"Paper. Morning paper! All about the whipping of the mayor of Freeburg,
by members of the Ku Klux Klan," shouted the newsboys in the ears of
the business men as they went to their offices and stores one morning
in the latter part of October. The papers sold rapidly, and men
devoured the account of the reported whipping with great avidity. All
day men gathered in groups on the streets of Wilford Springs and Zala
discussing the account of the alleged whipping of Mayor Krouse. Usually
the first sentiment expressed by those not Klansmen was a condemnation
of the Klan. However, on second thought, the more conservative began
to question whether it was reasonable to suppose that the Klan had
committed this crime on the eve of election. Perhaps it was a frame-up.
Politically the Klan would have nothing to gain and everything to lose
by its commission, they reasoned, while the opposition might believe
that they could create in this way a stampede from Klan candidates.
When the Wilford Springs Klan assembled it voted to offer a reward
for evidence that would lead to the arrest and conviction of the
parties who whipped the mayor. Judge Rider, the Exalted Cyclops,
said: "Klansmen, the Klan is an organization which stands for law
enforcement. It is opposed to all forms of lynchings. If it is found
that members of this organization committed this offense against the
peace of this man and the laws of the state they will be banished from
this organization or I will withdraw at once."
Governor Slydell made the speaking tour through the section of
the state known as the stronghold of the Klan. He denounced that
organization in scathing terms. The principal part of his speeches
was devoted to a denunciation of the Klan and the remainder to
extolling the virtues of Perdue. He would wave his arms frantically
when denouncing the Klan, telling the audience that he would soon
arrest Klan officers. He boastingly told how he had prevented the Klan
from holding a parade in one town. He positively stated that the Klan
had whipped Fritz Krouse, the mayor of Freeburg; that he had put his
detectives on the job, and when sufficient evidence was secured the
offenders would be severely punished.
When the governor spoke at Wilford Springs he faced a large audience
of representative citizens. The audience gave the best of attention
during his introductory remarks and while he praised Perdue and told
the people that if elected Perdue would carry out his policies. When he
launched his tirade against the Klan, about two-thirds of the audience
arose and quietly passed out.
The general feeling was that the governor's speeches condemning the
Klan as a lawless organization and not furnishing one fact to prove
that the Klan had committed a single act of violence was making votes
for Dawson, whom the Klan was supporting for governor.
A few days before election a traveling salesman who had recently
visited the towns in which the governor had made speeches was eating at
the same table in a hotel with Frank Perdue, candidate for governor.
"Perdue," said the traveling salesman, "do you expect to be elected
governor?"
"Yes, sir, I do," Perdue replied.
"If you expect to be elected, in order that you will not be greatly
disappointed, you had better take Governor Slydell by the nape of the
neck and the seat of the trousers and pitch him into the river."
"Why so?"
"Every time the governor makes a speech he is making thousands of votes
for Dawson."
"I would rather the governor would not make speeches for me, but when
Slydell wants to talk you can't stop him."
Election day dawned bright and fair. There was an unusually heavy
vote cast. When the polls were closed both parties were claiming the
election. The following morning the administration papers conceded
the election to Dawson by a plurality of 20,000 over Perdue, who had
the support of the administration. Dawson was the only member of his
party who was elected to a state office; thus the effect of Governor
Slydell's speeches was shown. The candidate for Congress in the
district in which Wilford Springs is located won by a large majority.
All county officers endorsed by the Klan in Rush County were elected
by overwhelming majorities. In analyzing the vote, Springer, in the
Journal, stated that certain local matters had a big influence on the
county and district election. He quoted Governor Slydell as saying that
his attack on the Klan was not responsible for Perdue's defeat, but
that the people were restless and desired a change.
The evening after election Harold called Ruth over the 'phone. "Bring
your father and aunt uptown about eight o'clock this evening," he said.
"Why, what is going to happen?" she asked.
"There is going to be an election jollification."
There were no bills put out announcing the celebration, neither did
the papers carry any notice, but about seven o'clock the streets were
jammed with people. Every available parking space in the business
section was occupied by a car. Everywhere there was an air of
expectancy. No one could or would give any information as to why the
great crowd had gathered. Such questions were common: "Why all this
crowd?" "What's going to happen?" "Why are all these people coming to
town?" Occasionally someone would state that he had heard that there
was to be an election celebration. One old colored woman exclaimed,
"Fo' de Lawd sake! Am all the peopel in de world a comin' to Wilford
Springs?"
At eight-fifteen, "There they come," "there they come," was passed
along the front ranks of those who lined the street pavements. Around
the corner at the intersection of Market and Broadway came a white
robed figure carrying the stars and stripes. Just behind him came two
others carrying a fiery cross. Behind these came others marching eight
abreast--all wore white robes and were masked. There were thousands of
them. There was no interference by the police. The first five hundred
marched through the crowds on the street without any demonstration from
the onlookers. Finally a banner carried by the marchers bearing the
words, "The Klan Stands for 100 Per Cent Americanism," brought forth an
applause from the crowd. Another banner which read, "Mr. Bootlegger,
Your Days Are Numbered," was lustily cheered. A float representing a
school house had a banner on each side with the inscription: "The Hope
of America. We Want Protestant Teachers in Our Schools." This float was
roundly cheered by the Protestants, who composed ninety per cent of the
crowd. The banner which provoked the most mirth was the one carried at
the rear of the procession. It read:
"Someone page Governor Slydell."
"Pat McBryan needs the smelling salts."
The crowd went wild. Hennesy had stood in the door of his place of
business and watched the entire parade. When the last of the white
robed marchers had passed he took out his handkerchief and wiped the
cold sweat from his face. Two negroes who had watched the parade from
the alley walked farther down the alley from the lights and engaged
in earnest conversation. They were bootleggers and for years had been
doing a thriving business, carrying their goods on their hips. "Mose,"
said Pete, "what you all think of these damn Kluxers?"
"Pete," replied Mose, in a suppressed tone, "you's mighty ca'less of
that isthmus of youse."
"Niggah, what youse mean by 'isthmus'?"
"Ma go'graphy sa'd that an isthmus is a narrow neck connectin' two
la'ger bodies."
"Well, what you mean 'bout me bein' ca'less of my isthmus?"
"I means dat youse stands a mighty good chance of gettin youah isthmus
stretched when youse refers to dem gente'mens as 'damn Kluxers.' When I
speaks of dem gente'mens I's gwine to say Mistah Kluxers. You get me,
Pete?"
"Yes, I duz, and I 'spects it's goin' to be pow'ful unhealthy round
heah for gente'men of ouah profession. If them damn--I means 'Mistah'
Kluxers would jest take them masks off we'd know who to keep away
from."
"Youse right, Pete. The legislater an govenah shuah ought to make 'em
take them masks off, and then we'd know who to stay way from when we's
transactin' ouah bizness."
"Youse right, but Govenah Slydell's man wa'n't elected, so we can't
count on that."
"Well, Pete, what's you gwine to do?"
"What's I gwine to do? Well, suh, I'se gwine to leave on that twelve
o'clock train tonight."
"And I'se gwine with you less--less----"
"Less what?"
"Less thar's a train goin' fo' that time."