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During the 1920s, the Ku Klux Klan became a powerful force in Oregon, as was the case in numerous other states where the Progressive Movement carried a lasting impact. The ''Oregon Voter'' tracked fifty-eight known klaverns in the state nearing the end of 1922.<ref>[https://www.oregonhistoryproject.org/articles/historical-records/proclamation-against-the-ku-klux-klan-1922/#.YJHE7qGn2Uk Proclamation Against the Ku Klux Klan, 1922]. ''Oregon History Project''. Retrieved December 12, 2022.</ref> [[Walter M. Pierce]], a lifelong Democrat who led the banner of "radical democratic populism" known for persistent bigotry against ethnic minorities including blacks, Chinese-Americans, Japanese-Americans, and Jews, was elected governor in 1922 over anti-Klan incumbent Republican [[Ben W. Olcott]]. During his tenure as governor, Pierce signed into law a sterilization act in 1923.<ref name=mccoy,pp.409-10>"The Paradox of Oregon's Progressive Politics," pp. 409–10.</ref> McCoy writes:

During the 1920s, the Ku Klux Klan became a powerful force in Oregon, as was the case in numerous other states where the Progressive Movement carried a lasting impact. The ''Oregon Voter'' tracked fifty-eight known klaverns in the state nearing the end of 1922.<ref>[https://www.oregonhistoryproject.org/articles/historical-records/proclamation-against-the-ku-klux-klan-1922/#.YJHE7qGn2Uk Proclamation Against the Ku Klux Klan, 1922]. ''Oregon History Project''. Retrieved December 12, 2022.</ref> [[Walter M. Pierce]], a lifelong Democrat who led the banner of "radical democratic populism" known for persistent bigotry against ethnic minorities including blacks, Chinese-Americans, Japanese-Americans, and Jews, was elected governor in 1922 over anti-Klan incumbent Republican [[Ben W. Olcott]]. During his tenure as governor, Pierce signed into law a sterilization act in 1923.<ref name=mccoy,pp.409-10>"The Paradox of Oregon's Progressive Politics," pp. 409–10.</ref> McCoy writes:

{{cquote|Pierce, during his term as governor, signed a bill "allowing the sterilization of the feebleminded and the criminally insane in state institutions." ... Pierce "took pleasure" in signing what he described as "the first really effective law in the United States on sterilization."|||"The Paradox of Oregon's Progressive Politics," p. 410}}

{{cquote|Pierce, during his term as governor, signed a bill "allowing the sterilization of the feebleminded and the criminally insane in state institutions." ... Pierce "took pleasure" in signing what he described as "the first really effective law in the United States on sterilization."|||"The Paradox of Oregon's Progressive Politics," p. 410}}

Pierce's eugenic advocacy was further motivated by the activism of his third wife Cornelia, who along with Bethine Owens-Adair supported the 1923 sterilization bill.<ref name=mccoy,pp.409-10/> When he was later elected to the [[U.S. House of Representatives]] from the state's 2nd congressional district, Pierce introduced legislation to permit the dissemination of contraception literature via mail; such efforts to modify the Comstock Act were praised by [[Margaret Sanger]]. McCoy states of the Pierces' motives:<ref>"The Paradox of Oregon's Progressive Politics," p. 411.</ref>

Pierce's eugenic advocacy was further motivated by the activism of his third wife Cornelia, who along with Bethine Owens-Adair supported the 1923 sterilization bill.<ref name=mccoy,pp.409-10/> When he was later elected to the [[U.S. House of Representatives]] from the state's 2nd congressional district, Pierce introduced legislation to permit the dissemination of contraception literature via mail; such efforts to modify the Comstock Act were praised by [[Margaret Sanger]]. McCoy states of the Pierces' motives:<ref>"The Paradox of Oregon's Progressive Politics," p. 411.</ref>