The call of the North. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1923-1924, 1923-08-10
CHEER
GIGANTIC PARADE
California Looms Big on the Ku Klux
Klan Map

piece band and 100 robed horses,
walked the crowded streets Of Stock
ton on the morning of the Fourth Of
July amid the cheers Of more peo-
pie than have ever been assembled
in that city. The Klansmen paraded
despite the edict of the committee
handling the Independence Day cele-
bration, which said the Klan could
not be granted the privilege of TAX
ing part in the regular parade of the
day. -
Permission Requested. ..
C. o. Smith, of the local police de-
partment, several days before the pa
rade received a visit from a man
who said that he appeared in behalf
of the Ku Klux Klan.i He asked the
officer if there was a local law where
by a permit would be required to
march in the parade, and he was re-
ferred by the captain. to the Fourth
of July committee, with the result
that the Klan was denied the privi-
lege of entering the parade or par
ticipating in the celebration. The
discussion ended without one member
stating that all the Klan desired was
the advertising it would receive and
that they had no patriotic reasons,
were not 100 per cent Americans, and
had no right to participate. He made
motion to the effect that the Klan
should not participate, which was
passed. Several days later this man
received letter signed by "a 100 per
cent American, business man, and
Klansman," in which he was told
that he twas walking on thin ice''
when he talked in this manner about
an organization of which he knew
nothing. The letter closed by saying
that if he had a country he should
be loyal to it.
Thousands Cheer.
As the parade, which was separate
and distinct from any other part of
The celebration, wound it's way
through the streets, the assembled
thousands raised their voices in
cheers and the thrilling line of march
was turned from mere parade to a
glorious victory.
At the same hour that the various
civic organizations and other fra
ternal orders were lining up for the
general parade the Klansmen quietly
assembled in another part of the city
and as the last Of the regular pa
rade turned the corner Of one Of the
widest streets the escort of the city
police fell into line and beckoned fo1
the mounted Klansmen to follow.
Every Klansman wore his official
regalia and each horse was garbed in
a robe. A float banked high with
green fern and flowers depicted the
"Klansman Unmasked" as portrayed
in the picture which appeared in The
Fellowship Forum, issue of March 10
Six gray horses led by Klansmer
drew. the float, which portrayed Uncle
Sam in the robe Of a Klansman, hello
open by his arms, and showing the
red, white, and blue beneath.
| More Could Have Paraded.
It is generally rumored that haG
the local Klansmen been given more
time in which to act in cooperation
with outside Klans Of other cite.
there would have been several thou
sand more in the parade. Many resi-
dents Of Stockton who are not mem
bers of the Klan organization have
upheld the parade demonstration
which consisted Of large n,ajorit!
of citizens and taxpayers who hat
been so ignobly denied the privileg.
of their constitutional rights in walk
ing upon the very streets that the!
themselves had helped to build
Others who are not members of tn,
Klan are said to be searching fo,
someone who can supply Klan litera
ture, in an effort to learn more O
the ideals Of the Ku Klux Klan. Tn
I literature will convince the mos
skeptical mind that the white rob
of the Klan organization must be Al
undeniable emblem Of purity in it
purpose Of upholding all that is hon
orable and upright and 100 per cen
: ~ a,-;oou