Meier, Julius L., 1874-1937

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Julius L. Meier (December 31, 1874 – July 14, 1937) was an American businessman, civic leader, and politician in the state of Oregon. An independent, he served as Governor of Oregon from 1931 to 1935. He is the only independent to be elected Governor of Oregon.

Born in Portland, Oregon, he 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, the 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. As leader of the Columbia River Highway Association, he helped to build support for the Columbia River Highway. In the 1920s, as an attorney and highly involved in Portland's Republican Party, Meier took over Henry L. Corbett's work between the party and the city government, meaning he received monthly payments from organized crime, especially Prohibition-era liquor and gambling operations.

After the death of George W. Joseph, his former law partner, after receiving the Republican nomination for Governor of Oregon, Meier was offered and declined the nomination to replace him. After the Republican Party selected Phil Metschan, Jr., an opponent of public hydropower development, to replace Joseph, Meier entered the race as an independent candidate adopting Joseph's platform which included public development of hydroelectric power along the Columbia River. In the three-way race, Meier won 54.5 percent of the vote. Although he won election, Meier 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. He declined to run for a second term for reasons of health.

Meier retired to "Menucha", his estate above the Columbia River in Corbett, Oregon, dying there in 1937. He is buried at Beth Israel Cemetery in Portland.

Archival Resources
Role Title Holding Repository
referencedIn Hanzen, Henry Marion, 1880-. Typescript of book on George W. Joseph and Julius L. Meier, circa 1945. Oregon Historical Society Research Library
referencedIn Julius Meier photograph album [graphic], circa 1931. Oregon Historical Society Research Library
referencedIn Dulcie B. Berget photographic collection on George L. Baker, circa 1930-1941 Oregon Historical Society Research Library
referencedIn Julius Meier photograph album, circa 1931 Oregon Historical Society Research Library
referencedIn Jack Meier papers, 1928-1972 Oregon Historical Society Research Library
referencedIn Portland Public Schools garden competition photograph album [graphic], 1913-1915. Oregon Historical Society Research Library
referencedIn Meier and Frank (Portland, Or.). Meier and Frank Company collection [manuscript], circa 1855-2006. Oregon Historical Society Research Library
referencedIn MacColl, E. Kimbark. Eight unique contributions to Oregon public life, 1992. Oregon Historical Society Research Library
referencedIn Henry M. Hanzen papers, 1917-1960 University of Oregon Libraries. Special Collections and University Archives
referencedIn William E. Walsh papers, 1930-1968 University of Oregon Libraries. Special Collections and University Archives
referencedIn Gourley, Norah. Science collection [manuscript], 1748-1980. Oregon Historical Society Research Library
referencedIn Meier and Frank Company collection, 1855-2006 Oregon Historical Society Research Library
referencedIn Science collection, 1748-1980 Oregon Historical Society Research Library
referencedIn Joseph, George W., 1872-1930. George William Joseph papers [manuscript], 1895-1934. Oregon Historical Society Research Library
referencedIn Lawrence T. Harris papers Oregon Historical Society Research Library
Role Title Holding Repository
Relation Name
associatedWith Berget, Dulcie B., person
associatedWith Hanzen, Henry M., 1879-1967 person
correspondedWith Harris, Lawrence T. (Lawrence Thomas), b. 1873. person
associatedWith Joseph, George W., 1872-1930 person
associatedWith Joseph, George W., 1872-1930 person
associatedWith MacColl, E. Kimbark. person
associatedWith Meier and Frank (Portland, Or.) corporateBody
associatedWith Meier, Julius L. (Jack), Jr., 1912- person
associatedWith Oregon. Governor corporateBody
associatedWith Oregon Historical Society corporateBody
alumnusOrAlumnaOf University of Oregon. School of Law corporateBody
associatedWith Walsh, William E., 1903-1975 person
Place Name Admin Code Country
Portland OR US
Eugene OR US
Corbett OR US
Subject
Occupation
Businessmen
Governors
Lawyers
Philanthropists
Activity

Person

Birth 1874-12-31

Death 1937-07-14

Male

Americans

English

Information

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