Arthur H. Bell

Arthur H. Bell (c1890-c1980) was a Bloomfield, New Jersey lawyer.cite book |last=Chalmers |first=David Mark |authorlink= |coauthors= |title=Hooded Americanism: The History of the Ku Klux Klan |year=1987 |publisher= |quote=Clad in yellow robes, Arthur H. Bell, the Bloomfield lawyer, who had led the New Jersey Klansmen in the 1920s ...| url=http://books.google.com/books?id=CT9HAAAAMAAJ&q |isbn=0822307723 ] He was also the Grand Dragon of the Ku Klux Klan for New Jersey. [cite web |url=http://fierycross.org/den/index.php?blog=3&m=200711 |title=The good of the KLAN |accessdate=2008-08-14 |quote=The KKK first spread to New Jersey from the states of New York and Pennsylvania early in 1921 and has had a history of being a peaceful Klan. Attorney Arthur Bell was N.J.’s first and longest reigning Grand Dragon. He ruled the New Jersey KKK right up to the Klan’s disbandment in the 1940’s. His wife Leah Bell was the state leader of the Women of the Ku Klux Klan. The Klan’s first strongholds were in Passaic, Bergen, Essex, Union, and Morris counties and in the area around Trenton and Camden. But the Klan grew strongest in Monmouth county. |publisher= ] [cite news |first= |last= |authorlink= |coauthors= |title=Dragon's Praise |url=http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,711546,00.html |quote=As long as TIME plays fair, it will remain a pleasure for me to receive my weekly copy. I note that some subscribers take exception to things you say about their "pet" ideas. You have rapped my Organization several times but this has not changed my opinion of TIME. In such cases I smile at your mistakes and misunderstanding and wait for the time to arrive when you will know facts. You can rest assured that TIME has a great future before it and will continue to build up a first class list of subscribers. |publisher=Time (magazine) |date=1927 |accessdate=2008-06-14 ] cite book |last=White |first=Alma |authorlink=Alma Bridwell White |coauthors= |title=Klansmen: Guardians of Liberty |year=1926 |publisher=Pillar of Fire |quote=The Introduction to this book is by Arthur H. Bell, Grand Dragon, Realm of New Jersey, Knights of the Ku Klux Klan. | url=http://books.google.com/books?id=NadkzQt6imAC&pg=PA159&vq |isbn= ] In 1926 he headed a group that converted Camp Evans into a Klan resort. [cite news |first= |last= |authorlink= |coauthors= |title=Klan Has Summer Resort. Buys Old Marconi Radio Station of 396 Acres on Shark River. |url=http://select.nytimes.com/gst/abstract.html?res=F30A11FA35591B7A93C2AB178DD85F428285F9 |quote=Establishment of a Summer resort for the Ku Klux Klan on the Shark River at New Bedford is being fostered by officials of the New Jersey Realm of the Klan. The project is in its first stages, but tents and bungalows have been erected. Only members of the Klan or affiliated organizations are admitted to the 396-acre reservation, which until a year ago was owned by the Radio Corporation of America and was known as the Marconi Radio Station. The property was purchased by the Monmouth Pleasure Club, a holding company of Klansmen, and is now State headquarters of the organization. The Klan is to give demonstrations of its strength on July 3, 4 and 5, and on the last day will parade along the Ocean Boulevard of northern seashore resorts. |publisher=New York Times |date=June 20, 1926 |accessdate=2008-06-14 ] In the same year he was paid $1,596.96 by King Kleagle of the Ku Klux Klan in New Jersey, to save their son, Roscoe Carl Ziegler from charges of embezzlement. [cite news |first= |last= |authorlink= |coauthors= |title=Jersey Klan Head Sued by Ziegler Kin. Eloping Pastor's Parents Seek $1,596 Paid, They Say, to Avert Embezzlement Action. He Was Freed By Court. Couple Declare They Acted Without Advice. Minister and Wife Now in Virginia. |url=http://select.nytimes.com/gst/abstract.html?res=F60B12FF3D5F17738DDDAA0994DB405B868EF1D3 |quote=Alleging that they paid $1,596.96 to Arthur H. Bell of Long Branch, King Kleagle of the Ku Klux Klan in New Jersey, to save their son, Roscoe Carl Ziegler, from prosecution on a charge of embezzling Klan funds, Mr. and Mrs. William E. Ziegler of Milford, Pa., filed suit today in the Court of Chancery here to recover the money. |publisher=New York Times |date= |accessdate=2008-06-14 ] In 1928 he called the New York Governor, Al Smith unfit to lead. [cite news |first= |last= |authorlink= |coauthors= |title=Klan Dragon Calls Smith Unfit |url=http://select.nytimes.com/gst/abstract.html?res=F2081EF63D5B167A93CAA91782D85F4C8285F9 |quote=Governor Smith was characterized as unfit spiritually, mentally and morally for the Presidency in an address here a tonight by State Dragon Arthur H. Bell of the Ku Klux Klan before an audience of 600, some of whom wore the uniforms of the Klan private police. ... |work=New York Times |date=September 8, 1928 |accessdate=2008-08-14 ] In 1940 James Colescott had him removed as head of the Klan of New Jersey. [cite news |first= |last= |authorlink= |coauthors= |title=Jersey Klan Leader Doubts His Dismissal. Grand Giant Says Wizard Sent Message for Bund Rally. |url=http://select.nytimes.com/gst/abstract.html?res=F40B14FC3D5C10728DDDAD0A94D0405B8088F1D3 |quote= [Arthur H. Bell has] been removed from the Klan by James Colescott, Imperial Wizard of the organization, as the result of a Klan meeting at the GermanAmerican Bt;nd s camp . ... |publisher=New York Times |date=August 24, 1940, Friday |accessdate=2008-06-14 ] [cite news |first= |last= |authorlink= |coauthors= |title=Jersey Klan Leader Repudiates Bund. Declares Imperial Wizard Is Opposed to All Alien Groups. |url=http://select.nytimes.com/gst/abstract.html?res=F7091EFF3C5F157A93C1AB1783D85F448485F9 |quote=Arthur Bell of Bloomfield, Grand Giant of the Realm of New Jersey of the Ku Klux Klan, said in an interview at the Tri-County Country Clubhouse tonight that it was "too bad the reporters did not remain to hear the final speech at Camp Nordland Sunday night." |publisher=New York Times |date=August 23, 1940, Friday |accessdate=2008-06-14 ] [cite news |first= |last= |authorlink= |coauthors= |title=Klan Official's Ouster Decreed |url=http://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/latimes/access/410252561.html?dids=410252561:410252561&FMT=ABS&FMTS=ABS:AI&date=Aug+23%2C+1940&author=&pub=Los+Angeles+Times&desc=Klan+Official's+Ouster+Decreed&pqatl=google |quote= James Colescott, Imperial Wizard of the Ku Klux Klan. said tonight he had ordered the removal of Arthur Bell of Bloomfield, N.J., Grand Giant of the New Jersey Klan, as the result of a Klan meeting in a German American camp Sunday. ... |publisher=Los Angeles Times |date=August 23, 1940 |accessdate=2008-06-14 ] He was also vice president of the German American Bund. Eventually he had changed his outlook and said, "I think tolerance should be taught in the public schools." [cite news |first= |last= |authorlink= |coauthors= |title=The Bedsheets Are Flapping Again |url=http://select.nytimes.com/gst/abstract.html?res=F00E12FB3C5F12728DDDA90B94DA415B898BF1D3 |quote= The community of West Hoboken no longer exists. But it did 50 years ago, when I was born there and it was the state head quarters of the Ku Klux Klan. ... Eventually, Arthur Bell, a one-time Klan leader in the state, would admit: "I think tolerance should be taught in the public schools ... |publisher=New York Times |date=December 30, 1979 |accessdate=2008-06-14 ] His wife's name was Leah. [cite book |last=Chalmers |first=David Mark |authorlink= |coauthors= |title=Hooded Americanism: the first century of the Ku Klux Klan, 1865-1965|year=1965 |publisher= |quote=So was Arthur Bell, who with his wife, Leah, often represented the New Jersey | url=http://books.google.com/books?id=CT9HAAAAMAAJ&q |isbn=]

Publications

* [http://books.google.com/books?id=AdxpHQAACAAJ&dqThe Ku Klux Klan Or the Knights of Columbus Klan: America Or Rome] (1921)
* [http://books.google.com/books?id=NadkzQt6imAC&pg=PA159&vq Klansmen: Guardians of Liberty] (1926) He wrote the introduction

References