The call of the North. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1923-1924, 1923-09-21

AUSTIN, Mimi, Sept. 15.-Mower
County Klan with assistance of out
side Klansmen presented the beautl-
full naturalization ceremony of the
Invisible Empire, in full view OF
thousands, here tonight.
When the Mower County Fair
Board denied the use of the Fair
Grounds to the Klan the K. K. K. Of
fcials secuted around for a satisfac-
tory place and found it about mile
from town on the so-called Albert
Lea road at the point where a con-
crete bridge spans Turtle creek. A
better place could not have been
chosen. A hollow opening at the
creeks edge and extending as fiat
to a bluff several hundred feet be-
yond the stream made very salts
factory amphitheatre. Here the nat
uralization ceremony was given. On
the opposite shore of Turtle Creek
the people viewed the exercises with
out getting close enough to learn
the identity of any Klansmen.
After a forty-fve minute address
by "Twilight" Orn, editor of the Call
of the North, the initiation began
promptly and moved splendidly to the
conclusion. The Hayward band pro-
vided the music.
The farmer who owns the land on
which the Mower County Klan held
it's meeting is to be ~complimented
for his kindness and unbiased mind.
Evidently he didn't give a snap of
his finger for the possible hatred that
might work as an organized unit
against him. Let that obvious
minority start any of it's trough stuff"
and quickly will law function effec-
lively. A farmer has most delight
full independence which will make a
boycott an impossibility. The Klan-
haters of Austin must regret that
they can't teach the farmer one of
their lessons a la Perth Amboy
without serious handicaps.
The foreign-m minded gangsters of
Austin were conspicuous by their
quietness although showing them
selves throughout the day and eve
ming. Klansmen in regalia who
walked down the main part of town
were frequently called "gutter-rats"
by the brave "Robin Red-Breasts,"
but to the credit of the white-robed
Americans they ignored the insults.
Many Klansmen gathered in a cafe
for refreshments. Shortly large
crowd formed in front of the cafe.
The crowd seemed to take particular
delight in "smart" remarks centered
at passing Klansmen. When Mr.. Orn
came out of the cafe some comedian
sang "Twinkle, twinkle, little Twi-
light. How I wonder what you Orn."
A little scene in a cafe here reveal
ed how highly Minnesota Klansmen
regard Clark Gross, the head of the
Klan in this state. When Mr.. Gross
entered the cafe with his party, a
Klansman jumped from a table and
called for cheers and with vim all
the Klansman in the cafe-and the
place was packed with them-let go
giving fifteen big ones for "Pop."
The following reports we take from
"outside" newspapers:
minneapolis Journal)
1000 in Robes and Hoods Gather Un-
der Crosses Glare in Public Cere-
mony Launching Minnesota Men,
bership' Drive.
Austin, Mimi, Sept. 15.-Under the
glare of blazing crosses and the eerie
light of red fire, 1000 Ku Klux Klans-
men in robes and hoods, but without
masks, gathered in a natural ampi-
theater a mile west of Austin tonight
and with 10000 spectators massed
across little creek, initiated 400 new
members into the "Invisible Empire"
The gathering here, which clogged
every road into Austin with automo-
biles and brought robed delegations
from a score Of towns and cities, was
by Clark F. Gross of Min
neapolis, grand dragon and King
Kleagle of the Klan in Minnesota, as
the beginning of a movement to organ
ize Klans in every county of the state.
Columns of Klansmen came in late
todav from Minnaanol;s Ct pon1