Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1924-07-12
INSPIRES NO AVE.

| A mounted klanSman D0unceS up "
stand and calls for an ice cream
cone. The cavaliers hood is thrown
back from his face his robe falls loose
ly to one side, revealing gray trous-
err leg and tan low quarters, run down
at the heel. He must be at least
dragon, for only two or three horse
men are present. but he is not fig
ure to inspire awe.
A very fat Klucker waddles down
hill, perspiration streaking his enorm
Gus fowls q sandwich in one hand,
picket in the other. lie does not seem
to be a Kleagle Perhaps he is Klown
For him, at least, the occasion is a
huge success.
The glaring posters urge all ana
sundry to come to the big Barbaque,
! the Kind the Old South Made" The
old South certainly never spelled it
that way, but perhaps the "barbaque"
is some new khan konkoctiOn, for there
is no barbecue in evidence. They say it
was al, consumed early in the day.
The conventional sandwiches and
cold drinks of the conventional Sun
day School or Labor Day picnic are
the refreshments dished out at moder-
ate prices from the several stands.
Suddenly there is stir Of excite
ment and half dozen spectators run
! to get a good view of company OF
klansmen, possibly 100, who are march
ing down a steeep, winding road to-
wards the gathering place. The color
guard hold aloft two American flags,
| escorted by four men with rifles. The
others apparently are unarmed.
They march past the small knot Oh
idlers, their arms folded in front OF
them. Their robes do not appear to be
we'll made, for they flap open at every
step and make no secret of the mum
dane trousers, some with frayed cuffs
underneath. The mounted man is ask
ed who these newcomers are, but ne
does not know. A few girls look ad-
miringly at the silent company as they
march past and there are
two gentle explosions as hands are
clapped.
et't s
NOTHING HAPPENS.
Some member of the Sharon band
| has told joke for there was shout
of musical laughter from the dusky
musicians.
Nothing happens-nothing whatever
There is not as much motion and OK
Eeitement, laughter or gaiety as the
! usual picnic produces. Several hundred
men trudge around in the dust, look
ing rather foolish and uncomfortable
in their long, cheap white shirts and a
thousand or two spectators walk
around hopefully, patiently waiting
for something bizarre or dramatic to
happen.
1t does not. The crowd eats and
drinks and strolls and then the klanS'
men begin to drive off for Monroe
Park, where the big parade is to start
Barnum's hand appears again in The
grand K K. K. poster, inviting one and
AID to the big barbecue" where thous
lands of klansmen from Maryland, Dis
ltrict of Columbia. Virginia Tennessee
and North Carolina are to meet in sol
emn konklave.
The thousands of klansmen are not
there. A generous estimate of the mum
Der in robe and hood would be 500
And even if all those not in uniform
are klansmen the number at this
Greatest Gathering of Klansmen Ever
Assembled in the South Atlantic
States" cannot be stretched beyond 8
800 nv the Kleagle himself.
On the way home, five youthful
klansmen are working, hoods on ano
robes thrown back, to change tire.
1t was not a good show.
(Times-Dispatch July 5, 1924, Rlch
mond. Va.