Oregon gubernatorial election, 1922
Encyclopedia
The 1922 Oregon gubernatorial election took place on November 4, 1922 to elect the governor
of the U.S. state of Oregon
. The election matched incumbent Republican
Ben W. Olcott
against Democrat
Walter M. Pierce
. With the support of the Ku Klux Klan
, then a powerful political force in the state, Pierce won the election by a wide margin.
died in office, just two months into his second term. As prescribed by Oregon law, Oregon Secretary of State
Ben Olcott succeeded Withycombe in office. In 1922, Olcott announced that he would seek a full term in office.
In the early 1920s, the Ku Klux Klan
had become a powerful political force in Oregon. Olcott refused to endorse the Klan, and shortly before the Republican primary, issued an executive proclamation against the organization for terrorist acts conducted by its members which included mock hangings. Olcott's actions nearly cost him the Republican nomination to the Klan-backed candidate, state senator Charles Hall.
With their candidate's defeat, the Klan threw their support behind Democratic candidate Walter M. Pierce
, who also agreed to back the Klan's Compulsory Education Act
, which would require all students to attend public, rather than private schools, a deliberate attack on Roman Catholic private schools. Both Pierce and the education initiative won wide, but short-lived victories in November: the education law was struck down by the United States Supreme Court in their 1925 Pierce v. Society of Sisters
decision, and Pierce lost re-election in 1926.
Governor
A governor is a governing official, usually the executive of a non-sovereign level of government, ranking under the head of state...
of the U.S. state of Oregon
Oregon
Oregon is a state in the Pacific Northwest region of the United States. It is located on the Pacific coast, with Washington to the north, California to the south, Nevada on the southeast and Idaho to the east. The Columbia and Snake rivers delineate much of Oregon's northern and eastern...
. The election matched incumbent Republican
Republican Party (United States)
The Republican Party is one of the two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Democratic Party. Founded by anti-slavery expansion activists in 1854, it is often called the GOP . The party's platform generally reflects American conservatism in the U.S...
Ben W. Olcott
Ben W. Olcott
Ben W. Olcott was the 16th Governor of Oregon, U.S.-Early life:Olcott was born in Keithsburg, Illinois. He was educated at a Keithsburg elementary school and a business school in Dixon, later becoming a clerk in Chicago. In 1891, at age 19, he moved to Salem, Oregon, and became a roommate and...
against Democrat
Democratic Party (United States)
The Democratic Party is one of two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Republican Party. The party's socially liberal and progressive platform is largely considered center-left in the U.S. political spectrum. The party has the lengthiest record of continuous...
Walter M. Pierce
Walter M. Pierce
Walter Marcus Pierce was an American politician, a Democrat, who served as the 17th Governor of Oregon and a member of the United States House of Representatives from . A native of Illinois, he served in the Oregon State Senate before the governorship, and again after leaving the U.S. House...
. With the support of the Ku Klux Klan
Ku Klux Klan
Ku Klux Klan, often abbreviated KKK and informally known as the Klan, is the name of three distinct past and present far-right organizations in the United States, which have advocated extremist reactionary currents such as white supremacy, white nationalism, and anti-immigration, historically...
, then a powerful political force in the state, Pierce won the election by a wide margin.
Background and campaign
In March 1919, Oregon governor James WithycombeJames Withycombe
James Withycombe was a British-born American politician, a Republican, and the 15th Governor of Oregon. Prior to entering politics he was farmer and sheep rancher in the Tualatin Valley, leading to appointment as the state's veterinarian and then as head of what became the Oregon State University...
died in office, just two months into his second term. As prescribed by Oregon law, Oregon Secretary of State
Oregon Secretary of State
The Secretary of State of Oregon, an elected constitutional officer within the executive branch of government of the U.S. state of Oregon, is first in line of succession to the Governor. The duties of office are: auditor of public accounts, chief elections officer, and administrator of public...
Ben Olcott succeeded Withycombe in office. In 1922, Olcott announced that he would seek a full term in office.
In the early 1920s, the Ku Klux Klan
Ku Klux Klan
Ku Klux Klan, often abbreviated KKK and informally known as the Klan, is the name of three distinct past and present far-right organizations in the United States, which have advocated extremist reactionary currents such as white supremacy, white nationalism, and anti-immigration, historically...
had become a powerful political force in Oregon. Olcott refused to endorse the Klan, and shortly before the Republican primary, issued an executive proclamation against the organization for terrorist acts conducted by its members which included mock hangings. Olcott's actions nearly cost him the Republican nomination to the Klan-backed candidate, state senator Charles Hall.
With their candidate's defeat, the Klan threw their support behind Democratic candidate Walter M. Pierce
Walter M. Pierce
Walter Marcus Pierce was an American politician, a Democrat, who served as the 17th Governor of Oregon and a member of the United States House of Representatives from . A native of Illinois, he served in the Oregon State Senate before the governorship, and again after leaving the U.S. House...
, who also agreed to back the Klan's Compulsory Education Act
Oregon Compulsory Education Act
The Compulsory Education Act or Oregon School Law was a 1922 law in the U.S. state of Oregon that required school age children to attend only public schools. The United States Supreme Court later struck down the law as unconstitutional.-Background:...
, which would require all students to attend public, rather than private schools, a deliberate attack on Roman Catholic private schools. Both Pierce and the education initiative won wide, but short-lived victories in November: the education law was struck down by the United States Supreme Court in their 1925 Pierce v. Society of Sisters
Pierce v. Society of Sisters
Pierce v. Society of Sisters of the Holy Names of Jesus and Mary, , was an early 20th century United States Supreme Court decision that significantly expanded coverage of the Due Process Clause in the Fourteenth Amendment to the United States Constitution. The case has been cited as a precedent in...
decision, and Pierce lost re-election in 1926.