Evening star., 1926-09-10
KLANSMEN GATHER
FOR BIG cONCLAvE.
Members Already FIocking to
City, as Plans Are Made
for Record Crowd.

! ming to arrive In appreciable numbers.
/ active preparations were begun here
today to care for what may prove to
! be one of the citv's largest conven-
| tions. the third biennial ''kIonvoka-
| ton" of the Invisible Empire. Knights
| of the ku klux Khan. which opens
! Monday and will continue through
| Wednesday,
| Officials in charge of arrangements
| for delegates. who will come by rail
| and by highway. are today busily per
| fecting plans for receiving and hOHs-
| ing the thousa nds Of visitors expected
! here from oil PARTS Of the United
! States. and even from Alaska and
Panama. Predictions are that the
/ gathering wilt eclipse in size the vast
assemblage Of robed men and wOmer
who marched UP Pennsylvania avenue
last August s.
officials of the Washington Term
inal conferred this afternoon on the
problem of railroad transportation.
The Washington Convention Bureau
issued ~ comprehensive bulletin for
the information Of hotel proprietors.
officials In charge of the Federal tour
lists camp in East Potomac Park
started their task of checking in the
first arrivals by automobile.
The number of trains which will
bring to Washington the influx of
men. women and children of the lin
visible empire could not he ascer.
tanned today. II is understood that
because of n special rate accorded
he visitors by the principal railroads
most of the visitors will he able to
come on regular coaches instesd of
having to charter special trains as
was the case last year. At least four
special trains from the South and
West are understood to- have been
booked SO far. however.
Parade Monday Afternoon.
The convention this year will I've
a three day affair. beginning with
spectacular parade from the Peace
Monument to the Washington Monu-
ment grounds next Monday afternoon.
followed by secret administrative ses-
sions Tuesday and Wednesday.
The principal business of the "klon-
vokation,' as it is termed, will he the
election of an imperial wizard and
ether national officers. and the formu-
lation Of general policies Of the organ
izatior for the ensuing year
So far as can he learned. the pres
ent imperial wizard Dr. Hiram Wes-
ley Evans. will be unopposed for re-
election.
All sessions Of the convention will
be held in the Wa shin2ton Audito-
rum. according to an announcement
today by &. f. la Vjgne. executive di-
rector Of the convention bureau
'"Ehe large exhibit hall at the audi
torium has been equipped with | 900
seats for the meetings of the women
OF the organization" MIR. Ia Vigne
stated. This Is a national meeting
Of the Legislative body of the orga MIA
ton.
The parade will cover the route
followed by the Klansmen one year
ago and it is a good guess that the
demonstrat tior of last year will be
surpassed in numbers on Monday.
Hotels Already Booked.
"A number of Washington hotels
! have been booked to capacity in
! advance with. reservations and last
minute requests indicate satisfying
attendance for all concerned. This
klan occa sion differs from the previ-
Gus Washington visitation of the
order in that it is a three-day event.
with parade added. instead Of one
day parade affair as on August s.
1875.
AS was the case last year, the
parade itself is described as a District
of Columbia and not national dem
onstration. according to advices from
Khan sources. However, scores of
State units in many sections of the
country east OF the Mississippi have
been invited by the local organization
to participate in the big procession
and favorable responses to these let
a I,
k1an headquarters
Khan Head Here Mute.
Louis A. Mueller. local kleagle and
imperial representative of the ma
tional orga MIA ton. is in charge Of
parade arrangements. but refuses to
give newspaper interviews regarding
the convention. referring his inquirera
to police, convention and tourist au-
thOrities.
The delegates will arrive In larger
numbers tomorrow Afternoon and sun
day. according to Manager J. =.
Mat1igan of the Tourist Camp. He
said that several automobiles bear
ing banners proclaimng the affilia-
tions Of their occupants already are
in the camp. while other cars. not
publicly marked. also may carry
k,ansmen and klanswomen.
s1r Madigan said he is fully pre-
pared to care for as many cars as
apply for accommodate tions in the
camp. He will throw open, if neces
sary. large field to the north OF
the existing camp. afTording space
for some 1000 additional cars. Tn
like last year. klansmen will not be
allowed to placard their tents or
camping space with X. X. X. ban
ners or other "advertising matter
hp added. On the occasion of the
former gathering the camp was EN-
blazoned with signs. flaming crosses
and other Khan insignia.
Souvenir dealers throughout tho
city have stocked their stores with
X. *. K. pennants. "k1GY" banners.
etc The latter symbol Is the Klan
greeting and is said to stand for
"klansman. | Greet You
BANDITS ROB TRAIN,