Ku Klux Klan (1915- ). Realm of Oregon

The rebirth of the 20th century Ku Klux Klan began in 1915 and reached Oregon in 1922 with the arrival in Portland of Kleagle Gragg Calloway. Members were required to be native born, over 21 years of age, and white. In addition, members could not belong to the Communist Party or the Roman Catholic Church. The women's auxiliary group was known as the Ladies of the Ku Klux Klan (Invisible Empire). One of the major issues supported by the Klan in Oregon was the compulsory public school attendance measure placed on the 1922 election ballot. If validated, it would have put an end to all parochial and private schools. During the 1920s and 1930s, the Klan wielded statewide political power when many of its endorsed candidates won office. The organization collapsed in Oregon during the late 1930s due to internal disunion.