1924 seems to have been the peak year for Ku Klux Klan activity in the south of Iowa, including Lucas County. That was the year Chariton's Klan purchased the disused United Presbyterian Church at the intersection of North Grand and Auburn as headquarters.
"Konklaves" drawing several thousand were held at the fairgrounds in Knoxville on Tuesday, July 8; at the fairgrounds in Indianola on Friday, July 18; and at Chandler Field in Chariton on Saturday, Aug. 2.
I've written several times here about the Klan and you'll find a summary of Klan activity in Lucas County by following these links --- The Klan in Lucas County, Part 1 and The Klan in Lucas County, Part 2.
The Knoxville rally was reported upon in both of Knoxville's weekly newspapers of the day --- The Journal and The Express --- on Thursday, July 10. The Journal report, reproduced here, focused on what was said during the rally; the Express report, more on the spectacle.
The featured speaker in Knoxville may have been a prominent Des Moines insurance company executive named Frank L. Miner, although I can't prove that and Mr. Miner died of a heart attack two years later. If he were a Klan activist, it wasn't mentioned in his obituary. Prayers were offered by the Rev. J. Roy Wright, pastor of Centerville's Drake Avenue Christian Church and a major player in Appanoose County Klan activity. The Express report identified the Rev. Mr. Wright correctly; the Journal got the name wrong, so I've corrected it in the following transcript.
Here's the report:
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It is estimated that between 5,000 and 6,000 people crowded into the Marion County Fair Grounds on Tuesday evening to witness the much talked of "Konklave" of the Ku Klux Klan. Elaborate preparations had been made for the event and there had been much talk about the crowd numbering from 15,000 to 25,000. If such a crowd had been in fact anticipated, the promoters of the event must have been keenly disappointed. However it is fair to say that it was a large and enthusiastic audience and proves conclusively that interest in the Klan and its doings is large.
The grounds had been elaborately decorated for the occasion. Hundreds of American flags were displayed in various parts of the center field and several stands had been erected, presumably as adjuncts to the initiation ceremonies which followed the program in front of the grandstand.
A group of some 50 horsemen in full Klan regalia, white robes and hoods for the riders and white blankets for the horses, led the parade, followed by several handsomely decorated floats and a company of robed and hooded Klansmen on foot. Band music entertained the great crowd previous to the speaking. When the assemblage had been called to order it was announced that (Rev. J. Roy Wright) of Appanoose county would offer the prayer. Dr. (Wright) prayed fervently for the United States of America and all white Protestant Americans.
The speaker of the evening was introduced as Dr. Frank Miner, a member of the Imperial lecture bureau for the Invisible Empire. Dr. Miner spoke at some length, enunciating the 16 principles of the Ku Klux Klan. He directed a bitter assault upon the newspapers of America and was especially virulent in his denunciation of the Associated Press. He said that the Associated Press was controlled by the Catholic church and that it did not tell the truth about the Klan.
"Three groups of people and only three oppose the Klan in every community," declared the speaker. He defined these three groups as follows:
1. "The lawless element, the bootleggers, gamblers, prostitutes, crooked politicians and lawbreakers of every description.
2. "Those elements of our population who oppose a Protestant, white secret organization, meaning of course members of the Catholic church, negroes and foreigners.
3. "The misinformed, i.e., those who have formed their conception of the Klan from the newspapers and from hearsay."
Dr. Miner went into detail to defend the Klan from complicity in acts of violence attributed to the organization. He blamed the newspapers for a campaign of misrepresentation and abuse and asserted that the Klan was not guilty of any of the acts attributed to it. Repeatedly he declared that the purpose of the Klan was to promote 100 per cent Americanism and the enforcement of law and order and declare the Klan's purpose to put the criminals of the country behind prison bars. His eloquent statement of lofty principles brought and answering roar of applause from the great crowd.
It is stated that a class of more than 500 men and women were "naturalized" (initiated into the Klan) at the ceremony following the public meeting. Two fiery crosses were burned and the initiatory ceremonies must have lasted well into the wee small hours of the morning.
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