In 1924, the Klan, initiated in Centerville by George N. McDonald, was rapidly gaining in strength and added to its membership. In about mid-February, Ku Klux Klan literature began to reach the general public. Copies of the Iowa “Fiery Cross” were mailed to business men and officials. Reports of Klan activity at Albia were included.
On Feb. 18, 1924 the caucus was called for the Republican Party to elect delegates for the county convention. This was before many people on the inside were aware of how extensive the Klan movement had grown. They were in for a great surprise. No sooner had the caucus been called to order by the county chairman and the temporary organization named, than someone arose to substitute the proposals with one of his own, with a different chairman.
An effort was made to have regular procedure followed by which the permanent organization and the naming of delegates to the state convention were done by committees chosen by the precincts. The dissenters proclaimed that this was to be a people’s convention. A new chairman was elected. The effectiveness of this quiet work was seen when the vote was 151 for the Klan sponsored chairman and 57 against. The caucus had been stacked with Klan supporters. The new chairman later pulled a paper from his pocket and proceeded to read off the committee lists.
Following the caucus the Klan subsided and tempers cooled. People on both sides magnanimously began erasing the scars and tolerance was re-established in the churches. This sentiment prevailed throughout the county. However, after a time it was realized that outside promoters had come in to advance their own interests.
Regular meetings (called konklaves) were being held all over the county. The membership was informed of these meetings by special letters, including directions as to how to get there. They were often held in farmers’ fields and were found by following the red lanterns hung along the way. The meetings would include speeches and cross burnings to add to the fervor, with members in full robes and caps.
One early supporter of McDonald and the Klan, was the Rev. J. Roy Wright, who had been pastor of the Centerville Church of Christ since 1920. He was a dynamic minister, attracting record crowds. He stated, “The Klan is not made up of cowards, but of brave men who have tolerance in their hearts for others. The Klan is not an organization of hate. It is an organization of love and has no quarrel with any man because of his race, color, religion or politics.”
While this would seem to belie the truth, the Rev. Wright was named the Exalted Cyclops of the Appanoose Klan. The Rev. E Shook, the Methodist pastor, also supported the Klan.
Glenn Reed, publisher of the Cincinnati Review at Cincinnati was another ardent advocate of McDonald and the Klan. He had a combative temperament and gained a reputation for straightforward, hard-hitting reporting.
The trio of G.N. McDonald, Roy Wright and Glenn Reed became the backbone of the Klan movement. Reed was the propaganda agent. Meanwhile the Iowegian refused to support the Klan because of its creed of bigotry.
On the night of March 19, 1924 a fiery cross flamed in the rear of the high school in the Lane pasture. It was all a mystery as to how it got there and who fired it. Rumors were that it symbolized the organization of the Klan in Centerville.
Little did the public realize that there was being ushered into Appanoose County a new and divisive influence that was to stir the community to its very depths, set business man against business man, citizen against citizen, even members of the same family against each other, and bring on a political fight for ascendancy that was to be waged with vehemence and deep feeling.
By April 8, 1924 the Klan was reported to have headquarters in an upstairs room on the north side of the Square. Circulation of the “Fiery Cross,” delivered at night had covered most of the homes. On the front page was a story that several fiery crosses had burned over the county.
Centerville had a volunteer “Law and Order League” to assist the city and the county with law enforcement. In one of their meetings at the Methodist Church on April 27, 1924 a pastor from Cincinnati reported his 12 year old daughter had been attacked while coming home the night before, but had escaped. This served to fan the desire for law enforcement. Then on the next Sunday, they held a meeting at the Chapman Hall in south Centerville. Someone from the Klan announced that they had a body of several hundred men ready to assist the officers. The Klan eventually usurped the function of the Law and Order League and gained the prestige that went with it.
On May 9, 1924, a stranger came to the Iowegian office with a new $30 bill and posted it to be paid to the person who would return a bootlegger who had escaped while under sentence and $1,000 bond. Receipt was given him. He said he was G. Noble and represented the Appanoose County Klan. Then, on the night of May 15, five white-robed men appeared at midnight to present $50 to a family near Unionville, who had sustained a fire loss to their home.
On July 3, Reed’s paper in Cincinnati carried an article on the “stupendous” Klan rally of June 12 at the Henry Gault farm south of Centerville. It attracted about 3,000 white, native-born, gentile, Protestant Americans coming in 1,800 cars. A national speaker gave the address for fully two hours, and two large crosses were burned.
To be continued next week.
Correspondents
History of the Ku Klux Klan, Part 2
- Correspondents
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Exline soup supper tomorrow; still time to buy bricks for bell
Well, I hope everyone had a nice Valentine’s Day and enjoyed having some decadent chocolate sweets. Did you know that in 1537, England's King Henry VII officially declared Feb. 14 the holiday of St. Valentine's Day. It is nice to have a day devoted to enjoying chocolate.
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AmeriCorps students donate time and money to 18-80 Club
With February being Valentine’s month, we remember those dear to us in special ways. All the seniors at the center hope your Valentine’s Day is special.
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Exline helps honor Riddick, plans annual Easter Egg sale
Isn’t it something that we made it through the month of January in Iowa, with no major snow storms or real bad weather around here?
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Brick fundraiser helping to raise money to house bell in Exline
It is nice to know, that we have made it through the month of January without any real bad weather so far this winter. If we can hang in there for a few more weeks, it will be springtime before you know it.
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Add a little something to your hot chocolate this week, homemade marshmallows
The weather sure can not make up its mind whether it wants to be mild or to be like wintertime. I think the winter type of weather is going to win out at this time of the year.
The recipe for this week is kind of different. I have not tried it but it sounds like it would be kind of good for something different. -
Exline project to house bell looking for sponsors
With the weather continuing off and on, to feel like springtime, the various trees and bushes in our yard, have new buds on them. That will not be good because once it does freeze and more winter like temperatures occur, it will cause those blossoms to freeze and fall off and that will mean there will be no blooms on those plants this spring.
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Christmas season comes to an end today
Here we are in another new year. I hope everyone enjoyed the holiday that ends one year and begins another.
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New Year at 18-80 Club
All the seniors at the 18-80 Club wish you a very Happy New Year! We look forward to an even better new year in 2012.
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How did “Auld Lang Syne” become a holiday tradition?
I hope everyone had a merry Christmas. Hasn’t the weather been unseasonable for this time of year. There have been times in years past that we have had measurable snow on the ground by now.
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A children’s poem becomes tradition
Well, Christmas is just about here. I hope everyone is ready for the big celebration. This month seemed to go by rather quickly.
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Exline Recreation Committee Christmas dinner to be Dec. 10
Wasn't that snow on Tuesday morning a surprise? It sure made it look like a Christmas wonderland.
With the holiday season in full swing, I have included a Christmas cookie recipe this week that my grandmother, Cora Oden, used to make. You can not be in a hurry to make there cookies, as it requires dough to rest in the refrigerator overnight. -
Christmas dinner Saturday, Dec. 10 in Exline at community center
Here’s hoping everyone had a nice Thanksgiving. Wasn’t the weather fantastic on that day? We even had the windows open for a while, it was so nice outside.
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Eastern Star organization holds reception
I hope everyone had a fantastic Thanksgiving with family and friends. It is something how an entire holiday is devoted to eating a big, old fashioned meal that everyone kind of looks forward to. I do not think a person could eat like that all of the time. It is all so good.
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Remembering Gimbel’s Thanksgiving Day parade
The unseasonably nice weather has been enjoyable for this time of year. Living around here, we all know we could have some real winter like conditions by now. So, we are savoring each nice day until then.
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Harvest Dinner in Exline Nov. 14
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Exline soup supper tomorrow; still time to buy bricks for bell
