The call of the North. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1923-1924, 1923-09-07

We knew it would rain after one
peep at the clouds that hung low
last Friday. But we hoped it wouldn't
and so sang "Rain, rain, go away.
Come again some other day." Never
theless it rained-and rained-and
rained. Over the state thousands of
.Klansmen were debating whether or
not to start for Albert Lea. Many
must have felt like the poet who
sang:
"The rain, the desolte rain!
Ceaseless and solemn and chill!
How it drips on the misty pane,
How it drenches the darkened sill!
o scene of sorrow and dearth
I would that the wind awaking
TO a firece and gusty birth
Might vary this dull refrain
Of the rain, the deslote rain"
We decided to go in spite of dark
clouds and spasmodic downpours. We
climbed into a waiting automobile and
= turned the gasoline wagon towards
southern Minnesota. At a merry clip
we travelled until we passed out OF
Faribault, where we struck soft-sur-
faced roads. At Owatonna we made
some unkind statements concerning
the road. A man was hearing us
speak about the road in terms that
were anything but fiattery called our
attention to an item in the editorial
column of the Owatonna Journal
Chronicle that hit US as painfully
true.
Drunk Highway No.
The editorial read in part as fol-
lows: .--.-
"After staggering over the road
between this city and Faribault in
his motor car last week and jarring
thru the maze of pitch holes one
tourist said, They ought to call it
Drunk Highway No. /, it's jagged
enough
"And it is-we've tried it ourselves.
The present condition of the main
highway leading into Owatonna from
the north is nothing less than dis
grace" Nobody should boost about
the highway between Owatonna and
Albert Lea either. We managed to
get into Albert Lea alive even though
the road threatened death with every
turn the wheels of our car made.
The beautiful and friendly city of
Southern Minnesota, Klan mecca
for a day, was one hustle and hustle
when we slammed into a curb.
We were hungry and looked around
for some place to eat with a salts
factory atmosphere. At the "eatery'
we found many Klansmen from St.
Paul and Minneapolis. We had just
swallowed the last hunk of mighty
good steak when in walked gang
all wearing buttons on their coat lap
els that measured four inches in diam
eter. On the buttons were three
large black KS, with an explanation
around the circumference that re-
vealed the Klansmen as members of
North Star No. 2, Minneapolis,
Mimi. Tell the world, we were glad
to see them. -.
Klansmen Assemble at County Fair
Grounds. -.
Around seven o'clock Klansmen be-
gan to assemble at the county fair
grounds. The rail drizzled and pour
ed and drizzled and poured, but still
Americans kept coming. .....
Officials of the Ku Klux Klan de-
bated whether or not to 60 ahead with
the plans as laid out during the
week. All Klansmen agreed that a
little moisture wouldn't hurt anyh
body, so the orders for action were
sent forth. The grandstand filled
rapidly to the surprise of many
Nearly three thousand people were
seated waiting for "things to start
when the King Kleagle for Mime
sofa stepped forward and signalled
to the band. At once the leader Of
the musicians took his place anc
most splendidly the Hayward band
played a number of selections. Their
DR.. Harper, national Klan lecturer
offered prayer. The audience now
arose and Justify sang the first verse
OF "America." Twilight" Orn, edi.
tor of the Call of the North, was in.
troduced as the speaker of the eve.
ming.
Klan Lecturer Well Received
For more than an hour the Kans.
man orator held his audience nearly
spell-bound. The speaker was cheer.
ed at frequent intervals, urging hin
on and on. In mastery way HI
outlined the principles Of the Kar
and urged . kssnsr interest in th,
I Sfiaan Of the nation. Mr. Orn dsfle,