Samuel Wilber Hager

Samuel Wilber Hager (December 19, 1858 – December 27, 1918) was an American politician who served as the 14th Kentucky State Treasurer from 1900 to 1904, and Kentucky State Auditor from 1904 to 1908. He was the Democratic party's nominee for governor of Kentucky in 1907.

Early life and education

Samuel Wilber Hager was born on his father's farm on December 19, 1858, near the town of Gallipolis in Gallia County, Ohio, as the son of William James and Phoebe Ann Hager. As a child his parents moved their family to Salyersville, Kentucky, where his father engaged in the lumber business. He obtained a common education and eventually engaged in teaching school. With financial aid from his father, he was able to enroll in the University of Kentucky. After graduating from the University of Kentucky, he and a brother were engaged in the mercantile business. On June 30, 1885, he married Elizabeth Woods White, sister of John D. White, a Kentucky congressman. Of this union were born two sons, Lawrence W. and William Bruce Hager.

Career

Hager moved to Ashland, Kentucky in 1887, where he would become an associate attorney with his uncle. In 1896, he was elected the County Judge of Boyd County, Kentucky. In 1899, he was elected Kentucky State Treasurer, an office that he held from 1900 to 1904. He served as Kentucky State Auditor from 1904 to 1908.

1907 gubernatorial election

Governor J. C. W. Beckham used his clout as governor to ensure the selection of Hager. Hager easily won the primary election over challenger N.B. Hays and he went on to face Louisville attorney Augustus E. Willson as his opponent.Harrison in ''The Kentucky Encyclopedia'', p. 959Klotter, p. 63

The major campaign issue was the ongoing Black Patch Tobacco Wars in western Kentucky. Hager carried the stigma of being the hand-picked candidate of J. C. W. Beckham, whose role as governor was marked with unpopularity due to largely ignoring the violence during his administration,Harrison in ''A New History of Kentucky'', p. 280 while Willson had twice represented the American Tobacco Company as their attorney. Western farmers had resisted their monopoly of tobacco prices and were trying to express their own power through the PPA; but they had begun to use violence against farmers who would not join the association. Democrats used this to attack Willson, and Willson did little to counter accusations that he was unsympathetic to the plight of the farmers.Burckel, p. 295 Willson then counterattacked claiming that the tobacco company had contributed US$15,000 towards Hagers 1903 State Auditor campaign.

Willson had made public morality the general theme of his campaign, condemning Hager as representing the "ring" or the "machine." His tactic proved effective among rural Democrats who hesitated to vote for the tarnished Hager. A disagreement between Hager and an associate of Governor Beckham caused Hagers support to wane, and Willson ended up defeating Hager, taking 214,478 votes (51.17%) to Hagers 196,428 votes (46.87%). Strong support from urban areas such as Jefferson County, is what swung the election for Willson.

Later life

Hager purchased the Owensboro Inquirer in 1909, he would continue to edit and publish the newspaper until his death in December 1918. In 1915, he largely directed Augustus Owsley Stanley's candidacy for governor. Stanley won the election by 471 votes, and shortly after being inaugurated Stanley appointed Hager to the Kentucky Workmen's Compensation Board, on which he served as a chairmen until his death. Hager died on December 27, 1918, at the age of 60. He was interred at Ashland Cemetery in Ashland, Kentucky.Harrison in ''A New History of Kentucky'', pp. 285–286

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{{DEFAULTSORT:Hager, S
1858 births
1918 deaths
University of Kentucky alumni
People from Gallia County, Ohio
Kentucky Democrats
State Auditors of Kentucky
State treasurers of Kentucky
Kentucky lawyers
20th-century American politicians