San Antonio light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1911-1993, 1923-09-12
Will Stop 1t If 1t Starts,
But Thinks Leaders Too
Wise to Attempt 1t.
CITY READY TO ACT
Think Out of Town Klans-
men Might Try to Pa
rade, However.

A large number of armed deputy
sheriffs. backed up by the police force
Of the city of San Antonio. VIII pre-
vent any attempt of the ku hiuA
Klan TO parade either before or anu.
their celebration at the San Anton"
speedway on September II. Inns We va,
indicated Wednesday when Sherill
lin Stevens stated positively that 1T
would take whatever steps are No.
sary to prevent the paradlng Oh any
masked band. The city indicated Es
attitude toward such an attempt On
Tuesday when it passed an ORDINANCE
at a called session of the city COM
mission making it unlawful Tor an!
nersou to appear on the city S streets
masked or in disguise.
Nayor Tobin at the regular COM
mission meeting on Monday had eN-
nressed his views on the subject de-
cIarinp that the entire police force OIL
tbo c;tv should be used il necessary
10 preyent any parade of masked men,
The subject was brought up at tne
commission meeting by Frank ID;
Rushick. commissioner of finance anu
his utterances are believed to nave
been made following receipt Of reports
that the khan plans to parade AFTER us
celebration.
Would Swear in 5000.
Sheriff Stevens Wednesday express,
ed the hope that his department VIII
not be called upon TO suppress any un-
lawful demonstration of the KAN OF
any other secret organization. line
leaders of the khan he believes Will pc
wise enough not to attempt any parade
when they know that 1t undoubtedly
will result in trouble.
Il have stated" Sheriff Stevens
said, THAT l would swear in as many
deputies as required to prevent
parade of the klan in Bexar county.
No matter if it requires 1000 or 0O0O
/ am authorized to do so and would
swear in that number. l would con-
slider such an attempted demonstration
as an emergency and the law would
authorize me to act in such a case.
Il am hopeful, however. that TINS
will not be necessary. Although L have
heard rumors that the klan plans to
parade following its initiation at the
San Antonio speedway on September
Il, 20 uOL DtllcNS Nhdt hhN 'N"N'N
OF the organization would be so I'M
wise. If l were acquainted with the
'kleagle' or leader of the klan,S 4syOuld
advise him against such a proceedlng.'
There is so much opposition to the
klan in Bexar county that l am sure
there would be trouble among our c-tl-
Zenry even if no attempt were made
by the constituted officers of the
county to stop the parade.
shy advice to the khan is TO 90
ahead with its celebration at the San
Antonio speedway and to confine its
activities to that celebration alone. If
this warning goes unheeded then
must take whatever steps deem neces-
sary to stop it."
Any action taken by Sheriff Stew
ems in this respect it is known will
be backed up by the San Antonio po-
lice. City officials do not believe the
khan will be so unwise as to attempt
a parade though reports have come
from some sources that some demon
stration of this nature might be at.
tempted by visiting klansmen. Under
the authority conferred upon this
mayor and police department by the
ordinance enacted Wednesday the city
would have ample authority to use
every available regular man and to
swear in additional specials" to en-
force the law. There seems to be no
question but that this will be done.