Earle B. Mayfield | |
|---|---|
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| United States Senator fromTexas | |
| In office March 4, 1923 – March 3, 1929 | |
| Preceded by | Charles A. Culberson |
| Succeeded by | Tom Connally |
| Railroad Commissioner of Texas | |
| In office January 2, 1913 – March 1, 1923[1] | |
| Governor | Oscar Branch Colquitt James E. Ferguson William P. Hobby Pat Morris Neff |
| Preceded by | John L. Wortham |
| Succeeded by | Walter Marshall William Splawn |
| Member of theTexas Senate from the27th district | |
| In office January 8, 1907 – September 25, 1912 | |
| Preceded by | Robert W. Martin |
| Succeeded by | Charles W. Taylor |
| Personal details | |
| Born | (1881-04-12)April 12, 1881 Overton, Texas, US |
| Died | June 23, 1964(1964-06-23) (aged 83) Tyler, Texas, US |
| Political party | Democratic |
| Spouse | |
| Children | 3 |
Earle Bradford Mayfield (April 12, 1881 – June 23, 1964) was a Texas lawyer who, from 1907 to 1913, was aTexas State Senator. In 1922, he was elected to the U.S. Senate as aDemocrat. He was the first U.S. Senator to be widely considered by the voters to be a member of the revivedKu Klux Klan in the 1920s. Mayfield quietly accepted KKK support but never said he had joined.[2] He was defeated for reelection in 1928 when his opponent attacked his links to the KKK.[3][4][5]
Mayfield was born inOverton, Texas, April 12, 1881, to the marriage of John Blythe Mayfield (1857–1921) and Mary Ellen DeGuerin (maiden; 1859–1886). He graduated from high school inTimpson, Texas, and then from Tyler Business College.
In 1900, Mayfield graduated fromSouthwestern University, and he studied law at theUniversity of Texas at Austin from 1900 to 1901. He continued to study law, was admitted to thebar in 1907, and practiced inMeridian,Bosque County. Mayfield was also involved in several business ventures including the wholesale grocery industry and operation of several farms.
Mayfield, aDemocrat, was elected to theTexas State Senate, where he served from 1907 to 1913. He was also a member of theTexas Railroad Commission from 1913 to 1923.
In 1922, Mayfield was one of six candidates who challenged five-term United States SenatorCharles A. Culberson for the Democratic senatorial nomination. In the ensuing runoff between Mayfield and formerGovernorJames E. Ferguson, Mayfield was openly allied with theKu Klux Klan[3][6] in support ofprohibition and continued segregation of Whites and Blacks, while Ferguson spoke-out against the Klan and was strongly against prohibition. At the time, the sale of alcoholic beverages was illegal throughout the United States under theEighteenth Amendment to the United States Constitution.
After securing the endorsement of the other U.S. Senator from Texas,Morris Sheppard ofTexarkana, Mayfield won the Democratic nomination. In thegeneral election held on November 7, 1922, Mayfield faced theIndependent candidateGeorge Peddy, who also had the backing of theRepublican Party. Because Peddy's name was not on the ballot, his supporters waged awrite-in campaign. Peddy's write-in effort netted him a third of the vote.
After the election, Peddy challenged the results on the grounds of disputes over filing deadlines and other technical issues. A Senate committee ruled in Mayfield's favor, and the full Senate voted to seat him, but his swearing in was delayed. He took office on December 3, 1923.[7][8][9]
in 1928, Mayfield faced a large field of candidates, and was defeated in the runoff byTom Connally, a member of theUnited States House of Representatives fromMcLennan County; winning the Democratic nomination wastantamount to winning the overall election. Connally went on to win the seat, succeeding Mayfield.
In 1930, Mayfield sought the Democratic nomination for governor, but finished seventh among eleven candidates.Ross Sterling won the election.
After losing his Senate seat, Mayfield moved toTyler. He continued to practice law and manage his business interests until retiring in 1952.
Mayfield died in Tyler on June 23, 1964, and was buried at Oakwood Cemetery in Tyler.
On June 10, 1902, inBosque County, Texas, Mayfield married Ora Lumpkin (1882–1979).[10] They were the parents of three sons. Mayfield's uncle, Allison Mayfield (1860–1923), had been theTexas Secretary of State and, from January 5, 1897, Chairman of theRailroad Commission until his death, January 23, 1923.
Mayfield received thehonorary degree ofdoctor of humane letters fromJohn Brown University inSiloam Springs, Arkansas.
| Party political offices | ||
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| Preceded by | Democratic nominee forU.S. Senator fromTexas (Class 1) 1922 | Succeeded by |
| Texas Senate | ||
| Preceded by | Texas State Senator from District 27 (Meridian) 1907–1913 | Succeeded by |
| Political offices | ||
| Preceded by | U.S. senator (Class 1) from Texas 1923–1929 | Succeeded by |
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