Its
members were prominent on police forces, sheriff departments,
and various other local branches of government. In the early
1920s, Klan support was responsible for electing a handful of
senators and several Congressmen. Finally, in 1924, an attempt
was made to capture both political parties on the national level.
Failing to get its nominee chosen as Vice President on the
Republican ticket, the Klan swung its full attention to the
Democratic convention in Madison Square Garden in New York. Anti-
Klan forces at the convention were also strong. The convention
leadership made the attempt to keep the issue in the background,
but a minority report on the platform resulted in forcing the
convention to condemn the Klan by name. The convention was split
in two. As a result, it took the party nine days and one hundred
and twenty-three ballots before it was successful in choosing
its national candidates. In the following year, the Klan again
tried to make its presence felt on the national scene. It held a
march of its members in Washington. Forty thousand robed and
hooded Klansmen marched down Pennsylvania Avenue in a display of
strength while thousands more cheered and watched.
Pages:
202
203
204
205
206
207
208
209
210
211
212
213
214
215
216
217
218
219
220
221
222
223
224
225
226