|
| Affiliation | Independent |
|
| Name | Julius L. Meier |
| Address |
Portland, Oregon , United States |
| Email | None |
| Website | None |
| Born |
December 31, 1874
|
| Died | July 14, 1937
(62 years)
|
| Contributor | Thomas Walker |
| Last Modifed | RBH
Dec 01, 2017 11:28pm |
| Tags |
|
| Info | Born in Portland, Oregon, on December 31, 1874, to German immigrants, Aaron, a merchant and founder of Oregon's largest department store, and Jeannette (Hirsch) Meier. There were four children in the family; Jewish. Married Grace Mayer on December 25, 1901; father of Jean Ellen, Elsa Francis, and Julius L., Jr. Meier attended public schools and graduated from the University of Oregon Law School in 1895. For four years he practiced law with a partner, George W. Joseph, then went into the family's business. He served as the firm's general manager from 1910 to 1930 and then became its president. During the period of the first World War, Meier headed Liberty Loan drives, served as regional director of the Council of National Defense, and subsequently aided in the rehabilitation of France after the war. He also headed the Oregon Commission of the Pan-Pacific International Exposition in San Francisco. Although a contributor to political campaigns, Meier eschewed political office until 1930 upon the death of his close friend and former associate. George W. Joseph, who had won the Republican nomination for governor on a platform committed to state rather than private development of hydroelectric power on the Columbia River. When the Republican State Central Committee failed to nominate any of the primary candidates and instead selected Phil Metschan, an opponent of public power, Meier agreed to run as an independent candidate. Both major parties were badly split over the power issue, resulting in Meier's easy victory. He won 54.5 percent of the total vote, besting his nearest competitor, the Democratic candidate, Edward F. Bailey, 135,608 votes to 62,434. Ironically, Meier could not fulfill the campaign promise upon which he was elected, as the national government undertook the development of the Columbia River. Still his administration was deemed successful as he reduced budgets and placed the state on a firm financial basis. This was due in large part, to voter approval of a state income tax by the initiative procedure in 1930. Meier promoted the Knox Law, which regulated the liquor traffic; helped create a State Board of Agriculture and State Unemployment Commission; pressed for the adoption of a non-partisan judicial system; and established the Oregon State Police with the assistance of General Smedley Butler. He worked effectively with Oregon's congressional delegation to secure aid for the state's economic problems and the development of its resources. In 1932 he resisted pressure to run for the United States Senate and in 1934 both Republicans and Democrats sought his candidacy in their respective gubernatorial primaries. He declined all offers, in part because of poor health, and retired from office in January 1935. Meier went into semi-retirement until his death at his estate, "Menucha," on the Columbia River, July 14, 1937. He was interred at Beth Israel Cemetery in Portland.
[Link] |
 | BOOKS |
 |
|
| Title |
Purchase |
Contributor |
|
| Start Date |
End Date |
Type |
Title |
Contributor |
|
| Date |
Category |
Headline |
Article |
Contributor |
|
| INFORMATION LINKS |
|
|
|
