back into his seat. For a moment he quietly looked each man in the face as they sat there wondering what he had in store for them.
Finally he said, “Men, you know from the meeting in Hickory, what we intend to do and if it’s not clear, let me refresh your memory. We believe that some things are gonna happen later this year that’s gonna open the political doors in this here State of Miss’sippi and when it does, we’re taking this state back. We plan to place our handpicked men in every elected office in each southern state. We plan to get every Negro and undesirable white out of office and we will go to whatever means it takes to accomplish this goal. Nothing is going to stop us.”
One of the men interrupted, “This ain’t gonna be easy, especially with all them Yankee troops here.”
“I didn’t say anything about being easy, Sir. Right the opposite. We will be highly organized in all that we do and secrecy will be mandated. Some of us will probably lose our lives in the struggle, but in the end we will prevail. We will get Miss’sippi back. We will be in control of what happens to us and our children to come. Our organization is becoming more powerful by the day.”
At that, the men nodded their approval and softly applauded.
McWorthan then spoke. “There are secret meetings going on all over the South just like what’s happening here tonight to organize each state county by county. As you look around here you see men from Lauderdale, Kemper, Neshoba, Newton, Jasper and Clarke counties. You men and your counties will represent district nine of our organization. Each one of you will be in charge of selecting your candidates, raising election funds and running the program.”
“What program are you talking about?” Frank asked, excited at what he was hearing.
“Young man, I’m talking about the Klan. You are to enlist men in Newton County, hold your own meetings, conduct your business and do whatever it takes to secure Newton County in the new South. You will be the head of the Klan in your county.”
Then looking over at Hendon he said, “People over in Little Rock know you as a teacher, but I also know how involved you’ve always been in politics. If you’ll take the position, we’d like for you to take Newton County for us.”
Hendon remained quiet for a moment thinking about his demanding duties as a teacher, his family responsibilities, and the possibility of becoming in trouble with the government and thought, I might not be the best husband in the world, but I do care for my children. If I end up dead or in prison, who’ll take care of them? But the thought of leading others in the struggle for recapturing Mississippi and the power that could come from such a movement was certainly a dream of his.
“I can do what you propose, Sir,” he said. “I don’t know much about the Klan, but politically, I’ll work for Newton County. I know a lot of men over there who’ll do what is necessary.”
“That’s good, Hendon. For a moment I thought we’d picked the wrong man. And for you Mister Olliver, we feel like you’ll be a good assistant for him. You’re young, energetic and from what we hear, own a large amount of Miss’sippi land. Think you can help us?”
Without thinking Frank blurted out, “We can do it, Sir. You can put Newton County in your pocket right now.”
At this point, neither Frank nor Professor Hendon had any idea what the group intended to do.
“That sounds good,” Curry said. Turning toward McWorthan he said, “McWorthan will be in charge of the district and it will be him who’ll be meeting and leading y’all, and before we leave here tonight, I want to know who you have in mind that might represent you as a legislator come fall election. You need someone who’s young that’ll be there for a spell and patriotic to the cause. Most of the older politicians aren’t even eligible to run but that’s all right. We’ll get our men in there.”
Starting with the Kemper county representative, each man gave Curry the name of a prospective person they felt was popular enough to carry their county. Finally it came time for Hendon to make his selection. “There are a lot of fine young men in Newton County, but I just don’t know. Let me think a moment.”
“How ‘bout Mister Olliver there,” one of the men from Jasper County said. “With his money, he could buy the whole state of Miss’sippi.”
Even though the men were trying to be as quiet as possible, they couldn’t help but laugh at his suggestion.
“How about it Mister Olliver,” Curry said, taking a draw from his cigar and tilting his head backwards and blowing a gust of smoke high above his head.
There was nothing Frank had rather do than represent Newton County in the state legislature. All his life he had dreamed of being in a position of power where people would have to look up to him. This would give him a chance to show what he could do. When he was growing up, it had always been someone else in school elected as a class officer or chosen to lead in a community project, never Frank Olliver.
He won’t get the job done. You can’t depend on Frank. He’s nothing but a weakling, resounded through Frank’s mind. But I showed them. My father and I did it to them. I can buy and sell every one of them now. I might even become governor one day if I really set my mind to it.
But then he remembered, there are things in my past that if brought up, could be detrimental to me and my family. There are a few people who not only could stop my election but could also place me behind bars. There’s no way I can take the chance.
Finally Frank shook his head. “That’s not for me. I’ll help Professor Hendon but I have other responsibilities. You can depend on my means come election time. As I just said, we’ll carry Newton County.”
“Sorry to hear you won’t run, Mister Olliver. How about it Hendon, you know someone else?” Curry asked.
All of a sudden, Hendon’s eyes brightened. “I’d like to run John Wilson. He was a student of mine and I must say one of my best. He’s smart, hardworking, honest as the day’s long and he fought for us during the war. Got shot up pretty bad at Gettysburg. Yes Sir, he’s the best we have to offer.”
“How about it, Mister Olliver? How about this John Wilson?” McWorthan asked.
Frank thought for a second. Growing up, John had been his closest friend, the brother he had never had and many a time John had stood up for him when no one else would. If it hadn’t been for Rebecca, they would probably still be friends. When he was listed as killed, Rebecca was finally his and as the law goes, she was.
But John knows too much about me and my family, Frank thought. What he knows is placing me in my own prison. If it weren’t for him and a couple of others, Mississippi might well could be mine.
“Mister Olliver. How about this Wilson?”
Frank looked over at Hendon. “He’ll do fine, that is if you can get him to run. He ain’t been too sociable since he came home. War affects people in strange ways. He’ll do.”
After the meeting Hendon and Frank decided to go downstairs for a late drink and possibly a little female companionship. Sitting next to a roaring fire and enjoying a refreshing drink of Kentucky bourbon, the men began to reflect on all that had transpired that evening.
“Fessor, think this thing can be pulled off?”
Putting his glass down and scratching his head as he often did when thinking, Hendon replied, “We
