Meier, Julius L., 1874-1937

<p>Julius L. Meier (December 31, 1874 – July 14, 1937) was an American businessman, civic leader, and politician in the state of Oregon. The son of the Meier & Frank department store founder, he would become a lawyer before entering the family business in Portland. Politically an independent, Meier served a single term as the 20th Governor of Oregon from 1931–1935. He is the only independent to be elected Governor of Oregon.</p>

<p>Meier was born in Portland to German immigrants of Jewish ancestry: Aaron, a merchant and founder of Oregon's largest department store, Meier & Frank, and Jeannette (Hirsch) Meier. He had three siblings, and was the father of Jean Ellen Meier Ehrman Reichert, Elsa Frances Meier Ganz, and Julius L. (Jack) Meier, Jr. He married Grace Mayer on Christmas Day, 1901, saying afterwards that it was the only day that he was allowed off from the store.</p>

<p>Meier graduated from the University of Oregon School of Law in 1895 and practiced law with a partner, George W. Joseph for the next four years, until he went into the family's business. According to family tradition, it was at this time that he added the "L" to his name; the sign painter, who was putting his name on the door, insisted that all lawyers of substance had a middle name, so Meier suggested an "L".</p>

JULIUS L. MEIER was born in Portland, Oregon and graduated from the University of Oregon Law School in 1895. After practicing law for four years, he joined his family’s merchandise business (Meier & Frank Department Store), serving as general manager from 1910 to 1930 and then becoming President. During the World War I era, Meier was regional director of the Council of National Defense and helped in France’s rehabilitation after the war. He also headed the Oregon Commission of the Pan-Pacific International Exposition in San Francisco. Upon the death of his close friend and former law partner George W. Joseph, who had won the Republican nomination for governor on a platform supporting public over private development of hydroelectric power, and the subsequent nomination of a Republican who held the reverse position, Meier agreed to run as an Independent supporting Joseph’s platform. Although he won election, he was unable to succeed in implementing his platform, with the federal government instead taking over development of the Columbia River. However, due in part to voter approval of a state income tax, Meier was able to financially stabilize the state. He also supported legislation to regulate liquor traffic; helped establish a State Board of Agriculture, a State Unemployment Commission, and the Oregon State Police; and sought adoption of a nonpartisan judicial system. Both the Republican and Democratic parties offered him support to run for a seat in the U.S. Senate, but he declined due to ill health. After leaving office, Meier went into semi-retirement at his estate on the Columbia River, where he died.