Special to The Star by Staff Reporter, Oakville, March 1, 1930
The Ku Klux Klan resorted to direct action for the first time in Canada’s history here last night, when 75 white-hooded figures invaded the, town, and, after burning a fiery cross on Main St., removed a white girl from the home of her negro sweetheart and returned her to her parents.
The girl is Alice Jones, 20;: the man, Ira Johnston, 30. The majority of the Klansmen are said to live come from Hamilton. The entire episode was carried out without disorder, and the Klansmen afterward reported their actions to Police Chief Kerr.
Following protests from a number of Toronto and Oakville negroes against what they termed high-handed and unjustifiable action, Attorney-General Price announced to day that the case will be thoroughly probed. He stated that until he has a report of the occurrence he will not be able to state what charges will be laid or what course of action will be taken.
Demonstration Was Silent
Just as the inhabitants of Oakville were preparing to retire for the night about 75 white-gowned and hooded figures marched silently through the main streets and set up a huge wooden cross at the foot of Main St. Gathering around the cross, the Ku Klux Klansmen set it on fire and stood silently watching until the last ember had ceased to glow red in the dark night.
Awed citizens watched the spectacle, momentarily expecting a sound, word or movement from one of the assembled klansmen to break the strained silence. As if signalled to by some unseen figure the hooded visitors “fell in” and marched to the house occupied by Miss Jones and Johnston. Courteously and quietly they escorted the woman to the home of her parents and there left her.
They then brought Johnston’s parents back to his home and extracted from the man a promise that he would allow them to remain there unmolested.
At no time during the evening was violence either offered or received. The conduct of the visitors was all that could be desired, according to Police Chief David Kerr of Oakville, who did not interfere with the demonstrators.
Could Not Separate Couple
More than a week ago Johnston, according to Chief Kerr, ousted his mother and father from the home, and persuaded the girl to live with him. The chief received several complaints from citizens and also from Salvation Army officers.
The chief, however, was powerless to separate the two, as the man was of age and no minors were in the house.
The Klan demonstration was carried out by Hamilton members of the organization, including a number of prominent citizens. Chief Kerr told The Star that he knew a number of the men involved.
About 10.45 last night the chief was called to the scene of the demonstration. The cross had been burned on Kerr St. and the young woman taken from the house when he arrived.
“The party had finished their demonstration when I arrived,” he stated. “They told me everything that happened. They used no force, nor did they create a disturbance of any kind. They disrobed before they left and I recognized many of them as prominent Hamilton business men.”
In addition to taking the girl from Johnson’s home, the members of the Klan took his mother and father back to the home from which they had been ousted and secured a promise that they would be allowed to live there without being molested.
According to the chief, Johnston expressed willingness to marry the girl but had not been able to obtain a license.
Chief Kerr has had no trouble with Johnston in the past.
When the suggestion was made to the demonstrators that they were allied with the Red movement, they protested vigorously, intimating to Chief Kerr that action such as they had taken in Oakville was in line with the policies of their organization.
Klan’s First Appearance
Chief Kerr said it was the first time that the Klu Klux Klan had ever appeared in Oakville. He was on his way to the scene when he met the Klan in automobiles crossing the bridge over the Sixteen Mile creek.
“They wheeled about in their cars and stopped,” he said, “and approached one of the cars. I was told to speak to the spokesman in the front car. He gave a full report of their doings.”
The Klansmen had arrived in Oakville at about 10.30 o’clock, driving from Hamilton. They proceeded to the house leased by Ira Johnson on Head St.
The girl was taken in one car to her widowed mother’s home and left there.
Johnson was left in the house on Head St. and the party proceeded to the home of a man named Salt, an uncle of the negro. In front of the Salt home a large cross, blazing, was set up. It lit up the neighborhood with a flickering, ghostly glow and people congregated.
The Klansmen, according to the chief, then took Mr. and Mrs. Munday Johnson, parents of Ira, who had been staying with Mrs. Salt, to the home on Head St.
The mother of the girl had been making complaints both to him and the police magistrate, Chief Kerr.
Mayor Approves Action
Mayor A. B. Moat declared that all Mayor A. B. Moat declared that all he knew of the affair was that it was very orderly conducted.
“There was a strong feeling against the marriage which the young girl and the negro had planned,” he said.
“They had tried to get married but I heard that they couldn’t get a license. I don’t know why it was not granted. I just heard that from people on the street.
“Personally I think the Ku Klux Kian acted quite properly in the matter. The feeling in the town is generally against such a marriage. Everything was done in an orderly manner. It will be quite an object lesson.
“The colored population here has been decreasing lately, there being not more than 40 with women and children here.
“The young negro in question was raised here and wasn’t a bad fellow,” Mayor Moat said. “I think he has been doing laboring off and on when there was work to be done.
“I can’t tell you much about the girl or her family,” he said. “I think her tamily lives here, but that is all that I know.
“I understand that the Ku Klux Klan men who were here last night were prominent men from Hamilton; they didn’t belong to town. They were garbed in their robes throughout the ceremony but they disrobed immediately afterwards and I believe they returned by automobile to Hamilton. . . .
Left a Warning, Mother Says
Ira Johnston’s mother told The Star to-day that at exactly 11 o’clock the Klan appeared a second time.
“They drew up in front of the house with their cars and at first I thought it was a surprise party,” she said.
“They all wore flowing white robes with a crest, a fiery cross, over their left breast.
“Their heads were covered with long white masks, with two small slits for their eyes. The top of these masks were sort of cone shaped, with a white tassel at the extreme top. I had seen pictures of the Klu Klux Klan and I knew who they were. They nailed the large cross to a post in front of our door and set it on fire. . . .” ♦
