building on the momentum, stephenson set up a base in indianapolis, where he helped create the klan's state newspaper, "fiery cross". he quickly recruited new agents and organizers, building on news about the organization. protestant ministers were offered free membership. from july 1922 to july 1923, nearly 2,000 new members joined the klan each week in indiana. hiram wesley evans, who led recruiting for the national organization, maintained close ties to state leaders throughout 1921–1922 and he was especially close to stephenson, because by then, indiana had the largest state klan organization. stephenson backed evans in november 1922 when he unseated william j. simmons as imperial wizard of the national kkk. evans had ambitions to make the klan a political force in the country.