything that is rigkeein
the papers, and this is where the aver
age citizen looks for his informatfpn.
The khan is in need and wants at Che
present time two things-men and
money. But especially men who h3Ve
strong and courageous hearts. fic
said that for the second time in the
history Of the world all the Catholic
bishops and cardinals had been caHed
to Rome. and that the last was for one
purpose only, and that was to see what
could be done to suppress the khan. !
During 1.-THE speech slight distugb-
ance was caused at the entrance BIZ q
quarrel between a believer and an On
believer. This, however, was quickly
put to an end by Deputy Sheriff Far
rington. 1t is expected that another
meeting will be held next month. and
that City hall will be secured If pos
sible.