The call of the North. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1923-1924, 1923-09-28
BY GRAFTON

moth fiery crosses last Saturuay
night told assembled throngs of more
than 5000 onlookers that the Ku Klux
Klan is living power in Minnesota.
A large number Of candidates pledged
themselves to unselfsh Americanism
and dedicated their lives to better
citizenship in the fiickering light OF
Christianity's sacred symbol within
the bounds of Red Wing.
The scene was one Of the most I'M
pressive of any which has. attended a
naturalization ceremonial of the Klan
within the state. Enhanced by the
naturalization ceremonial of the Klan
hills of the Mississippi, the scene was
one to be long remembered by the
people who looked on in silent wonder.
The Klan has come to Red Wing to
stay, was the message carried by the
fiery crosses which flickered and
glowed on the hill side as 100 white
clad Klansmen composing the state
degree team publicly conducted the
beautiful ritualistic work of the or
ganization. !
GOodhue Asks Aid
Klansmen from nearly every Klan
IN Minnesota were represented at the
ceremonial, as well as Knights Of the
order from Wisconsin towns across
,ke river.
An interesting incident occurred
when officers of the state organization
and the Red Wing Klan were ap-
preached by non-m members from Good
hue who appealed for help to remove
conditions detrimental to their city.
Aid was promised and moral lepers,
law breakers and wrong doers of
Goodhue will soon find themselves op-
posed in their course of lawlessness
and opposition to good government.
Klansmen gathered at Red Wing all
day and among the unusual number
of strangers in the city, st. Paul
Klansmen with their big emblems
were noticeable.
Shortly after. eight o'clock, visiting
Klansmen composing the degree team
gathered at the ball park across the
river and led by the Hayward uni
formed band and a horseback con-
tingent, preceded across the river
and down the main streets of the
town, robed but not masked. Several
women in the garb of lady Kluxers
were in the parade, both on horse
back and on foot.
The parade swept majestically up
the wide Red Wing avenues to the
circus grounds in the south part of
town where 5000 people had gather
ed in the shadow of the bluffs to await
their coming. The. robed Klansmen
in the parade were but small part
of the number actually present, but
unrevealed.
Urn anu harper Spedk
Rockets and daylight bombs an
nounced the arrival of the Klansmen
who grouped around the rostrum
which had been erected at the foot of
the hill. In the light of an electric
cross King Kleagle Gross opened the
public session. Speaking on the aims,
history and purposes of the Klan, P.
j. Orn, editor of the Call of the
North, touched briefly on the Okla
homa affair and won an ovation when
he declared that "The people of Ok
lahoma are behind the Klan because
they know that it is fighting for
better conditions and true liberty. By
his high handed and unlawful fight
against the Klan, Governor Walton
has dug his political grave" DR.. w.
Smith Harper, Methodist divine and
national lecturer Of the Klan spoke
on the motives of the order, its abso-
lutte sanity, and law-abiding princi-
pies.
At the conclusion of the public part
of the session, rockets and red fire lit
up the scene and a hundred white
robed Klansmen were discovered on
the hill side among the trees. As the
band struck up "Onward Christian
Soldiers" they filed slowly down the
hill and formed a hollow square, de-
fined by the glare of burning red
lights, around the altar.
The band stopped, and from the hill
came stentorian voice proclaiming
"God give us men," Then the candi.
dates came in sight, twenty strong
all strangers to the audience, while
the great portion of the class Of in.
itiates remained in. the background
concealed from view by a curtain OF
darkness. Wa ..s