John Smith (Maine politician)

John Gilpatric Smith (June 9, 1874 – February 11, 1936) was an American politician from Maine. Smith was elected mayor of Saco, Maine in 1924 during the peak of electoral success for the Ku Klux Klan in Maine politics. He was appointed Commissioner of Banking by Governor Owen Brewster in 1927. He, along with Governor Owen Brewster, State Senator Hodgdon Buzzell were among the most prominent of the state's politicians who were supported by the Klan.^[1]

Gubernatorial campaign

Smith declared his candidature for governor of Maine in November 1927. He pledged not to raise money nor "blow his own horn."^[2] In a pre-election advertisement, Smith argued against exporting hydroelectricity.^[3] In June 1928, Smith, then a resident of Waterville, lost the Maine Republican Party primary for Governor to William Tudor Gardiner. Smith finished in fourth and last place, earning 8,810 (10.16%).^[4] After his defeat in the gubernatorial primary and Brewster's defeat in the concurrent Senate primary, Klan leader DeForest H. Perkins resigned his position.^[5]

Personal

Smith was born in Kennebunk, Maine. He was married and had 10 children.^[2] He died on February 11, 1936, in Kennebunk.^[6]

References

1. Richard, Mark Paul (2015). Not a Catholic Nation: The Ku Klux Klan Confronts New England in the 1920s. University of Massachusetts Press. ISBN 978-1-62534-188-4.
2. "Saco Mayor a Candidate for Maine Governor; Won't Blow His Own Horn nor Spend Money." New York Times, November 25, 1927
3. "For Governor: John G. Smith of Saco." Bangor Daily News, June 16, 1928."
4. ""HALE RENOMINATED IN MAINE PRIMARY: REPUBLICAN SENATOR DEFEATS GOV. BREWSTER BY WIDE MARGIN-- --GARDINER FOR GOVERNOR." New York Times, June 19, 1928
5. "Deforest Perkins Grand Klan Dragon of Maine Resigns" Bangor Daily News, June 29, 1928.
6. "Atty. John G. Smith, Former Banking Commissioner, Dead". Biddeford Daily Journal. February 11, 1936. p. 1. Retrieved March 19, 2023.