George W. Joseph
Encyclopedia
George W. P. Joseph was an attorney and Republican
politician in the U.S. state
of Oregon
. A native of California
, his family relocated to Oregon when he was young. There he would practice law and serve in the Oregon State Senate
.
. The son of Delilah Jane Joseph (née
Heath) and Edwin Worthington Joseph, Joseph moved to Oregon in 1876 with his parents. In 1889, he graduated from high school in Lakeview, Oregon
. He then studied law under the tutelage of two local judges, and worked as a retail clerk. Judge Townshend encouraged Joseph to move to Portland
to pursue a career in law, and arranged for his employment there.
Joseph moved to Portland and began working for the law offices of Watson, Hume and Watson in 1892. He passed the bar
exam in 1893. Joseph formed a close friendship with Julius Meier
, who was also just completing his law studies, in 1892. The two formed a partnership in 1895, and Joseph was retained as an attorney by Meier & Frank
and by several individual members of the Meier family.
Two years later, the Alaska gold rush hit, and Joseph traveled to Alaska
with a Judge Adams to explore the opportunity. They staked a claim and established a mine. Joseph ultimately returned to Oregon poorer than when he had left, and resumed his partnership with Meier. During this period, Joseph found a respect for the political progressivism of Theodore Roosevelt
.
Joseph married Bertha L. Snell in the fall of 1903 in Drain, Oregon
. They had a son, George W. Joseph Jr., two years later.
After Meier left the partnership to join his family's department store, Meier & Frank, Joseph partnered with Bert E. Haney
to form the legal practice Joseph, Haney, and Littlefield. Notably, he drew up and executed the will of his friend E. Henry Wemme
, owner of the Mount Hood Company and, thereby, the Bull Run Hydroelectric Project
and the historic Barlow Road
.
in 1910 as a Republican representing Multnomah County
. He served in the 1911 and 1913 legislative sessions. He introduced legislation supporting the 1912 amendment to the Oregon Constitution
that established women's suffrage
, and introduced Senate Bill 42 in 1911 that would have created a highway commission
. He advocated for a large appropriation for Oregon's exhibit at the Panama–Pacific International Exposition
in 1915. He argued it was a unique opportunity to display its various economic offerings to the world; he asserted that an investment of $500,000 would "come back many fold". Joseph did not seek re-election in the 1914 election.
In 1920, Joseph was re-elected to the Senate. He was elected to another four-year term in 1924, representing District 13. Joseph did not return for the 1929 legislative session.
During his time in the Oregon Senate, Joseph introduced numerous bills that would have promoted the development of hydroelectric power under public ownership. At the time, the state was home to less than 1% of the U.S. population, but was understood to possess 10 to 12% of the nation's potential hydroelectric capacity. Joseph's bills, however, were not taken seriously in the Senate.
In late 1925, Joseph considered a run for the United States Senate
, and received strong assurances from Henry Hanzen, a political editor, that the Republican nomination was his for the asking. He ultimately declined to run for national office, however, stating to Hanzen:
(Had he won the nomination, he would have faced his former law partner, Democrat Bert Haney, in the general election.)
In the late 1920s, the matter of Wemme's estate went before the Oregon Supreme Court
. Joseph accused the opposing attorney, Thomas Mannix, of collusion with Chief Justice John L. Rand
. In the ensuing controversy, Mannix filed disbarment proceedings against Joseph. Joseph then announced his candidacy for Governor of Oregon
in the 1930 election
, seeking vindication from the people of Oregon.
Joseph was considered a populist
candidate, and a prominent advocate for public development
of hydroelectric
dams on the Columbia River
. He won the Republican nomination on May 16, defeating incumbent A. W. Norblad
by over 5000 votes. In those days, the Republican nomination virtually guaranteed victory in the general election.
About two weeks after the primary election, Joseph and Mannix were both permanently disbarred by the Oregon Supreme Court. Before the general election, however, Joseph died of a stroke, on June 17, during an army drill near the Oregon National Guard's Camp Clatsop.
Joseph's friend and former law partner Julius Meier
entered the race as an independent candidate
, adopting Joseph's platform. Meier won the three-candidate election with 54.5% of the vote. He went on to pass legislation in accordance with Joseph's platform, highlighting those efforts in his 1935 address.
Joseph's heirs donated a piece of property to the State of Oregon in 1934, which is now known as George W. Joseph State Natural Area
.
Oregon Republican Party
The Oregon Republican Party is the state affiliate of the United States Republican Party in Oregon, headquartered in Lake Oswego. The first state party convention was held in Salem on April 21, 1859, and its first nominee for Congress, Portland attorney David Logan...
politician in the U.S. state
U.S. state
A U.S. state is any one of the 50 federated states of the United States of America that share sovereignty with the federal government. Because of this shared sovereignty, an American is a citizen both of the federal entity and of his or her state of domicile. Four states use the official title of...
of Oregon
Oregon
Oregon is a state in the Pacific Northwest region of the United States. It is located on the Pacific coast, with Washington to the north, California to the south, Nevada on the southeast and Idaho to the east. The Columbia and Snake rivers delineate much of Oregon's northern and eastern...
. A native of California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
, his family relocated to Oregon when he was young. There he would practice law and serve in the Oregon State Senate
Oregon State Senate
The Oregon State Senate is the upper house of the state-wide legislature for the U.S. state of Oregon. Along with the lower chamber Oregon House of Representatives it makes up the Oregon Legislative Assembly. There are 30 members of the State Senate, representing 30 districts across the state,...
.
Early life
Joseph was born on May 10, 1872, in a log cabin on Joseph Creek in Modoc County, CaliforniaModoc County, California
Modoc County is a county located in the far northeast corner of the U.S. state of California, bounded by the state of Oregon to the north and the state of Nevada to the east. As of the 2010 census, its population was 9,686, up from 9,449 at the 2000 census. The current county seat is Alturas, the...
. The son of Delilah Jane Joseph (née
NEE
NEE is a political protest group whose goal was to provide an alternative for voters who are unhappy with all political parties at hand in Belgium, where voting is compulsory.The NEE party was founded in 2005 in Antwerp...
Heath) and Edwin Worthington Joseph, Joseph moved to Oregon in 1876 with his parents. In 1889, he graduated from high school in Lakeview, Oregon
Lakeview, Oregon
Lakeview is a city in Lake County, Oregon, United States. The population was 2,294 at the 2010 census. It is the county seat of Lake County. Although it is an incorporated city, the municipal government refers to the community as "The Town of Lakeview", and bills itself as "Tallest Town in Oregon"...
. He then studied law under the tutelage of two local judges, and worked as a retail clerk. Judge Townshend encouraged Joseph to move to Portland
Portland, Oregon
Portland is a city located in the Pacific Northwest, near the confluence of the Willamette and Columbia rivers in the U.S. state of Oregon. As of the 2010 Census, it had a population of 583,776, making it the 29th most populous city in the United States...
to pursue a career in law, and arranged for his employment there.
Joseph moved to Portland and began working for the law offices of Watson, Hume and Watson in 1892. He passed the bar
Oregon State Bar
The Oregon State Bar is a government agency in the U.S. state of Oregon. Founded in 1890 as the private Oregon Bar Association, it became a public entity in 1935 that regulates the legal profession. The public corporation is part of the Oregon Judicial Department...
exam in 1893. Joseph formed a close friendship with Julius Meier
Julius Meier
Julius L. Meier was an American businessman 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...
, who was also just completing his law studies, in 1892. The two formed a partnership in 1895, and Joseph was retained as an attorney by Meier & Frank
Meier & Frank
Meier & Frank was a chain of department stores founded in Portland, Oregon, and later bought out by the May Department Stores Company. Meier & Frank operated in the Pacific Northwest from 1857 to 2006.-History:Summary...
and by several individual members of the Meier family.
Two years later, the Alaska gold rush hit, and Joseph traveled to Alaska
Alaska
Alaska is the largest state in the United States by area. It is situated in the northwest extremity of the North American continent, with Canada to the east, the Arctic Ocean to the north, and the Pacific Ocean to the west and south, with Russia further west across the Bering Strait...
with a Judge Adams to explore the opportunity. They staked a claim and established a mine. Joseph ultimately returned to Oregon poorer than when he had left, and resumed his partnership with Meier. During this period, Joseph found a respect for the political progressivism of Theodore Roosevelt
Theodore Roosevelt
Theodore "Teddy" Roosevelt was the 26th President of the United States . He is noted for his exuberant personality, range of interests and achievements, and his leadership of the Progressive Movement, as well as his "cowboy" persona and robust masculinity...
.
Joseph married Bertha L. Snell in the fall of 1903 in Drain, Oregon
Drain, Oregon
Drain is a city in Douglas County, Oregon, United States. The population was 1,021 at the 2000 census. The 2007 estimate is 1,075 residents. Drain is named after town founder and politician Charles J...
. They had a son, George W. Joseph Jr., two years later.
After Meier left the partnership to join his family's department store, Meier & Frank, Joseph partnered with Bert E. Haney
Bert E. Haney
Bert Emery Haney, alternately Bert Emory Haney , was an American attorney and jurist from Oregon. A native of Oregon, he served as United States Attorney for the Oregon District before becoming a judge on the United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit...
to form the legal practice Joseph, Haney, and Littlefield. Notably, he drew up and executed the will of his friend E. Henry Wemme
E. Henry Wemme
E. Henry Wemme was a wealthy businessman in Portland, in the U.S. state of Oregon. He was an active business investor during the pioneering era of automobiles and aviation....
, owner of the Mount Hood Company and, thereby, the Bull Run Hydroelectric Project
Bull Run Hydroelectric Project
The Bull Run Hydroelectric Project was a Portland General Electric development in the Sandy River basin in the U.S. state of Oregon. Originally built between 1908 and 1912 near the town of Bull Run, it supplied hydroelectric power for the Portland area for nearly a century, until it was removed in...
and the historic Barlow Road
Barlow Road
The Barlow Road is a historic road in what is now the U.S. state of Oregon. It was built in 1846 by Sam Barlow and Philip Foster, with authorization of the Provisional Legislature of Oregon, and served as the last overland segment of the Oregon Trail...
.
Political career
Joseph was elected to the Oregon State SenateOregon State Senate
The Oregon State Senate is the upper house of the state-wide legislature for the U.S. state of Oregon. Along with the lower chamber Oregon House of Representatives it makes up the Oregon Legislative Assembly. There are 30 members of the State Senate, representing 30 districts across the state,...
in 1910 as a Republican representing Multnomah County
Multnomah County, Oregon
Multnomah County is one of 36 counties in the U.S. state of Oregon. Though smallest in area, it is the most populous as its county seat, Portland, is the state's largest city...
. He served in the 1911 and 1913 legislative sessions. He introduced legislation supporting the 1912 amendment to the Oregon Constitution
Oregon Constitution
The Oregon Constitution is the governing document of the U.S. state of Oregon, originally enacted in 1857. As amended the current state constitution contains eighteen sections, beginning with a bill of rights. This contains most of the rights and privileges granted in the United States Bill of...
that established women's suffrage
Women's suffrage
Women's suffrage or woman suffrage is the right of women to vote and to run for office. The expression is also used for the economic and political reform movement aimed at extending these rights to women and without any restrictions or qualifications such as property ownership, payment of tax, or...
, and introduced Senate Bill 42 in 1911 that would have created a highway commission
Oregon Department of Transportation
The Oregon Department of Transportation is a department of the state government of the U.S. state of Oregon responsible for systems of transportation. It was first established in 1969. It had been preceded by the Oregon State Highway Department which, along with the Oregon State Highway...
. He advocated for a large appropriation for Oregon's exhibit at the Panama–Pacific International Exposition
Panama–Pacific International Exposition
The Panama-Pacific International Exposition was a world's fair held in San Francisco, California between February 20 and December 4 in 1915. Its ostensible purpose was to celebrate the completion of the Panama Canal, but it was widely seen in the city as an opportunity to showcase its recovery...
in 1915. He argued it was a unique opportunity to display its various economic offerings to the world; he asserted that an investment of $500,000 would "come back many fold". Joseph did not seek re-election in the 1914 election.
In 1920, Joseph was re-elected to the Senate. He was elected to another four-year term in 1924, representing District 13. Joseph did not return for the 1929 legislative session.
During his time in the Oregon Senate, Joseph introduced numerous bills that would have promoted the development of hydroelectric power under public ownership. At the time, the state was home to less than 1% of the U.S. population, but was understood to possess 10 to 12% of the nation's potential hydroelectric capacity. Joseph's bills, however, were not taken seriously in the Senate.
In late 1925, Joseph considered a run for the United States Senate
United States Senate
The United States Senate is the upper house of the bicameral legislature of the United States, and together with the United States House of Representatives comprises the United States Congress. The composition and powers of the Senate are established in Article One of the U.S. Constitution. Each...
, and received strong assurances from Henry Hanzen, a political editor, that the Republican nomination was his for the asking. He ultimately declined to run for national office, however, stating to Hanzen:
(Had he won the nomination, he would have faced his former law partner, Democrat Bert Haney, in the general election.)
In the late 1920s, the matter of Wemme's estate went before the Oregon Supreme Court
Oregon Supreme Court
The Oregon Supreme Court is the highest state court in the U.S. state of Oregon. The only court that may reverse or modify a decision of the Oregon Supreme Court is the Supreme Court of the United States. The OSC holds court at the Oregon Supreme Court Building in Salem, Oregon, near the capitol...
. Joseph accused the opposing attorney, Thomas Mannix, of collusion with Chief Justice John L. Rand
John L. Rand
John Langdon Rand was an American politician and jurist in the state of Oregon. He served as the 22nd Chief Justice of the Oregon Supreme Court. Overall he was on Oregon’s highest court from 1921 to 1942 serving as chief justice three times...
. In the ensuing controversy, Mannix filed disbarment proceedings against Joseph. Joseph then announced his candidacy for Governor of Oregon
Governor of Oregon
The Governor of Oregon is the top executive of the government of the U.S. state of Oregon. The title of governor was also applied to the office of Oregon's chief executive during the provisional and U.S. territorial governments....
in the 1930 election
Oregon gubernatorial election, 1930
The 1930 Oregon gubernatorial election took place on November 4, 1930 to elect the governor of the U.S. state of Oregon. The Oregon Republican Party, at the time dominant in Oregon politics, initially nominated George W. Joseph, but the nominee died prior to the general election...
, seeking vindication from the people of Oregon.
Joseph was considered a populist
Populism
Populism can be defined as an ideology, political philosophy, or type of discourse. Generally, a common theme compares "the people" against "the elite", and urges social and political system changes. It can also be defined as a rhetorical style employed by members of various political or social...
candidate, and a prominent advocate for public development
Public utility
A public utility is an organization that maintains the infrastructure for a public service . Public utilities are subject to forms of public control and regulation ranging from local community-based groups to state-wide government monopolies...
of hydroelectric
Hydroelectricity
Hydroelectricity is the term referring to electricity generated by hydropower; the production of electrical power through the use of the gravitational force of falling or flowing water. It is the most widely used form of renewable energy...
dams on the Columbia River
Columbia River
The Columbia River is the largest river in the Pacific Northwest region of North America. The river rises in the Rocky Mountains of British Columbia, Canada, flows northwest and then south into the U.S. state of Washington, then turns west to form most of the border between Washington and the state...
. He won the Republican nomination on May 16, defeating incumbent A. W. Norblad
A. W. Norblad
Albin Walter Norblad, Sr., was a prominent citizen of Astoria, Oregon, United States, and the 19th Governor of Oregon from 1929 to 1931.He was the father of Representative A...
by over 5000 votes. In those days, the Republican nomination virtually guaranteed victory in the general election.
About two weeks after the primary election, Joseph and Mannix were both permanently disbarred by the Oregon Supreme Court. Before the general election, however, Joseph died of a stroke, on June 17, during an army drill near the Oregon National Guard's Camp Clatsop.
Legacy
The Republican Party nominated Phil Metschan to take Joseph's place on the ballot. Metschan, who had not run in the primary, opposed public power utilities, a significant departure from Joseph's platform.Joseph's friend and former law partner Julius Meier
Julius Meier
Julius L. Meier was an American businessman 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...
entered the race as an independent candidate
Independent (politician)
In politics, an independent or non-party politician is an individual not affiliated to any political party. Independents may hold a centrist viewpoint between those of major political parties, a viewpoint more extreme than any major party, or they may have a viewpoint based on issues that they do...
, adopting Joseph's platform. Meier won the three-candidate election with 54.5% of the vote. He went on to pass legislation in accordance with Joseph's platform, highlighting those efforts in his 1935 address.
Joseph's heirs donated a piece of property to the State of Oregon in 1934, which is now known as George W. Joseph State Natural Area
George W. Joseph State Natural Area
George W. Joseph State Natural Area is a natural area in the U.S. state of Oregon. It is located near the city of Troutdale between Latourell Falls and Guy W. Talbot State Park, and is accessible from both....
.