DeForest H. Perkins
Encyclopedia
Deforest H. Perkins was the Grand Dragon of the Ku Klux Klan in Maine
from 1925 to 1928. This was the high period of the Klan's ascendency nationally, and in Maine. He resigned in 1928 after a Klan-backed Republican candidate for U.S. Senator, Owen Brewster
, lost his primary contest to Sen. Frederick Hale
, signalling the eclipse of the Klan as a force in Maine politics.
Perkins was well-educated, holding a PhD from the University of Maine
and a law degree from the University of Illinois. He had also attended summer schools at the University of Chicago
and Indiana University
. Perkins became a teacher and then principal of Freedom Academy in Freedom, Maine
, and then Superintendent of Schools first in Skowhegan
& Madison, and then in Portland
, the largest school district in the state. At one point he was also President of the Maine Teacher's Association, and a serious candidate for Maine's Superintendent of Schools. In 1918 Perkins resigned his superintendency to become Executive Secretary of the Portland Chamber of Commerce
. He was also President of the Portland Rotary Club
In 1926, Perkins was accused of conspiring with Republican Governor Owen Brewster
and the Klan's Imperial Wizard, Hiram Evans
in a Washington, D.C. Hotel Room, to sabotage the candidacy of a Republican candidate for the U.S. Senate, Arthur R. Gould
, who was running an anti-Klan campaign. Brewster and Perkins denied the charge, and Gould was elected with an overwhelming plurality. Brewster's subsequent primary loss to another anti-Klan candidate in the next senatorial election of 1928 spelled the end of the Klan as an effective political force.
Ku Klux Klan in Maine
Although the Ku Klux Klan is popularly associated with white supremacy, the revived Klan of the 1920s was also anti-Catholic. In the State of Maine, with a negligible African-American population but a burgeoning number of French-Canadian and Irish immigrants, the Klan revival of the 1920s was...
from 1925 to 1928. This was the high period of the Klan's ascendency nationally, and in Maine. He resigned in 1928 after a Klan-backed Republican candidate for U.S. Senator, Owen Brewster
Owen Brewster
Ralph Owen Brewster was an American politician from Maine. Brewster, a Republican, was solidly conservative...
, lost his primary contest to Sen. Frederick Hale
Frederick Hale
Frederick Hale was a politician from the U.S. state of Maine, representing the state in the United States Senate from 1917 to 1941. He was the son of Eugene Hale, the grandson of Zachariah Chandler, both also U.S. Senators, brother of diplomat Chandler Hale, and the cousin of U.S...
, signalling the eclipse of the Klan as a force in Maine politics.
Perkins was well-educated, holding a PhD from the University of Maine
University of Maine
The University of Maine is a public research university located in Orono, Maine, United States. The university was established in 1865 as a land grant college and is referred to as the flagship university of the University of Maine System...
and a law degree from the University of Illinois. He had also attended summer schools at the University of Chicago
University of Chicago
The University of Chicago is a private research university in Chicago, Illinois, USA. It was founded by the American Baptist Education Society with a donation from oil magnate and philanthropist John D. Rockefeller and incorporated in 1890...
and Indiana University
Indiana University
Indiana University is a multi-campus public university system in the state of Indiana, United States. Indiana University has a combined student body of more than 100,000 students, including approximately 42,000 students enrolled at the Indiana University Bloomington campus and approximately 37,000...
. Perkins became a teacher and then principal of Freedom Academy in Freedom, Maine
Freedom, Maine
Freedom is a town in Waldo County, Maine, United States. The population was 645 at the 2000 census. Freedom is a residential and recreational area.-History:...
, and then Superintendent of Schools first in Skowhegan
Skowhegan, Maine
Skowhegan is the county seat of Somerset County, Maine, United States. As of the 2000 census, the town population was 8,824. Every August, Skowhegan hosts the annual Skowhegan State Fair, the oldest continuous state fair in the United States...
& Madison, and then in Portland
Portland, Maine
Portland is the largest city in Maine and is the county seat of Cumberland County. The 2010 city population was 66,194, growing 3 percent since the census of 2000...
, the largest school district in the state. At one point he was also President of the Maine Teacher's Association, and a serious candidate for Maine's Superintendent of Schools. In 1918 Perkins resigned his superintendency to become Executive Secretary of the Portland Chamber of Commerce
Chamber of commerce
A chamber of commerce is a form of business network, e.g., a local organization of businesses whose goal is to further the interests of businesses. Business owners in towns and cities form these local societies to advocate on behalf of the business community...
. He was also President of the Portland Rotary Club
In 1926, Perkins was accused of conspiring with Republican Governor Owen Brewster
Owen Brewster
Ralph Owen Brewster was an American politician from Maine. Brewster, a Republican, was solidly conservative...
and the Klan's Imperial Wizard, Hiram Evans
Hiram Evans
Hiram Evans is the name of:*Hiram Kinsman Evans , U.S. Representative from Iowa*Hiram Wesley Evans , Imperial Wizard of the "second" Ku Klux Klan...
in a Washington, D.C. Hotel Room, to sabotage the candidacy of a Republican candidate for the U.S. Senate, Arthur R. Gould
Arthur R. Gould
Arthur Robinson Gould was a United States Senator from Maine.Born in Corinth, Maine, he attended the common schools and East Corinth Academy. He moved first to Bangor, Maine, where he opened a candy factory and met and married his wife, and then to Presque Isle, Maine, in 1887...
, who was running an anti-Klan campaign. Brewster and Perkins denied the charge, and Gould was elected with an overwhelming plurality. Brewster's subsequent primary loss to another anti-Klan candidate in the next senatorial election of 1928 spelled the end of the Klan as an effective political force.