JOINING THE KU KLUX KLAN
My first intimate contact with the "Invisible Empire" took place in upper
East Tennessee, a section of the United States where one would least
expect such a movement to take a definite foothold. There is practically
no racial friction whatever in this section. The negro population is not
large, and the negroes themselves are orderly and well-behaved people,
industrious and well liked by the white people. A remarkable thing about
East Tennessee is the scarcity of Jews. It is very doubtful if a careful
search of the entire fifteen counties would disclose enough Jewish people
to fill a synagogue. There is likewise a paucity of foreign population,
for, with the exception of a few Greeks, the foreign element seems
strangely absent. It is also remarkable that in this section the Roman
Catholic religion does not seem to have been able to take root. While
there is a small Catholic Church in Johnson City, and one in Greeneville
that is opened but once a year, the other places have few, if any,
Catholics in them. It is doubtful if one could find in all America a group
of people who appear to be more overwhelmingly Americans or more
uniformly Protestant in their religious views than the inhabitants of this
section.
In January, 1921, I was sent by a Chattanooga business house with which I
had been connected for some time, on an extended trip through East
Tennessee.
In February I arrived at Johnson City, intending to make that my
headquarters and visit the other towns, which are easy of access. Early in
March, 1921, I noticed a young man of pleasing personality, but I had
never talked with him until the morning of March 16, when we were thrown
together at the breakfast table.
"What are you selling?" I asked, taking it for granted that he was a
traveling salesman.
He looked at the Masonic emblem I wore on my coat, smiled and handed me a
clipping from the _Johnson City Staff_, stating that the organizer of the
Ku Klux Klan was in town seeking recruits, but that people did not want
the Klan, and expressing the hope that the vagrancy laws would take care
of the worker for the movement.
My curiosity was immediately aroused, and after the organizer had
carefully examined my Masonic and Knights of Pythias cards, we had a long
talk together. He was an excellent salesman of his proposition, and in a
few minutes he had me completely sold. In response to questions, I seemed
to qualify, for the organizer, or Kleagle, as he is officially called,
told me to hold myself in readiness and he would take me in that night.
When evening came, I accompanied the Kleagle to the office of a prominent
business man who had assembled his brother and his entire office force,
and nine of us were taken into the "Invisible Empire," Knights of the Ku
Klux Klan. The ceremony of "naturalization" was held in an inner office,
the Kleagle wearing his white robe, with cape lined with red satin, and
his peaked helmet with mask in which were cut two eye holes. It was my
first glimpse of the Ku Klux regalia.
Next day, the Kleagle met me at breakfast again, and stated that he was
compelled to go back to Knoxville, which was his headquarters, and asked
me if I would not take hold of the work for a week, acting as his
representative during his absence. He stated that, on account of newspaper
opposition, he had been unable to make any rapid progress, but believed
that on account of my more extensive acquaintance I could render some
valuable service to the cause. This I agreed to do for him, and during the
day was instructed in many matters connected with the soliciting work. On
one point, he was very emphatic. "In your work," he said, "it is advisable
to get the mayor, the sheriff and his deputies if they are eligible, and
the police department. Also we want the telephone and telegraph people,
and the better class of railroaders." With this special injunction, the
Kleagle boarded the train for Knoxville, and left me in charge of the
field, first notifying the Klansmen that he had so designated me.
On April 6, 1921, the Kleagle was suddenly called to Atlanta for a
conference with the Imperial Kleagle, or chief organizer, and notified me
that I should have to take charge of the work temporarily during his
absence. He returned, however, on the evening of April 8, 1921, in time to
obligate a class of thirty-six men whom I had waiting for him. He brought
with him a commission as Kleagle made out in my name, and placed me in
charge of the field, with the statement that he had been made a King
Kleagle in another field. That night we conferred until very late, going
over the entire work, and I had several papers which had to be made out.
One of these papers was one of the most remarkable documents I have ever
seen. It is called the "Kleagle's Pledge of Loyalty," and reads as
follows:
"I, the undersigned, in order to be a regular appointed Kleagle of
the Invisible Empire, Knights of the Ku Klux Klan (Incorporated), do
freely and voluntarily promise, pledge and fully guarantee a lofty
respect, whole-hearted loyalty and unwavering devotion at all times
and under all circumstances and conditions from this day and date
forward to William Joseph Simmons as Imperial Wizard and Emperor of
the Invisible Empire, Knights of the Ku Klux Klan (Incorporated). I
shall work in all respects in perfect harmony with him and under his
authority and directions, in all his plans for the extension and
government of the Society, and under his directions, with any and all
of my officially superior officers duly appointed by him.
"I shall at any and all times be faithful and true in all things, and
most especially in preventing and suppressing any factions, cisms or
conspiracies against him or his plans and purposes for the peace and
harmony of the Society which may arise or attempt to rise. I shall
discourage and strenuously oppose any degree of disloyalty or
disrespect on the part of myself or any klansman, anywhere and at any
time or place, towards him as the founder and as the supreme chief
governing head of the Society above named.
"This pledge, promise and guarantee I make as a condition precedent
to my appointment stated above, and the continuity of my appointment
as a Kleagle, and it is fully agreed that any deviation by me from
this pledge will instantly automatically cancel and completely void
my appointment together with all its prerogatives, my membership in
the Society, and I shall forfeit all remunerations which may be then
due me.
"I make this solemn pledge on my Oath of Allegiance and on my
integrity and honor as a man and as a klansman, with serious purpose
to keep same inviolate."
It will be noted in studying the foregoing document that the pledge is not
to the organization, but to _William Joseph Simmons_.
In addition to this "pledge of loyalty" to "Emperor" Simmons, I was also
required to sign an application for an indemnity bond, which was an
agreement, not to indemnify the organization from loss, but to indemnify
_William J. Simmons_ in the sum of one thousand dollars. The application
for employment, which in my case, was made after I was employed, was also
directed to the "Emperor."