Changes

==Political career==

==Political career==

===Governor of Oregon===

===Governor of Oregon===

Following the death of incumbent Governor James Withycombe in 1919, Olcott, then the Secretary of State, assumed the office under the state's line of succession. Although he held some [[nativist]] views against Japanese-Americans,<ref>[https://www.nga.org/governor/ben-olcott/ Gov. Ben Olcott]. ''National Governors Association''. Retrieved August 4, 2021.</ref> Olcott stood strongly against the KKK and issued a proclamation in 1922 strongly condemning the Klan following three assaults that year.<ref name=proclamation>[https://www.oregonhistoryproject.org/articles/historical-records/proclamation-against-the-ku-klux-klan-1922/ Proclamation Against the Ku Klux Klan, 1922]. ''The Oregon History Project''. Retrieved August 4, 2021.</ref>

Following the death of incumbent Governor James Withycombe in 1919, Olcott, then the Secretary of State, assumed the office under the state's line of succession.

Among Olcott's achievements included aerial navigation and forest fire prevention with the help of the [[United States Army]].<ref name=snac/> He also advocated for the development of hard-surface roads and was a [[conservation]]ist who stated in 1921 to the Oregon Legislature:<ref>[https://sos.oregon.gov/blue-book/Pages/facts/history/recreation-two.aspx Oregon Recreation History: Part Two]. ''Oregon Blue Book''. Retrieved August 4, 2021.</ref>

Among Olcott's achievements included aerial navigation and forest fire prevention with the help of the [[United States Army]].<ref name=snac/> He also advocated for the development of hard-surface roads and was a [[conservation]]ist who stated in 1921 to the Oregon Legislature:<ref>[https://sos.oregon.gov/blue-book/Pages/facts/history/recreation-two.aspx Oregon Recreation History: Part Two]. ''Oregon Blue Book''. Retrieved August 4, 2021.</ref>

He was also an advocate for [[women's suffrage]], supporting the [[Nineteenth Amendment]].<ref>[http://www.oregonwomenshistory.org/january-14-1920-oregon-ratifies-nineteenth-amendment/ January 14, 1920: Oregon Ratifies the Nineteenth Amendment]. ''Oregon Women's Museum Consortium''. Retrieved August 4, 2021.</ref>

He was also an advocate for [[women's suffrage]], supporting the [[Nineteenth Amendment]].<ref>[http://www.oregonwomenshistory.org/january-14-1920-oregon-ratifies-nineteenth-amendment/ January 14, 1920: Oregon Ratifies the Nineteenth Amendment]. ''Oregon Women's Museum Consortium''. Retrieved August 4, 2021.</ref>

As he ran for re-election in 1922 against KKK-backed [[liberal]] Democrat [[Walter M. Pierce]], Olcott opposed the Compulsory Public Education Act, a ballot measure supported by Pierce and the Klan which would have forced all children in Oregon to attend [[public school]]s and shut down private schools (especially Catholic schools) from operating.<ref name=proclamation/> During the campaign, he received the support and endorsement of future Republican U.S. senator [[Charles McNary]].<ref>[https://www.oregonencyclopedia.org/articles/mcnary_charles_1874_1944_/ Charles L. McNary (1874-1944)]. ''Oregon Encyclopedia''. Retrieved August 4, 2021.</ref><ref>FascinatingPolitics (July 31, 2021). [https://fascinatingpolitics.com/2021/07/31/charles-mcnary-a-steady-captain-in-stormy-waters/ Charles McNary: A Steady Captain in Stormy Waters]. ''Mad Politics: The Bizarre, Fascinating, and Unknown of American Political History''. Retrieved August 4, 2021.</ref> However, Olcott was defeated in the general election by fifteen percentage points.<ref>[https://www.ourcampaigns.com/RaceDetail.html?RaceID=263433 OR Governor Race - Nov 07, 1922]. ''Our Campaigns''. Retrieved August 4, 2021.</ref> The measure was also approved, though later deemed unconstitutional.<ref>[https://www.oregonhistoryproject.org/articles/historical-records/from-wr-burner-to-governor-olcott-1923/ From W.R. Burner to Governor Olcott, 1923]. ''The Oregon History Project''. Retrieved August 4, 2021.</ref>

As he ran for re-election in 1922 against KKK-backed [[liberal]] Democrat [[Walter M. Pierce]], Olcott opposed the Compulsory Public Education Act, a ballot measure supported by Pierce and the Klan which would have forced all children in Oregon to attend [[public school]]s and shut down private schools (especially Catholic schools) from operating.<ref name=proclamation/> That year, Olcott, despite holding some [[nativist]] viewpoints against Japanese-Americans,<ref>[https://www.nga.org/governor/ben-olcott/ Gov. Ben Olcott]. ''National Governors Association''. Retrieved August 4, 2021.</ref> stood strongly against KKK violence and issued a proclamation in 1922 condemning the Klan over three malicious assaults that year.<ref name=proclamation>[https://www.oregonhistoryproject.org/articles/historical-records/proclamation-against-the-ku-klux-klan-1922/ Proclamation Against the Ku Klux Klan, 1922]. ''The Oregon History Project''. Retrieved August 4, 2021.</ref> During the campaign, he received the support and endorsement of future Republican U.S. senator [[Charles McNary]].<ref>[https://www.oregonencyclopedia.org/articles/mcnary_charles_1874_1944_/ Charles L. McNary (1874-1944)]. ''Oregon Encyclopedia''. Retrieved August 4, 2021.</ref><ref>FascinatingPolitics (July 31, 2021). [https://fascinatingpolitics.com/2021/07/31/charles-mcnary-a-steady-captain-in-stormy-waters/ Charles McNary: A Steady Captain in Stormy Waters]. ''Mad Politics: The Bizarre, Fascinating, and Unknown of American Political History''. Retrieved August 4, 2021.</ref> However, Olcott was defeated in the general election by fifteen percentage points.<ref>[https://www.ourcampaigns.com/RaceDetail.html?RaceID=263433 OR Governor Race - Nov 07, 1922]. ''Our Campaigns''. Retrieved August 4, 2021.</ref> The measure was also approved, though later deemed unconstitutional.<ref>[https://www.oregonhistoryproject.org/articles/historical-records/from-wr-burner-to-governor-olcott-1923/ From W.R. Burner to Governor Olcott, 1923]. ''The Oregon History Project''. Retrieved August 4, 2021.</ref>

==References==

==References==