Walter M. Pierce
Walter Marcus Pierce (* May 30, 1861 in Morris, Grundy County, Illinois, † March 27, 1954 in Salem, Oregon ) was an American politician and from 1923 to 1927 the 17th Governor of Oregon.
Early years
Walter Pierce began at the age of 17 years to work as a teacher, although he had visited himself only a primary school. In 1883, he made his way to the West of the USA. About Colorado finally he came to Oregon, where he settled in Milton in the north east of the state. There he was again active in the education sector. At first he was a teacher and 1886-1890 school board in Umatilla County. Between 1890 and 1894 he was district administrator in his district ( county clerk ). During this time he had earned enough money to improve his own education. To this end, he moved to Illinois, where he studied at Northwestern University law. There, he graduated in 1896.
Rise in Oregon
After studying law, he returned to Oregon, where he opened a successful law firm in Pendleton. He was also involved in various other stores. Between 1896 and 1902 he headed the Grande Ronde Electric Company, a local power company, and owned a large ranch where he raised Hereford cattle. Between 1899 and 1903 he was again District and from 1903 to 1907 he was a member of the Senate of Oregon. As a strict follower of the Prohibition movement he tried in vain at that time an alcohol ban to enforce. Pierce was also involved in the founding of the " Oregon Farmer's Union." He became president of the Association of Taxpayers ( Taxpayer 's League) and was on the board of the Oregon Agricultural College.
In 1912 he applied unsuccessfully for a seat in the U.S. Senate. Instead, he was between 1917 to 1921 again a state senator. In 1918 he competed unsuccessfully for the office of Governor of Oregon. Four years later he was luckier: He was elected as a candidate of his Democratic Party as the new governor. However, he had in this election the support of the then influential Ku Klux Klan, who represented an anti - Catholic and anti-Semitic position in addition to his racial ideology.
Governor of Oregon
Walter Pierce began his four -year term on January 8, 1923. As Governor, he had to deal with a Republican majority in the state parliament, blocked the parts of his proposals. In his time, but the first income tax law in Oregon was passed a prison reform was carried out and some hydro power plants were built. Through its support for Robert La Follette in the presidential election of 1924, he split his party. Since he had not complied with the wishes of the Ku Klux Klan enough, this now operational, but without success, the dismissal of the governor. However, Pierce was defeated in the gubernatorial elections of 1926 the Republicans Isaac Lee Patterson. So that his term of office ended on 19 January 1927.
Further CV
After the end of his governorship Pierce initially retired to his ranch. In 1928 he applied again unsuccessfully for a seat in the U.S. Congress. A renewed candidacy in the gubernatorial elections of 1930, he refused. In 1932 he was elected to the U.S. House of Representatives. There he remained from 1933 to 1943 and supported the policies of President Franklin D. Roosevelt. Pierce also played an important role in his Democratic Party. In the years 1920, 1932 and 1936 he was a delegate to the Democratic National Convention, from 1932 to 1936 it belonged to the Democratic National Committee at.
After he was not re-elected in 1942 to Congress, the now 81 -year-old Pierce withdrew from politics. He died in 1954. Walter Pierce was married three times and had six children.