Arthur Harry Moore (July 3, 1877 – November 18, 1952) was an American Democratic politician and attorney who was the 39th
governor of New Jersey
The governor of New Jersey is the head of government of New Jersey. The office of governor is an elected position with a four-year term. There is a two consecutive term term limit, with no limitation on non-consecutive terms. The official res ...
, serving three nonconsecutive three-year terms between 1926 and 1941. As of , Moore remains the longest-serving modern Governor of New Jersey and the only Governor popularly elected to three terms in office. He also served a partial term as United States Senator from 1935 to 1938, before stepping down to begin his third term as Governor.
Cooper Union
The Cooper Union for the Advancement of Science and Art (Cooper Union) is a private college at Cooper Square in New York City. Peter Cooper founded the institution in 1859 after learning about the government-supported École Polytechnique in ...
in
New York City
New York, often called New York City or NYC, is the List of United States cities by population, most populous city in the United States. With a 2020 population of 8,804,190 distributed over , New York City is also the L ...
and developed proficiency in bookkeeping and typing.
Early political involvement
Moore became involved in local Democratic politics at an early age, developing a reputation for public speaking and the sobriquet, "the boy orator of Lafayette."
In 1907, Moore's longtime friend
H. Otto Wittpenn
Henry Otto Wittpenn (October 23, 1871 – July 25, 1931) was an American politician who served as the Mayor of Jersey City, New Jersey from January 1, 1908 to June 16, 1913. He was a member of the New Jersey State Highway Commission and was the p ...
As a leading figure in Jersey City, Moore was scouted as a candidate for Governor as early as 1921. With Hague secure in control of the state party, he chose 1925 to secure Moore's easy nomination for Governor.
Moore ran in the general election as a "wringing wet" candidate, opposed to ongoing
Prohibition
Prohibition is the act or practice of forbidding something by law; more particularly the term refers to the banning of the manufacture, storage (whether in barrels or in bottles), transportation, sale, possession, and consumption of alcoholic ...
policies against alcohol. His opponent, Morris County state senator Arthur Whitney, ran with the support of the Anti-Saloon League. In addition to Prohibition, Republicans attacked the alleged menace of "Hagueism" in state government. On election day, Moore carried only three counties, but the 103,995 vote plurality he received in Hudson gave him a comfortable victory.
First term in office: 1926–29
With Hague as his benefactor, Moore's primary role as Governor was to deliver patronage to the Hudson County machine. After the election, Moore told the press, "You can say for me that in
patronage
Patronage is the support, encouragement, privilege, or financial aid that an organization or individual bestows on another. In the history of art, arts patronage refers to the support that kings, popes, and the wealthy have provided to artists su ...
matters I am strictly organization." However, he had to cooperate with the
New Jersey Senate
The New Jersey Senate was established as the upper house of the New Jersey Legislature by the Constitution of 1844, replacing the Legislative Council. There are 40 legislative districts, representing districts with an average population of 232, ...
, which remained strongly Republican and had broad advise and consent powers, on most appointments. This proved little trouble; Moore generally took a conservative approach and received a positive reception from the Republican legislature.
In 1927, Moore did conflict with the legislature in efforts to provide sufficient potable water for North Jersey. As a proponent of home rule, Moore recommended that municipalities resolve the problem themselves or via inter-municipal cooperation. The legislature favored a constitutional amendment authorizing regional water supply districts controlled by the state, but Moore's view won out in a November 1927 referendum.
A spot of agreement between the legislature and governor was land use control. After the United States Supreme Court decision '' Village of Euclid v. Ambler Realty Co.'', the legislature proposed that the state constitution be amended to allow municipalities to exercise zoning authority; Moore and Hague approved, campaigned for the amendment, and saw it ratified by the voters.
Moore also oversaw transportation reform efforts, led by his eventual successor Morgan F. Larson, including the establishment of a new highway construction program. Though Moore favored modernization, he vetoed a gasoline tax bill to fund the program as an undue burden on the taxpayers. The bill eventually became law, coupled with a $30 million bond issue. Under Moore's authority and with the efforts of New York governor
Al Smith
Alfred Emanuel Smith (December 30, 1873 – October 4, 1944) was an American politician who served four terms as Governor of New York and was the Democratic Party's candidate for president in 1928.
The son of an Irish-American mother and a C ...
,
New York City
New York, often called New York City or NYC, is the List of United States cities by population, most populous city in the United States. With a 2020 population of 8,804,190 distributed over , New York City is also the L ...
became more connected to
New Jersey
New Jersey is a state in the Mid-Atlantic and Northeastern regions of the United States. It is bordered on the north and east by the state of New York; on the east, southeast, and south by the Atlantic Ocean; on the west by the Delaware ...
. The Holland Tunnel, Goethals Bridge, Outerbridge Crossing were dedicated, and construction began on the George Washington Bridge.
In response to rising crime and disorder, especially at night clubs, Moore called for an expansion of the state police force, which had been established in 1921. Moore also received national attention as a result of the sensational 1922 Hall-Mills murder case. In 1926, he appointed Alexander Simpson as special prosecutor. Simpson's failure to convict Frances Noel Stevens Hall and her brothers for the murder of Hall's husband and his lover was an embarrassment to Moore and the state.
Out of office
In 1928, Moore was barred from seeking a second consecutive term in office. The Hague machine was finally stalled in the election of Morgan F. Larson, though Larson's nomination was supported by Hague to block a more aggressive anti-machine candidate, Robert Carey. With
Herbert Hoover
Herbert Clark Hoover (August 10, 1874 – October 20, 1964) was an American politician who served as the 31st president of the United States from 1929 to 1933 and a member of the Republican Party, holding office during the onset of the Gr ...
atop the ticket, Republicans won a landslide in New Jersey.
Larson's victory had a silver lining for Moore; when the
Great Depression
The Great Depression (19291939) was an economic shock that impacted most countries across the world. It was a period of economic depression that became evident after a major fall in stock prices in the United States. The economic contagio ...
hit the state in 1929, the Republican Party was in complete control of the state and received the blame for the economic collapse that followed. Moore maintained a public profile during Larson's term in office, following a rigorous speaking schedule, continuing his involvement in fraternal organizations, and hosting a weekly radio program on station WOR. By the end of 1930, Moore had established himself as the obvious choice for Governor in 1931.
1931 election
By 1931, Moore was a polished campaigner. He emphasized patriotic and religious themes ("the broad generalities of the eternal verities") and added amusing and emotional ancedotes. He focused his attacks on President Hoover and Governor Larson, blaming them for the ongoing economic misery. To counter, Republican nominee David Baird Jr. resorted to accusations of "Hagueism."
In a much improved showing, Moore carried all but four counties; Baird received a majority only in his native Camden. Moore's plurality of 230,053 votes and 57.8% of the vote were the largest yet recorded in the state's history.
Second term: 1932–35
Moore's second term in office was focused on economic recovery. He maintained his conservative approach, calling for the reduction or postponement of expenditures to enable local governments and the private sector to regenerate. The 1932 legislature gave him discretionary power to curb spending, and he dramatically reduced appropriations from $34.5 to $20.7 by 1934. He reduced funding for state programs, especially highway construction, in favor of municipal aid and direct relief to the impoverished.
His second term drew Moore's philosophy into conflict with
Franklin D. Roosevelt
Franklin Delano Roosevelt (; ; January 30, 1882April 12, 1945), often referred to by his initials FDR, was an American politician and attorney who served as the 32nd president of the United States from 1933 until his death in 1945. As the ...
's
New Deal
The New Deal was a series of programs, public work projects, financial reforms, and regulations enacted by President Franklin D. Roosevelt in the United States between 1933 and 1939. Major federal programs agencies included the Civilian Cons ...
program, which called for greater government spending and a firmer role for government authority in the regulation of the economy. Nevertheless, Moore vigorously lobbied to ensure that New Jersey receive its share of public works projects and federal relief funds.
Moore attempted to take advantage of the emergency to reorganize state and local government but was unsuccessful. He offered proposals to overhaul state courts, to add a home rule amendment to the constitution, to place state bureaucracy under firmer executive control, and to adopt a sales or income tax as a permanent revenue base. His only successful proposal was a statute to modernize municipal finance.
Moore was also tasked with implementing the new Alcoholic Beverage Control Commissions, designed to preserve some elements of Prohibition after its national repeal.
As in his first term, Moore was involved in overseeing a high-profile criminal case: the kidnapping of Charles A. Lindbergh Jr. from East Amwell. Lindbergh Jr. was the son of famed aviator
Charles Lindbergh
Charles Augustus Lindbergh (February 4, 1902 – August 26, 1974) was an American aviator, military officer, author, inventor, and activist. On May 20–21, 1927, Lindbergh made the first nonstop flight from New York City to Paris, a distance o ...
and the grandson of the late U.S. Senator Dwight Morrow. The case instantly received international attention. Moore also personally directed rescue efforts off Perth Amboy after the sinking of the SS Morro Castle in 1934.
United States Senator: 1935–38
1934 election
Alongside his gubernatorial duties, Moore ran for the United States Senate in 1934 at Hague's insistence. Despite a strong year for New Jersey Republicans, which included the election of
Harold G. Hoffman
Harold Giles Hoffman (February 7, 1896 – June 4, 1954) was an American politician of the Republican Party who served as the 41st governor of New Jersey from 1935 to 1938. He also served two terms representing in the United States House of Re ...
as Moore's successor, Moore was easily elected to Washington.
Term in office
Moore spent only three years in Washington; they were largely unhappy. He referred to the Senate as "a cave of winds" and was ill at ease as a partisan supporter of the New Deal, especially as President Roosevelt pursued more
welfare state
A welfare state is a form of government in which the state (or a well-established network of social institutions) protects and promotes the economic and social well-being of its citizens, based upon the principles of equal opportunity, equitabl ...
programs. He voted against the
Social Security Act
The Social Security Act of 1935 is a law enacted by the 74th United States Congress and signed into law by US President Franklin D. Roosevelt. The law created the Social Security program as well as insurance against unemployment. The law was pa ...
(the lone Democrat to do so), the public utility holding company bill, and the 1935 amendments to the Agricultural Adjustment Act and opposed the
Judicial Procedures Reform Bill of 1937
The Judicial Procedures Reform Bill of 1937, frequently called the "court-packing plan",Epstein, at 451. was a legislative initiative proposed by U.S. President Franklin D. Roosevelt to add more justices to the U.S. Supreme Court in order to ...
.
His focus remained bringing federal projects to New Jersey and
Roosevelt Stadium
Roosevelt Stadium was a baseball stadium at Droyer's Point in Jersey City, New Jersey. It opened in April 1937 and hosted high-minor league baseball, 15 major league baseball games, plus championship boxing matches, top-name musical acts, an a ...
.
Third term as Governor: 1938–41
1937 election
In 1937, Moore accepted Hague's invitation to run for the governorship a third time. His opponent was Reverend
Lester H. Clee
Lester Harrison Clee (July 1, 1888 – March 15, 1962) was an American clergyman and politician who served in both houses of the New Jersey Legislature and was the Republican nominee for Governor of New Jersey in 1937.
Biography
Clee was bor ...
of Essex County, a relative of Moore's by marriage. Despite the candidates' personal acquaintance, the 1937 election was bitter and hard-fought. Moore defended himself from charges that he was opposed to the
New Deal
The New Deal was a series of programs, public work projects, financial reforms, and regulations enacted by President Franklin D. Roosevelt in the United States between 1933 and 1939. Major federal programs agencies included the Civilian Cons ...
and Roosevelt; he survived thanks to another large plurality from Hudson County.
Clee alleged voter fraud, a claim which would hang over Moore's final term. Hague stymied various court cases and efforts by the state legislature to investigate the claims. In 1940, when an investigating committee of the United States Senate attempted to reopen the controversy, it discovered that the Hudson County poll books had been burned.
Term in office
During Moore's final term in office, his principal concern was again economic recovery. Moore continued to divert road funds toward direct relief, especially work relief in the form of federally subsidized highway and water facility projects. In 1939, he attempted to pass a $60-million highway bond issue; the Republican legislature instead opted for a $21-million issue which was ratified by voter referendum.
Moore also promoted tax reform as railroad taxes, a major source of revenue for over a century, declined. Moore proposed a broad-bsed replacement tax but the legislature, believing that new taxes would weaken the recovery, opposed him. Instead, pari-mutuel betting was legalized via referendum, with horse betting expected to make up the lost revenue.
In addition to the ongoing state and federal investigations into voter fraud, Moore damaged his reputation and popularity by appointing Hague's son to the Court of Errors and Appeals, the state's highest court, in 1939.
World War II began in the second half of Moore's term and was the focus of his final years in office. He established the Governor's Emergency Committee, the first state civil defense agency in the natino, by executive order. He also oversaw the development and training of the national guard and, in his final months, the administration of the nation's first peacetime draft.
In January 1941, Moore left office for the final time, to be succeeded by Secretary of the Navy Charles Edison.
Later life and death
After retiring as governor, Moore resumed his legal practice in Jersey City.
Hague attempted to recruit Moore to run for Governor in 1943, but Moore adamantly refused. Hague instead ran mayor
Vincent J. Murphy
Vincent Joseph Murphy (August 1, 1893 – June 8, 1976) was an American labor leader and Democratic Party politician from New Jersey. He was Mayor of Newark, New Jersey from 1941 to 1949 and the Democratic nominee for Governor of New Jerse ...
of
Newark
Newark most commonly refers to:
* Newark, New Jersey, city in the United States
* Newark Liberty International Airport, New Jersey; a major air hub in the New York metropolitan area
Newark may also refer to:
Places Canada
* Niagara-on-the ...
, who was defeated by
Walter Evans Edge
Walter Evans Edge (November 20, 1873October 29, 1956) was an American diplomat and Republican Party (United States), Republican politician who served as the 36th governor of New Jersey, from 1917 to 1919 and again from 1944 to 1947, during both ...
. The election briefly led to a split between Moore and Hague, but they had reconciled by 1944, and Moore was selected as a delegate to the
1944 Democratic National Convention
The 1944 Democratic National Convention was held at the Chicago Stadium in Chicago, Illinois from July 19 to July 21, 1944. The convention resulted in the nomination of President Franklin D. Roosevelt for an unprecedented fourth term. Senator Ha ...
.
In 1945, Governor Edge appointed Moore to a vacancy on the State Board of Education.
In his final years, Moore maintained a residence in his old Lafayette neighborhood but spent most of his time at a summer home in Mount Airy, where he enjoyed horseback riding. He remained busy with law, service on corporate boards, and speaking engagements.
His final major political involvement was as campaign manager for
Elmer H. Wene
Elmer Hartpence Wene (May 1, 1892 – January 25, 1957) was an American Democratic Party politician who represented New Jersey's 2nd congressional district in the United States House of Representatives from 1937 to 1939 and again from 1941 to 194 ...
, the Democratic nominee for Governor in 1949. In the same year, the Hague machine in Jersey City finally collapsed.
Death
Moore died on November 18, 1952, at the age of 75, in
Branchburg Township, New Jersey
Branchburg is a township in Somerset County, New Jersey. As of the 2010 United States Census, the township's population was 14,459, reflecting a decline of 107 (−0.7%) from the 14,566 counted in the 2000 Census, which had in turn increased ...
, when he suffered a stroke while driving with his wife and ran his car off the highway. His wife Jennie was only slightly injured in the crash. He was buried at
Bayview – New York Bay Cemetery
Bayview Cemetery, previously called Greenville Cemetery, is located in Jersey City, New Jersey. It merged with New York Bay Cemetery and is now known as Bayview – New York Bay Cemetery.
History
The cemetery was built in 1848. It is located in ...
in Jersey City.
Personal life
Moore married Jennie Hastings Stevens, a neighbor, on March 28, 1911. They had no children. Moore taught the men's bible class at Lafayette Reformed Church, while Jennie taught Sunday school.