Procession

Hiram Wesley Evans, Imperial Wizard, resplendent in purple and gold, smiled and bowed hat in hand as he proudly led some 30,000 to 50,000 Klansmen and Klanswomen down Pennsylvania Avenue from the Capitol to the Treasury.

Occasionally the crowds along the way applauded, but there was neither cheering nor jeering. The parade marched and was reviewed with complete good humor, if not unconcern. It was not the great parade planned two months ago--a national demonstration of 150,000 or 200,000 men. Nor was it the local affair which was announced a day or two before--a parade of the Washington and Maryland Klans, 5,000 to 8,000 men.

Twenty to thirty abreast, white robed unmasked (to conform to a local ordinance), with white peaked hats, white cords around their waists, arms folded, the marchers followed rank on rank. Here and there was color--an imperial robe of crimson or scarlet or green. Everywhere floated American flags. The entire District of Columbia contingent (of about 100) carried each a large flag, gift from the Texas Klans. Other banners showed a masked horseman, a little red schoolhouse, the legend "Non Silbla sed Anthar (Klansmen smirk when asked to translate this; it is not Latin), and the legend "We Are 100% American." Bands played America, The Star Spangled Banner, Adeste Fideles and other hymns, Maryland, My Maryland, etc., etc.

There were variations in costuming, good fabrics and cheap fabrics, hats of varying shapes, colored capes (worn by a quarter of the marchers), military uniforms in certain units. Some marched with hands clasped, some with arms interlocked, some with arms around each other's necks.

One man in colonial costume rode horseback. Three girls in colonial costume rode in a carriage. One white-robed marcher waved a flag and shouted to spectators; his face much resembled that of Charles Evans Hughes. One contingent bore a banner : "If you want to know what God thinks of us, read Revelations, 7th chapter, 9th to 17th verses."

Most of the demonstrators were from the North. Texas had barely 200 in line. Georgia, Louisiana, South Carolina, Alabama, Tennessee, Mississippi, apparently were not represented--Pittsburgh alone had 2,000 marchers. New Jersey, New York and Ohio furnished large contingents.

They were a footsore lot who had come by auto and special train, dusty and dirty, many carrying in the parade little black bags with their belongings; bundles of clothes and food bulged many robes; some carried civilian hats in their hands. And it was frightfully hot. There was an awful thirst upon them. Watermelon and ice cream cones were consumed ad infinitum from many a vendor.

From 3:00 to 7:00 through the heat the multitude gathered into the sylvan theatres near the Washington Monument; the great drought within them was mocked by a downpour of rain. A prayer, a speech or two, and the pounding, pounding rain brought the meeting to a close.

The burning of a great cross in Arlington was postponed.