On Labor Day weekend 1925, the Ku Klux Klan of Dauphin County, Pennsylvania, held a huge demonstration in Harrisburg, the county seat and capital city of the state. Large crowds arrived to participate and witness as thousands of white-robed Klansmen and Klanswomen paraded in full regalia.
Newspapers covered the event as if it were a normal celebration of the last holiday of the summer.
The news article presented here is from the Harrisburg Evening News, September 8, 1925:
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CITY’S FIRST PARADE OF KLAN DRAWS BIG LABOR DAY CROWD
Harrisburg had its largest Labor Day crowd, its worst traffic congestion and its first K. K. K. parade yesterday. The Klan parade attracted many thousands of persons, including about 5000 marchers, and as it was held when most stores and industries were closed tight more than half of the city’s population turned out to see it.
It is estimated that most of the visitors came by automobile, and this produced the congestion of streets that is without parallel here. Not only were the river bridges jammed but Mulberry Street Bridge, the Market Street subway and many narrow streets were packed with cars, the procession halting often because of the blockades.
Thousands of cars left the city during the day with holiday crowds, some of the occupants going to the Altoona races, others to Hershey Park, and the Harrisburg Dauphin Fair, which opened yesterday. Other hundreds went for a ride to get out of a super-heated city.
Island Park, Wildwood Park entrance, West Shore parking spaces and other open spots were filled with cars and campers. Prior to the parade streets up to Muench were lined almost solid with machines. Capitol Park and the municipal parking space on Walnut Street were filled.
Parade Day’s Feature
The parade was the feature of the day that brought most of the vast throngs of people here. It got under way at 8 o’clock and marchers from half a dozen states participated. The American flag predominated in the pageant. The men and women were white-garbed and hooded, but wore no masks, but the women and some of the men were garbed in many brilliant colors. Sam D. Rich, Pittsburgh, grand dragon, headed the marchers in green, his staff wearing red and white.
The Washington marchers, carrying large American flags, came in for much applause along the two-mile line of march to Island Park where the afternoon ceremony was held. The women Klavaliers of Montgomery County, marching in the form of a cross, also got much applause from the side lines. A score of bands furnished music for the steps of the marchers. One band, the Altoona Kitchenette, was composed of women of the Klan.
Well Drilled
The various marching units were well drilled for the most part, many of them being expert in their movements. The Klavalier unit of the Montgomery County Klan was awarded a silver loving cup by the Dauphin County Klan for being the best drilled outfit that performed yesterday afternoon in the baseball field at Island Park.
The Klavalier units of the Philadelphia Klan and of the Delaware County Klan also participated in the contest. The judges of the event were: Dr. Charles Dumm, of West Chester; Rev. Bruce F. Lehman, of Shippensburg; and Richard Moyer of this city.
The night meeting of the Klan at the Island drew an impressive throng. There were speeches at the baseball field, the grandstands being well-filled. Dr. W. F. Chase, of Atlanta, Georgia, a national officer of the organization, explained the meaning of the order for the uninitiated. He explained the foundation of the Klan and its significance and said he was authorized to offer a reward to any person who will prove the Klan guilty of a crime.
Sam D. Rich, grand dragon, who was in general charge of the affairs of the day, spoke of the success of the meeting here and thanked the people for many courtesies shown the organization. Other speakers were: Dr. L. D. Peebles and the Rev. Dr. John A. Taber, both of Mr. Rich’s staff. Dr. Tabor announced that there would be a Klan conclave at Gettysburg on September 19 and 20 [1925]. On September 20 at 3 p.m., Dr. Hiram Wesley Evans, of Atlanta, imperial wizard, will deliver an address.
Following the speeches, 200 men were initiated into the Dauphin County Klan. While the initiation ceremony was being conducted, a large fiery cross was burned.
The speakers last night referred to the mask, which was set aside for the day, and said that the day will soon come when the Klan will wear the mask and will rid the country of crime.
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News articles from Newspapers.com.
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