Indiana Klan
The Indiana Klan is a branch of the Ku Klux Klan, a secret society in the United States that practices racism and terrorism against minority ethnic groups. The Indiana Klan rose to prominence beginning in the years after World War I when the society set out to "protect" the United States from people of German descent. They continued to rise in power under the leadership of Grand Dragon D.C. Stephenson who led the Indiana Klan to break away from the national organization in 1923. The organization reached its highest point of power during the years that followed, and by 1925 over half the members of the Indiana General Assembly, the Governor of Indiana, and many other high ranking members of the government were all members of the Klan. Scandal erupted that year when Stephenson was accused and convicted for the rape and murder of Madge Oberholtzer. When the governor refused to pardon Stephenson, he began to expose many of his co-conspirators in the Klan, destroying their reputations and effectively destroying much of the Klan's power.
Formation
In 1920 Joe Huffington was chosen by Imperial Wizard William J. Simmons of Atlanta, Georgia to start an official Indiana chapter of the Ku Klux Klan. Huffington left for Indiana and setup his first headquarters in Evansville, Indiana. In Evansville, Huffington met D.C. Stephenson who quickly became one of the leading members of chapter. Stephenson quickly became wealthy from the position in the Klan and his influence became very importance to the orginzation. Stephenson was a very active recruiter for new members, and held meetings with state's other secret societies like the Free Masons, to gain support. He did not preach racist rhetoric, and instead left that to subordinates, he instead spoke of the society as a brotherhood and focused on what he considered the noble aspects of the organizations, such as helping the poor and defending morality. His stance, especially on morals, helped him gain the support of many churches in the state. His populism led to a rapid growth in the Klan's membership.[1]
His ability to so quickly grow the chapter led to his appointment as the Grand Dragon of the Indiana Klan in 1922. His success further emboldened him and in 1923, he led the Indiana Klan in breaking away from the national organization.[1] The Klan became influential in the politics of the state, and an endorsement from the organization could practically guarantee victory at the polls. The result led to many politicians at all levels of government, joining the Klan in order to gain their support. The Klan became so powerful, and Stephenson so influential, that by 1925 he began to brag, saying "I am the law in Indiana."[2]
At the height of it's power the Klan had over 250,000 members, which was over 30% of state's white male population. The highest concentration was around the central part of the state.[1] Klan membership was discouraged in some parts of the state, like New Albany, where city leaders denounced the Klan and discouraged residents from joining. Other cities, like Indianapolis, were almost completely controlled by the Klan, and membership to public ofice was impossible without their support. Multiple street fights occured in Indianapolis between the Klan and minority groups.
Scandal
In 1925 Stephenson met Madge Oberholtzer, the head of the state's commission to combat illiteracy. The night of the inaugural ball of Governor Edward L. Jackson, she was abducted from her home and taken to an Indianapolis train station. On the train ride to Hammond, she was repeatedly raped by Stephenson. Once in Hammond, she was able to drink a poison cleaning material. Using her illness she begged Stephenson to release her so she would not die. He took her back to Indianapolis where she died a month later in a hospital. The cause of death was determined to be either the poison or severed bite and cuts received during her rape. Stephenson was immediately arrested and charged with second-degree murder and was convicted and remained in prison until 1956.[1]
Stephenson expected Governor Jackson to pardon him for his support in his election. But by 1926, it became evident that Stephenson was not going to be pardoned. In response he began to talk to reporters from the Indianapolis Times and to expose many of the high profile members of the Klan. It was quickly revealed that over half the member of the Indiana General Assembly were Klan members. After further investigation it was found that Klan had members as the Attorney General, the Mayor of Indianapolis, and numerous other high ranking positions across the state. Several were arrested and jailed for bribery charges associated to their membership in the Klan. The result destroyed the Klan's image as the defenders of justice, and the shakeup left the Klan nearly powerless as member abandoned the organization by the tens of thousands.[1]
Attempts to revive the Klan were made in the 1960s and 1970s, but the organization was never able to regain the membership or power it held during the 1920s.
See also
Notes
- ^ a b c d e "Indiana History Chapter Seven". Northern Indiana Center for History. Retrieved 2008-10-07.
- ^ Lutholtz, M. William (199). Grand Dragon: D. C. Stephenson and the Ku Klux Klan in Indiana. West Lafayette, Indiana: Purdue University Press. pp. pp. 43, 89. ISBN 1557530467.
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External links
- D.C. Stephenson and the Indiana Klan
- prospectus for The Stephenson Trial: Internal Klan Conflicts Linked to Downfall of Second Klan in Indiana by Lindsay Dunn
- Indiana Historical Society: D.C. Stephenson Collection
- Indiana State Library: Resources on the Ku Klux Klan in Indiana
- Ku Klux Klan: A Secret History, written and produced by Bill Brummel, aired 31 May 2003 on the History Channel.
