Because anti-black racism was not an adequate motivator in the northern U.S., the Klan of the 1920s targeted Catholics and Jews; and in the western part of the country, Japanese and Mexicans. The Klan said “Our Anglo-Saxon Protestant Christian civilization must be preserved.” The group contended America had been stolen from its rightful citizens, alleging that Catholics and Jews were conspiring to subvert American values, notably through immigration (which was from heavily Catholic nations in eastern and southern Europe at the time). Just as it did in other parts of the U.S., the KKK rose steadily in Iowa in the early 1920s and accelerated into a major movement in 1924. In some areas, the Klan succeeded at influencing local and state elections, including the U.S. Senate race in Iowa. Klan activities were reported This KKK uniform displayed at the Sheldon Prairie Museum belonged to an elementary school teacher who lived in Sheldon. Her father was the imperial wizard, according to museum director Millie Vos. heavily by local newspapers in 1924. Cross burnings were reported at Struble, Hawarden, Sheldon, Hull, Boyden and Rock Valley. The Ireton Ledger implied local support for the Klan in its report about a meeting there in May 1924: “Everyone present seemed well pleased and expressed hearty approval of the big plan adopted in the movement of Americanizing America.” The Ledger went on to publish the full “Klansman’s Creed.” While the creed was steeped in powerful language supporting American values, the Maurice Times was having none of it. The following week, the Maurice editor castigated the Ireton newspaper for publishing the creed and attacked the Klan for its opposition to particular nationalities and religions, noting that “Catholic boys, and Jews and negroes willingly gave their services and lives when America called for them to fight in the great world war. The Klan wishes to Americanize America, but the spirit of America should not be a spirit of class hatred but rather of brotherly love and mutual helpfulness between all races and creeds.”
LOCAL | RELIABLE | SERVICE
Other editors offered rebukes of the KKK and one civic organization made its opinion clear: The Kiwanis Club of Rock Rapids have openly declared that they are opposed to the organization of Ku Klux Klan in their town and at one of the their meetings recently they took a vote which was 46 to 1 against the Klan. The membership of the Kiwanis Club is made up of representatives of all churches, political parties, fraternal organizations and civic and social clubs. It was reported to the club that a Klan organizer was attempting to establish a Klan at Rock Rapids.”
fmiahull.com | 712.439.1722 Serving northwest Iowa farmers and homeowners since 1886.
~ Hawarden Independent, April 3, 1924 June 2022 | www.agemedia.pub | The Farming Families Magazine
31
