Kleagle

A Kleagle is an officer of the Ku Klux Klan whose main role is to recruit new members.

Incentives and recruitment strategies

Kleagle members were typically paid by commission and received a portion of each new member’s initiation fee.

KKK members were encouraged to recruit other by framing economic, political and social structural changes in favor of and in line with KKK goals. These goals promoted “100 percent Americanism” and benefits for white native- born Protestants. Informal ways Klansman recruited members included “with eligible co-workers and personal friends and try to enlist them”. Protestant teachers were also targeted for Klan membership.

Bloc recruitment

Particularly in the 1920s, the Klan used a technique referred to as bloc recruitment. This term was coined by sociologist Anthony Oberschall. Bloc recruitment refers to “the way in which social-movement organizers often recruit members and participants among groups of individuals already organized for some other purpose.” This strategy was advantageous to the Klan because it allowed them to recruit large groups of members from one source instead of being faced with the difficult task of recruiting individuals one by one. This strategy was also effective because it allowed the Klan to build upon the solidarity already in place from other organizations.

The KKK usually targeted fraternal lodges and protestant church members for bloc recruitment. Protestant ministers were offered free membership and powerful Chaplain status within the KKK. Recruitment also involved recruitment drives that toured the United States. Members of organizations like churches and fraternal lodges, were easily accessible by Kleagles or Klan recruiters because they were already socially active in public issues through their involvement in these organizations. These recruitment efforts were very successful, as such Klan membership soared. A primary recruitment leader during the 1920s, Edward Young Clark, supposedly reported that the Klan had gained 48,000 members in just three months. Klan leaders took advantage of this success and used membership fees to finance large purchases such as the Klux Krest, a new home for Imperial Wizard Simmons (founder of the 2nd KKK).

Violence

In addition to recruitment drives and alliances with fraternal lodges and protestant churches the Klan also used controlled instances of violence to attract members. Violence was pronounced in areas of high KKK activity, intimidating opponents of the KKK and impressing future members. Violence was a method to demonstrate commitment to the Klan philosophy. Violence was used, however monitored closely by Klan Leaders to discourage government intervention and to “avoid a backlash from the general public that could damage recruiting efforts”.

Charity Work and Recruitment

To off-set violent acts, the KKK participated in charitable activities. In 1922, the Klan “contributed $25 each to the Volunteers of America and to the African Methodist Episcopal Church, an offer which Webster said proved that the Klan was not anti-black”. The charitable activities demonstrated that the KKK was committed to the welfare of the nation and also “served as an effective public relations device by creating a more favor- able opinion of the secret order and attracting new members”.

Other Recruitment Factors

The allure of the “invisible empire” and its public anonymity were also appeals for potential Klansman. In addition to the empowerment of membership in an empire that was secretive, Klansman also enjoyed a kin-ship like bond from membership. The activities and events Klan members were impressive to future recruits as they included family picnics and other social events that built solidarity As other fraternal like organizations the activities reinforced ideals but were also typical social events. These and many other factors made the Klan very appealing to white Native-born Protestants during the 1920s.

Kleagles

• Edgar Ray Killen, a Mississippi Klansman long suspected of involvement in a notorious civil rights movement murder that were the subject of the movie Mississippi Burning. Killen was found guilty of manslaughter on June 21, 2005.
• Robert Byrd, former senior senator in the United States Senate from West Virginia, though he had later disavowed any connection with the Ku Klux Klan, while admitting that it was his decision to join the Ku Klux Klan that started his career in politics.

King Kleagles

King Kleagle was the head of the Kleagles for a geographic area:

• Arthur H. Bell
• George W. Apgar of the Ku Klux Klan in New Jersey

See also

• Ku Klux Klan recruitment
• Ku Klux Klan in Inglewood, California (kleagles on trial).