KU KLUX KLAN: Decline

Decline

It was about ten years ago that an organization was founded in the name of the old secret society of reconstruction days, the Ku Klux Klan. It spread through the South and Southwest, burst across Mason and Dixon’s line into Indiana, spread eastward to New England, made some progress in the Middle West and gained a few footholds in the Far West.

In many states it became a political bogey. The peak of its power, it appears, came in about 1923. Soon, however, it began to disintegrate; scandal and dissension seized upon it internally; rival organizations sprang up—the Independent Klan, the Knights of the Flaming Sword, etc.—and in some places community pressure attacked it from without.

Last week the New York Times published an estimate of the Klan’s fortunes collected by its correspondents. The estimates can not always be taken as reliable, and in a number of cases the number of members is probably egregiously in error in one way or another, but there is a striking unanimity in the opinion that the Klan is declining. The following gives a synopsis of the estimates by states:

Massachusetts three years ago claimed 100,000 members, but perhaps had no more than 7,000. The present estimate of its membership is 1,500. Its political influence is negligible.

Connecticut in 1924 had 18,000 members. Dissension has cut into its ranks and some of the larger local bodies have broken with the national organization. It claims that it never attempted an act of violence.

New York had 200,000 members in 1923, and has now fewer than 100,000. A state law was passed to make it reveal its membership, but it evaded it by incorporating as a benevolent society. Its strongholds are on Long Island and in the southern and extreme western counties of the state. Its influence is merely local.

New Jersey once had 100,000 members, now has perhaps 60,000. Its political power is not great. There has been a large amount of internal dissension. It still holds spectacular out-of-door meetings, etc.

Pennsylvania never made great headway. It has entered politics chiefly with negative success in the Pittsburgh region. It was able to send about 5,000 members to the parade in Washington last summer.

Middle West

Ohio claims 206,000 members, and in 1923 had about 300,000. Politicians have changed from favoring it to indifference and gradually to opposition. Both Senators ignored its demands to vote against the World Court. It still has some local power, but even that it failing. But it maintains handsome headquarters at Columbus.

Michigan has had a number of body blows in politics, and was drowned by Protestant votes which elected an anti-Klan Catholic mayor of Detroit last fall. In a few cities it still hangs on.

Indiana in 1923 had perhaps 200,000 members, but probably not over 50,000 at present. It has wielded great political power, but this is waning, although politicians in general steer clear of incurring its wrath. In recent municipal elections it succeeded in some cities and failed in others. Its former Grand Dragon is serving a life term in prison for murder of a girl.

Illinois. Much internal dissension has promoted the growth of rival bodies at Klan expense. Many suits are pending for accounting of its funds. Even at Herrin, where it was once very powerful, its influence has receded.

Missouri in 1922 claimed 150,000 members, but probably has not 75,000 today. In 1922 politics kept its hands off, although Senator Reed fought it and was elected. In 1924 both parties denounced the Klan. Klan support has become a political liability.

Kansas had a peak membership of 150,000 in 1924. Its leaders have made it conservative, supporting law enforcement and no violence. It still seems fairly healthy in this state.

Georgia. Atlanta, the onetime Imperial City of the Klan, is nearly deserted so far as the Klan is concerned. The leadership of the Klan was lost when the Simmons and Clarke dynasty was overthrown by the Texan dynasty of Hiram Wesley Evans. The palace is deserted or nearly so, and the home it gave to Simmons was sold when he went forth to found the Knights of the Flaming Sword. Clarke has founded the anti-evolution society—the Supreme Kingdom (TIME, Feb. 1, EDUCATION). No more are great national meetings held in Atlanta. It still is powerful in small cities, and its political influence is considered worth while.

Mississippi two years ago had 25,000 members, now has about 18,000. Its strength is in cities and towns. Except for the state convention which nominated candidates to the 1924 Democratic National Convention, it has largely refrained from politics and chiefly confined itself to giving “tips” to prohibition agents on how to catch bootleggers.

Louisiana membership may once have been 50,000. Last year a law was passed requiring public registration of names of members, and only a few hundred names were filed. Its political influence, never great, has waned, and the number of “tips” to prohibition officers has greatly fallen off.

Texas. According to a Grand Dragon who left the Klan last fall, it had 97,000 members a year and a half ago, and now has less than 18,000. Several of its locals are in the hands of “supervisors”, virtual receivers. Its power has fallen so rapidly that Klan support is a liability to a politician.

Arkansas. Much dissension broke the local Klans from the national body. The Independent Klan sprang up and later changed its name to the Mystic Knights of Arkansas, which claims to be non-political and nonreligious. The Klan has probably fewer than 10,000 members left. The present Governor was elected over its opposition. Politicians generally announce that they have left the Klan.

Oklahoma in 1923 claimed 90,000 members, but perhaps only 20,000 are left. Open air meetings have nearly disappeared. The Klan’s hold is now confined to the southern cotton-growing part of the state. State headquarters were recently moved from a large building, where meetings had been held for three years, to a single room.