In 1932 Dr. Moeur saw Arizona in the grip of the Great Depression. The state could not pay its debts, with a shortfall of seven and one half million dollars in revenue, state warrants were being accepted for only 80% of their value and 21,000 Arizonans were without jobs.[24] Governor George W. P. Hunt, in poor health and saddened by the death of his wife, seemed unable to cope with the crisis. With future Governor Sidney P. Osborn as his campaign manager, Dr. Moeur defeated Hunt in the Democratic primary and went on to win election over Republican J. C. Kinney.[25] His campaign expenses totaled $78.50.[26]
Governor Moeur immediately began working to return Arizona to fiscal solvency upon taking office. He slashed state government expenses by $4.5 million dollars, he instituted a personal income tax,[27] a sales tax, and luxury taxes on liquor, beer, wine and tobacco.[28] At the same time he reduced property taxes. He, with the help of Arizona’s Congresswoman Isabella Greenway’s friendship with Eleanor Roosevelt, instituted relief programs for the unemployed which brought over 14,000 federal works projects[29] jobs to Arizona. In all, $22,5000,000 of New Deal federal programs were brought to Arizona, and by the end of his first term, the state was solvent and warrants were selling for 100% of their face value. [30]
The most controversial action of Governor Moeur’s administration was his calling out the Arizona National Guard to stop the construction of Parker Dam. The dam was to be a diversion point to send water to the Metropolitan Water District of Southern California. Arizona Attorney General Arthur La Prade gave an opinion that the Metropolitan Water District had no right to build on Arizona’s territory without Arizona’s permission.[31] Using that, in March,1934[32] the Governor sent 6 members of the Arizona National Guard to observe the construction.[33] They traveled aboard the “Arizona Navy,” a ferry boat named the Nellie Jo, which was furnished by Yuma county state senator Nellie Bush.[34] Reports of activity on the Arizona side spurred Governor Moeur to issue a proclamation entitled “to Repel an Invasion,” declare martial law[35] and sent 40 riflemen and 20 machine gunners[36] to the dam site to prevent construction on the Arizona side of the Colorado River.[37] The Governor stated Enigmatically, “It’s a showdown this time, we are going to get something or we aren’t. And if we can’t expect anything we want to know it before this project is further advanced.” [38]
Seventeen truckloads of troops arrived at the Colorado River, and readied to board the Arizona Navy, augmented by another ferry boat, the Julie B. The troops were recalled when Secretary of the Interior, Harold Ickes promised that no further construction would take place on Parker dam until Arizona’s protest was settled.[39] This action represents the last time one state took up arms against another.[40]
Ickes was furious at the actions of Governor Moeur. The Department of the Interior sued Arizona in the United States Supreme Court to obtain an injunction. This would stop Arizona’s interference with the construction of Parker Dam. Surprisingly, the court sided with Arizona, refusing to enjoin Arizona. The court stated that the U. S. Congress never authorized the construction of the dam.[41]
The actions of Governor Moeur seemed to have comic opera aspects, but it was astute politics. Governor Moeur agreed to drop opposition to Parker Dam if the Roosevelt administration approved the Gila River irrigation project. The agreement was reached. Parker dam was constructed and the Wellton-Mohawk district of the lower Gila River was included in the legislation approving Parker Dam. [42]
Dr. Moeur had easily won re-election in 1934, but by 1936, the depression and the sales tax he had passed cut deeply into his popularity. He lost the Democratic primary to R. C. Stanford, who was easily elected. Dr. Moeur again showed his big heart by being the first Arizona Governor to welcome his successor to office and to be present at his swearing in. [43]
Only 71 days after leaving office, Dr. Moeur died in hisTempe home from Heart trouble. The strain of the campaign of 1936, the death of his son, and the countless cigars took their toll. Like many doctors, he spent so much time ministering to others that he neglected his own health.[44]
Benjamin Moeur in not well known today. But, those who know of him think of his gruff exterior, but big heart and generous nature. He well served his community and the state. He brought financial stability to Arizona government, helped secure water rights, and brought civility to the governor’s office. Tempe and Arizona are the better for his having been here.
The restored Moeur home on Myrtle
The Cowboy Who Came to Tempe as a Doctor, and Ended Up Being Governor, Benjamin B. Moeur
The most colorful Arizona governor was a resident of Tempe, Benjamin B. Moeur. Benjamin Moeur was for many years the doctor in Tempe. He was on call 24 hours a day, delivered thousands of babies and never turned a patient away. He was also a businessman, cattleman, educator and a community leader. [1] Dr. Moeur was known for his good humor and as having “the most vivid swearing vocabulary the state had ever known.” [2]
Benjamin B. Moeur was born on December 22, 1869, in Dechard, Tennessee.[3] His father was a French born doctor and his mother was from a pioneer Tennessee family. The Moeur family moved to Texas a few years later to join other family members in a ranching business and provide his father, Dr John Moeur, with a suitable location to set up a medical practice.[4] Young Benjamin attended grade school and high school and worked as a cowboy until the age of twenty. In his late teens, Ben worked for a cattleman named Anderson, who happened to show Ben a photograph of his daughter. Ben remarked that he would like to marry that young lady but Anderson replied that his daughter would never marry a cowboy. “According to family legend, it was then that Benjamin B. Moeur decided to follow in the footsteps of his grandfather [sic] and become a doctor.”[5]
Ben enrolled in the Arkansas Industrial University, transferred to the University of Arkansas and graduated at the top of his class. He finished his medical studies by going to Rush Medical College in Chicago, Illinois for post-graduate work. He then returned to Texas and married the young lady in the photograph, Honor Anderson. [6]
Dr. Moeur began his medical career by following his older brother William to Arizona. He first practiced medicine in Tombstone, but soon after moved to Bisbee to become Relief Physician for the Copper Queen hospital. However, the air pollution from the smelter caused Honor Moeur’s asthma to worsen, and in 18966 the family moved to Tempe where Mrs. Moeur’s health rapidly improved.[7]
As his practice grew in Tempe, Dr. Moeur quickly became known as a true “horse and buggy country doctor” because of his willingness to travel long distances to make house calls.[8] His reputation was such that he would be called to areas that had their own doctors.[9] He often endured severe hardships in making his calls. On a stage coach trip to Payson to attend to a patient, Dr. Moeur and the other passengers had to push the coach through Fish Creek in pouring rain.[10] On a trip to see a patient at The Roosevelt Dam construction site, he had to be transported across the canyon in a cable bucket.[11] He was known for having “a big, big Heart and was a servant to all who needed medical attention.”[12] He conducted free medical clinics at the capitol when he was governor, and every year he sent Christmas cards to poor patients with his bill marked “paid in full.”[13] He never charged a widow or a preacher for his medical services. During World War I no serviceman or his family was charged for his medical services.[14]
Dr. Moeur’s generosity was supported by his involvement in several profitable business ventures. He was president of the Southside Electric and Gas Company, owner of the Moeur-Pafford Company, a cattle operation, and co-owner of the Tempe Hardware Company and the Broadway Moeur Drug store. In addition, he built two rental cottages in Tempe. [15]
Always interested in education, Dr. Moeur served eight years on the Tempe School board, and twelve years on the Board of Education of the Tempe Normal School. (Now Arizona State University) He served as the college physician, began a scholarship program[16] and sponsored a medal for speech competition. [17] Examples of his big hearted nature are shown by treating Normal school students for free,[18] and by giving loans to young teachers.[19]
Dr. Moeur combined his interest in education and politics as a delegate to the Arizona Constitutional Convention.[20] He was the chairman of the education committee. By using the advice of Dr. Arthur Matthews of the Territorial Normal School and the Teachers’ Association of Arizona Dr. Moeur’s committee drafted the educational provisions of the new Arizona Constitution. In spite of objections of segregationists, there were no provisions for school segregation in Arizona’s Constitution.[21] As Governor, Dr. Moeur’s attitude of anti-racism was evident in his actions when Salt River Valley “Aryan” farmers threatened to use violence to remove the successful Oriental truck farmers. An international incident ensued which was resolved by Governor Moeur. He let the Salt River Valley farmers know that the law would be enforced without fear or favor, saying, “I want to enforce the law not with an iron hand but gently, as I feel there is an equitable way of adjusting this situation without trouble....” [22] However, if there was trouble, the Governor promised the Arizona Japanese Association that he would use the Arizona National Guard, if necessary, to protect Japanese life and property.[23]