James B. A. Robertson
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| James Brooks Ayers Robertson | |
 Official photo of Governor James B. A. Robertson |
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| In office January 13, 1919 – January 8, 1923 |
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| Lieutenant | Martin E. Trapp |
| Preceded by | Robert L. Williams |
| Succeeded by | John Walton |
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| Born | March 15, 1871 Keokuk County, Iowa |
| Died | March 7, 1938 (aged 66) Oklahoma City, Oklahoma |
| Political party | Democratic |
| Spouse | Isabelle Butler Robertson |
| Profession | Teacher, Lawyer, Judge |
James Brooks Ayers Robertson (March 15, 1871 – March 7, 1938), sometimes called JBA Robertson, was an American lawyer and statesman who would become the fourth Governor of Oklahoma.
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[edit] Early life
Born in Keokuk County, Iowa, James Brooks Ayers Robertson was born on March 15, 1871 to a father of the same name from Pennsylvania and a mother named Clara Robertson from Ohio. Both of Robertson’s parents moved to Iowa in the early 1850s where Robertson Sen. served as a volunteer soldier in the Union army during the American Civil War. Robertson’s Iowa upbringing would instill firm progressive attitudes in his mind.
The fifth child born to a family of six sons and five daughters, Robertson owed his education to the Iowa public school system. Working hard to improve himself, Robertson, at the age of 16, would become a licensed teacher and became successful throughout the Iowa school system. While teaching, Robertson was privately studying law and the legal system. Robertson would pass the Iowa bar exam in 1892 at the age of 21. The following year, Robertson would move to Chandler in Oklahoma Territory.
[edit] Iowan to Oklahoman
Chandler had been opened via Land Run on September 28, 1891 and the administrative center of Lincoln County needed leaders in all aspects of municipal government. Seizing upon the opportunity, Robertson set up teaching and practicing law in the fledgling city. His popularity throughout Lincoln County easily won him the office of County Attorney, the chief legal officer of the county. While in Chandler, Robertson met Olive Stubblefield, whom he would marry in 1898. Together, the two would have two children: a girl named Olive Frances and a boy named after his father, grandfather, and great-grandfather, James Brooks Ayers Jr.
Due in part to his easily recognizable talents, Robertson would represent many clienteles. Robertson became known as one of the most resourceful trial lawyers and legal counselors in Oklahoma and Indian territories. In 1906, Robertson would become a member of the law firm Hoffman and Robertson, a firm he would serve with for the next two years. In his serve to Lincoln County, Robertson won the approval of the admitted State of Oklahoma’s first Governor: Charles N. Haskell. Recognizing Robertson’s abilities, Governor Haskell appointed him to the District Court of the Tenth Judicial District of Oklahoma in 1908. Accepting the job, Robertson moved from Chandler to Oklahoma City, where he would spend the rest of his years.
Before beginning his judgeship, Robertson would play an active part in the Democratic Party, statewide and nationally. Without fear, Robertson was one of the most prominent and influential Democrats in Oklahoma. He would help to serve any Democratic candidate in anyway he would. Traveling with Governor Haskell to Denver, Robertson would represent the Democratic Party in Oklahoma to the nation. Robertson zealously supported the Democratic nomination of William Jennings Bryan for the presidency.
Robertson would continue to serve as judge in the Oklahoma Judiciary until, his then friend, Governor Haskell did not seek reelection in 1910. Resigning his judgeship to run, Robertson placed his name in the Democratic primaries, but later withdrew his name in order to support Lee Cruce, who would go on to win the no only the party’s nomination but the Governorship. Not satisfied with returning to private life, Robertson ran for Congress. The 1910 Federal Census resulted in Oklahoma being granted three seats in the United States Congress. Robertson ran on the Democratic ticket for one of those seats. However, he did not receive the party’s nomination in the primaries
Robertson returned to private law practice in Oklahoma City. However, when 1914 rolled around, Governor Cruce, like Haskell before him, did not seek reelection. Once again, Robertson placed his name ion the Democratic primaries. Unfortunately, the popular and former Chief Justice of Oklahoma Robert L. Williams received the party’s nomination instead. 1914 would prove to be a black year for Robertson for more reasons than just political. On June 1 of that year, Robertson’s beloved wife Olive died, leaving Robertson to raise their two children.
[edit] Campaign for Governor
Finally, Robertson’s persistence paid off. Running for Governor for the third consecutive time, Robertson would receive the Democratic Party’s nomination in 1918 to succeed Williams as Governor, defeating the colorful and popular William H. Murray in the process. Thanks to Haskell’s work, the Republicans posed little threat. However, in 1910 a new party had appeared in Oklahoma politics: the Socialist Party of America. Vastly powerful and accepted, the Socialist Party during this time was more powerful in Oklahoma than in New York.
For the first time in Oklahoma’s history, the Governorship was contested between the two major parties as well as a third party. Three candidates were running for Governor: the Democratic Robertson, the Republican Horace G. McKeever, and the Socialist Patrick Nagle. Fortunately for Robertson, in 1917, the Socialist Party had helped to cause the infamous Green Corn Rebellion. This severely weakened the Socialists, who had once held considerable power in Oklahoma, by making them appear unpatriotic. Robertson would usher in a huge Democratic victory by a landslide. Riding on the Governor-elect’s coattails, the Democrats won considerable majorities in both the Oklahoma House of Representatives and Oklahoma Senate.
[edit] Governor of Oklahoma
Robertson would be inaugurated on January 13, 1919 as the fourth Governor of Oklahoma. Immediately following his inauguration, Robertson was faced with two national issues: nationwide prohibition and women's suffrage.
- Due to the work of Governor Haskell, Oklahoma had already adopted a firm policy against alcohol. Robertson’s work combined with Haskell’s policies allowed Oklahoma to overwhelmingly pass the Eighteenth Amendment to the United States Constitution which would be adopted to the United States Constitution on January 16, 1919.
- Oklahoma’s Constitution had been written with progressivism in mind and had allowed all races and genders the right to vote. Once again, Robertson would have to do little work to advance the idea of national woman’s suffrage to the people of Oklahoma. Oklahoma would pass the Nineteenth Amendment to the United States Constitution, which become part of the national Constitution on August 18, 1920.
In statewide politics, Robertson received many successes. One of the first was the creation of the office of Oklahoma Commissioner of Pensions. Robertson also created cooperative marketing agencies to serve the state’s hard hit farmers due to over production caused by World War I. Robertson also passed a bill through the Oklahoma Legislature which would provide for over 1,300 miles of paved roads, more than had been paved in all of the three previous Governor administrations.
Falling back on his history and experiences as a teacher, Robertson focused his administration on improving Oklahoma’s school system. First, Robertson worked to change how colleges operated in Oklahoma. Before his administration, colleges were under the supervision of State Board of Education under the State School Superintendent. However with changes from legislative action, all colleges were managed by independent Board of Regents, members of who were appointed by the Governor. This saw a slight increase in Executive power welded by the Governor in his ability to control the colleges of the state. Robertson prepared budgets that appropriated funds to improve the certification of teachers, upgraded school criteria, consolidation of many rural schools, and the instituted a subsidized textbook program. Thou it was not accepted by the Legislature, Robertson even attempted to increase money spent for schools with apparent inadequacies.
Despite Robertson’s great successes, failures and defeats far overshadowed the victories. Robertson’s work on Oklahoma’s highways was a vast improvement to what the state had but no where what was needed. The voters did not support Robertson’s $50 million dollar bill for the necessary highway improvements. The Bank Guaranty Program Governor Haskell had instituted collapsed following Oklahoma’s recession in 1920, resulting the closure of many state banks. Thou the Socialist Party was no longer a political threat, they still managed to cause problems socially. They advocated labor strikes, which resulted in a telephone workers strike in Drumright, Oklahoma and massive coal miner strike throughout eastern Oklahoma in 1919. Order was only restored when Governor Robertson, in his position as Commander-in-Chief, declared martial law in the problem areas.
Robertson’s administration saw the worse race relations in Oklahoma’s history. To help confront this issue, Robertson created a commission on racial relations, composed of both white and black commissioners. This did little to stem the effect racism. The worst case of racism occurred during this time. In 1921, the city of Tulsa would experience a race riots unparalleled in Oklahoma, before or since. During the 16 hours of rioting, over 800 people were admitted to local hospitals with injuries, an estimated 10,000 were left homeless, 35 city blocks composed of 1,256 residences were destroyed by fire, and $1.8 million (nearly $17 million after adjustment for inflation) in property damage. Robertson finally regained control of his state by once again declaring martial law and sending in the Oklahoma National Guard to act of police. Despite the end of the chaos, the riot would affect Oklahoma for generations to come, promoting nativism, creating fear of the radical left, and allowing the growth of the Ku Klux Klan for the first time in Oklahoma.
To make matter worse politically, under Robertson’s guard the Democrats lose complete control of the Oklahoma Legislature. Following the 1920 mid-term elections, the Republicans were left in control of the Oklahoma House of Representatives. Also, the US Presidency shifted from the Democrat Woodrow Wilson to the Republican Warren G. Harding. No longer would Oklahoma be represented as Democratic state to the nation, with the removal of Thomas Gore from his office as Senator to be replaced by John W. Harreld, the first Republican from Oklahoma to serve in the United States Senate. Robertson was left with a divided Legislature, and became also incapable of passing his proposed policies for the remainder two years of his term.
Scandals would haunt Robertson’s remaining two years as Governor. As disputer between the Republican House and Democratic Senate resulted in the House’s investigation of the executive branch, most notably Governor Robertson himself. Many Democratic leaders where impeached, with Lieutenant Governor Martin E. Trapp among the list. Like Governor Lee Cruce before him, the House came within one vote of impeaching Robertson.
Harder times where still ahead for Robertson when in 1921 the House adjured without voting on appropriation bills. This forced Robertson to operate the government on deficit spending until he called a special session of the Legislature to resolve the issue. Robertson also faced considerable opposition form the Republican Corporation Commissioner Campbell Russell. His worked exposed what the Republicans believed to be a scandal in Robertson’s handling of pardons and paroles
Roberson finally left office on January 8, 1923 with the inauguration of John C. Walton as the fifth Governor of Oklahoma.
[edit] Late life and Legacy
Robertson resumed practicing law in his life as a private citizen. Following his leave from office, Robertson, along with some 30 (then) current and former state officials, was charged with bribery in a bank scandal. Although acquitted of the charge, it forever ended his political career. Though he would run for Governor of Oklahoma, the Oklahoma Supreme Court, and the United States Senate, he would never hold another political office. Robertson died of cancer on March 7, 1938 in Oklahoma City. He would be buried in his adoptive hometown of Chandler in Oak Park Cemetery. Another member of the Haskell Dynasty, Robertson owed much of his success to Governor Haskell’s early recognition of his gifts and talents. Unfortunately, his ties to Governor Haskell would not save his legacy for Oklahomans. Though he worked hard to improve the state, his victories were overshadowed by his defeats.
[edit] State of the State Speeches
- First State of the State Speech
- Second State of the State Speech
- Third State of the State Speech
- Extraordinary Address to the Legislature
[edit] Sources
| Preceded by Robert L. Williams |
Governor of Oklahoma 1919–1923 |
Succeeded by John C. Walton |
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| Persondata | |
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| NAME | Robertson, James |
| ALTERNATIVE NAMES | Robertson, James B. A. |
| SHORT DESCRIPTION | Oklahoma governor; politician |
| DATE OF BIRTH | March 15, 1871 |
| PLACE OF BIRTH | Keokuk County, Iowa |
| DATE OF DEATH | March 7, 1938 |
| PLACE OF DEATH | Oklahoma City, Oklahoma |
