ama, to the United States Senate." (Harrel, 307) The Klan was extremely hungry for political gain. The best way to promote the growth of an organization of this sort would be the expansion of a network with prominent political and investment resources."The limitation of immigration, maintenance of nationalprohibition, restriction of the political influence of the Catholic Church and minority groups, clean government,and maintenance of community morals, were goalswhich violence and intimidation alone could not achieve." (Harrel, 305) It is seemed necessary that in order to have a prosperous organization, the Klan would have to infiltrate the political offices held by the liberals. This is a task easier said than done."The Invisible Empire excluded from membership, and thus insulted, Catholics, Jews, Negroes, and the foreign born, groups which totaled forty per cent of America's population during the twenties...Despite the fact that Klansmen looked upon thegroups they excluded from membership as 'second class citizens,' America's minority groups togetherconstituted a potentially powerful voting bloc whichcould grind the Klan under if sufficiently aroused." (Harrel, 305) An effort to enlist officials with both local and state authority was adopted in this state of Louisiana from successful attempts in Atlanta. "They first enrolled the Adjutant General of the State of Louisiana, L.A. Toombs, and then inducted several membersof the state legislature, a number of local and district judges, sheriffs, district attorneys, and police officers." (Harrel, 309) The idea of public officials having involvement in the Ku Klux Klan is frightening, and still today it is present. In the earlydecades of the nineteenth century people were not sensible in their views of society as they are now. In present time people are more open minded, racism does exist, but it is totally unacceptable for society to tolerate bigotry from a po...
