201. Killing The Ku Klux Klan In Indiana.

RCHS Blog Post Number 201. 

Killing The Ku Klux Klan In Indiana.

     The Ku Klux Klan was attempting a comeback during World War ll, especially in the east central Indiana counties, including Wayne, Delaware and Randolph. Governor Ralph F. Gates wrote this article for the International News Service announcing his plan to have the Klan outlawed in Indiana and it was released in Indianapolis November 20, 1946.

     In an article written especially for the International News Service Governor Ralph F. Gates of Indiana tells of his plan to ask for legislation outlawing the organization in his state.

     It was in Indiana, more than 20 years ago, that the Klan rode roughshod over opposition until it was finally driven out of power.

     Indianapolis, Nov. 20, 1946.  We are going to smash the Ku Klux Klan in Indiana.

     I shall ask the Indiana general assembly, which meets in January, to enact legislation outlawing the Klan, Columbians, Inc., (Google search "The Columbians Indiana" and click on "Deja Vu Tuesday" to learn more) and all other organizations which live only on religious and racial hatreds.

  This action would conform to the high principles of our state constitution and I believe that the legislature will support my recommendations.

     Also, the attorney general is conducting an investigation which probably will result in the filing of court action likewise to oust the Klan. He has wisely consulted the authorities of Kentucky and Georgia, who have taken courageous steps to fight bigotry.

     We know that the hate breeding organization is attempting to revive itself from oblivion, because its new Indiana King Kleagle has had the effrontery to boast of its revival and to brag that organization work is in progress in sixty of the ninety two counties of Indiana.

  There are indications that this man is exaggerating, but we can't take any chances. We are advised that many Klan organizers are capitalizing on the normal anti-Communistic principals of Hoosiers in the recruiting campaign, while concealing the commercialized bigotry which is the real objective of the hooded organization.

     We have had our fingers burned in Indiana and we have learned our lesson the hard way.

     Apparently the Klan today is substantially the same as it was in the twenties. I believe that it still stands for un-American racial and religious intolerance, strong-arm methods and brute force.

     Indiana knows the Klan better than most states of the Union. A quarter of a century ago we saw the Klan in ruthless, destructive action in our state.

     This nefarious, cowardly organization deceived hundreds of thousands of our citizens because the mercenary organizers, collecting ten dollars a head from the joiners, said that the Klan would foster patriotism, religion and tolerance.

     On the strength of a huge membership, the Klan leaders grew to enormous political, social and business power.

     How did the Grand Dragon, Kleagles and other arrogant chiefs use this terrific power?

     In the field of politics, the Klan elected hundreds of grafting, unprincipled public officials who brought shame to our state. Nearly fifty of these officeholders, high and low, were indicted or convicted for various offenses. These persons either were Klansmen or were elected to office with Klan support.

     We in Indiana remember how these masked and hooded thugs took posts at road intersections, directed traffic brazenly and moved out motorists about to facilitate attendance at the Sunday Klan rallies. We know that these gun-toting ruffians rode the roads at night, terrorizing honest Catholic, Jewish and negro citizens and committing other illegal actions.

     Many of us have in mind the politicalization of churches and clubs, the ruination of non-Klan small business men, attorneys, physicians, dentists and others who would not bow to the hooded order, and similar crimes of intolerance.

     Yes, we killed the Klan in Indiana a score of years ago and we do not propose to permit it to be revived.

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