Phoenix tribune., 1923-02-03
open MEETING OF The KU KLUX KLAN
REALM Of ARIZONA Held At ODD
FELLOWS HALL in CITY Of PHOENIX

The Ku Klux Kan Realm of Arizona advertised in
the Sunday Republican that they would hold public
meeting at $3.50 D. m, in the stadium at the city hail.
Following conference between the kansmen and Chief
of Police Oscar Roberts, the meeting transferred to
the Odd Fellows hail. 3rd and Adams street The
city officials stated that threats had been received which
caused them to believe that trouble would follow any at
tempt of the kansmen to hold open meeting at the
plaza
Odd Fellows hall was filled to overflowng with peo-
pie of all and creeds who had to hear what
the klan stood for The Rev. c. NJ Rock pastor of the
Southern Baptist church, Phoenix, called the meeting to
order He opened with request that any in this
house that has got gun him. either lay that gun up
get out. No gave up his gun went out and
the Rev. Rock continued Il know folks have guns
Lay your guns up get out. There is Ku Klux in
this hall with gun him. Any other with gun
hm-I pause just little while-you have the privi-
ege of going laying that gun up. Not that scared
afraid OF any mans gun in this hail. understand it dis
tinctly, you either. y
No one left the hail. and no one removed gun so
far could be asceItained Preceding Rev Rocks in
troducton McCord Harrison grand kleage Of the Ari-
Realm of the Knights of the Ku Klux Klan made
short talk.
Mr. Harrison read the information that is put on the
card that is to be filled out by prospective member be-
fore joining the klan According to Mr. Harrison this
card states that member must be believer in the ten
cts of the Christian religion believer in white suprem
acy protection of American womanhood prevention Of
the which lead to mob violence, that he must
native born American who pledges allegiance to this
government and it's institutions.
At this point Mr.. Harrison introduced the Rev. c..
NJ Rock pastor of the Southern Baptist church of this
city who made the principal speech Bywayo introduction
Rev. Rock said that he a Kansman and proud Of it.
He further stated that he from the south He said
. | was born and raised in the SOUTH He related
number of stories concerning coored people the SOUTH
repeatedly using the term Niger and sought to ust
fly himself in its by saying that the southern coored
knew the word Niger endearing term
used by southern whites. He said that the southern
white true friend to the ''Nigger' long
he ''staid in his place.
Rev Rock asserted that the KlaD not anti-Ca-
thoic antJew antNegro Yet he said the Kan stood
for white supremacy and believed only in the enets of the
Christian religion He stated that of the leading
business and professional men in Phoenix members
of the Kan and that they stood ready to back the author
tiles in upholdng law and order He said that 10000
members could be secured without leaving the telephone
going over long distance.
The Rev. Dr. Rock said that his father before him
a Klansman and that he his son, following in
his footsteps His father he said in glory and he
dared any to speak disparagingy of him.
He denied that the Kan resorts to the of tar and
whipping and asserted that the an did not know
the price Of tar One American in the hall sought to
question Rev Rock in regard to the Klan appearing in
Masks stating that real Americans out in the open
The majority Of those present seemingly favored the
klan and Dr. Rock was roundly applauded.