Julius L. Meier (December 31, 1874 - July 14, 1937) was a businessman in Portland, Oregon, and independent Governor of Oregon.
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.[1]
He married Grace Mayer on Christmas Day, 1901, saying afterwards that it was the only day that he was allowed off from the store.[1]
Meier graduated from the University of Oregon Law School in 1895 and practiced law with a partner, George W. Joseph for the next four years, until he went into the family's business.[1] 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 one and Meier suggested an "L".citation needed
In 1930, George W. Joseph—who had been disbarred during an extensive dispute with the Oregon Supreme Court over the will and estate of E. Henry Wemme—won the Republican nomination for Governor of Oregon, but died shortly after. The Republican Party selected former Oregon State Treasurer Phil Metschan as a replacement nominee. In contrast to a core element of Joseph's platform, Metschan opposed public development of hydroelectric power along the Columbia River.[1]
At first reticent, due to his wealth and religion, Meier agreed to enter the race as an independent candidate, adopting Joseph's platform. He won 54.5 percent of the total vote, outdistancing his nearest competitor, Democratic candidate Edward F. Bailey, 135,608 votes to 62,434.[1][2] Meier's overwhelming victory was viewed as a reflection of strong public support for public hydropower development.[3]
Meier served for one term (1931-1935), declining to run for a second term for reasons of health. Among his accomplishments were establishing the Oregon Liquor Control Commission (after Prohibition ended), founding the Oregon State Police, and using his business acumen to help the state navigate the financial tribulations of the Great Depression. His support for a sales tax and for public power was not successful.[4]
After serving as governor, he retired to his estate above the Columbia River, "Menucha", in Corbett, Oregon, where he died in 1937.[5]
His family sold Menucha in 1950 to the First Presbyterian Church of Portland, which now operates it as a conference and retreat center. The Meier and Frank families sold the department store to the May Company in 1966. With May's sale to Federated in 2005, the store was renamed "Macy's" in September, 2006.
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