THE GREAT DEPRESSION AND THE NEW DEAL IN WYOMING

                                                                               

I.  The Great Depression in the U. S.; economy worsens in Wyoming after Oct. 1929

                a. price of oil drops to 15-19 cents per barrel at Salt Creek

b. when gasoline stations exchange a fill-up for a chicken, farmer and station owner both lose money

                c.  enrollment declines at UW; migration out of state to the West Coast accelerates

                d. Wyoming unemployment rate hovers at level of 25 percent (1931)

                e. President Herbert Hoover promises return to prosperity but no federal role in process

II. Wyoming Politics: Deaths of the Grand Old Men

                a. Joseph M. Carey dies 1924; Francis E. Warren, 1929; John B. Kendrick, Nov. 1933

                b. former state engineer Frank Emerson is Republican leader; Joseph C. O'Mahoney leads Democrats

                c. Emerson, who defeated Nellie Ross in the governor's race  in 1926, reelected in 1930, but dies soon after the election

                d. "special election" for governor held to fill out remaining two years of Emerson's term

III. The election of 1932: Franklin D. Roosevelt, the New Deal and Leslie Miller

                a. Democrat Franklin D. Roosevelt elected President in huge landslide (1932)

b.  Democrats elect all five state officers; control both houses of legislature; Miller becomes governor

                c. Nellie Tayloe Ross, FDR supporter,  named director of U. S. Mint, remains until 1953

                d. Roosevelt administration begins "first 100 days"; flurry of activity to get economy moving

IV. Wyomingites make attempt to overcome "Great Depression" without federal help

                a.  cities, counties given responsibility for welfare; strains budgets and brings suffering; UW problems

b. legislature authorizes study of state finances in order to reduce costs to weather depression

c. Griffenhagen Co. of Chicago study points out ways to cut costs, consolidate functions 

        i. consolidate all 399 school districts into just one district

        ii. consolidate all law enforcement into one big "super-agency"

        iii. eliminate many of the 23 counties--reduce number to 11 or even 9 counties

        iv. eliminate legislature and adopt a one-house legislature with just 9 members elected statewide

        v. make the governor's job strictly ceremonial and turn over all management to a "public administrator" hired by the legislature on a non-partisan basis

        vi. company's aim was for efficiency, but report failed to account for Wyoming conditions and political traditions             

                d. special legislative session (1933) rejects Griffenhagen study

                e. Miller reluctantly allows New Deal programs into Wyoming; "self-help has failed"

f. legislators debate income tax/sales tax in state legislative sessions, 1933, 1935, 1937

V. New Deal programs bring jobs to Wyoming; stability to economy

                a. FDIC -- "guarantees" bank deposits; brings back confidence to banking system

                b. WPA -- hires writers, historians, artists--the guidebook; sidewalks in front of A&S Building

                c. PWA -- constructs numerous public buildings--student union, A&S building, two examples

                d. CCC  -- introduces young men from around nation to Wyoming; many stay; 19 camps

                e. REA -- revolutionizes agriculture in Wyoming; brings electricity to thousands of ranches

                f. AAA -- attempts to regulate agricultural commodity prices

VI. New Deal and the U. S. Supreme Court

                a.  numerous New Deal programs struck down by Supreme Court as unconstitutional

                b. after 1936 general election landslide, FDR proposes increasing size of Supreme Court

                c. critics attack FDR's plan as "court-packing";  O'Mahoney leads Senate opposition; Van Devanter retires

VII.  Issues of self-image and sectionalism in the 1930s

                a. Prohibition repealed (beer legal in 1933; other liquor in 1935)

b. state gains influence over liquor sales with state liquor commission

c. state of Absaroka proposed as result of discontent in northern Wyoming, mostly for publicity

                d. Lester Hunt, as Secretary of State, hires artist Allen True to draw bucking horse for license plate

                e. "Tulsa-plus" gasoline pricing system attacked by both Democrats and Republicans

VIII. Wyoming tires of New Deal; world moves toward war

                a. sales tax made permanent

b. Miller defeated for reelection in 1938

                c. poor management methods of Gov. Nels Smith, Republican from Crook County

                d. Smith-Crane feud; Crane, "the builder," had been UW president for almost 20 years

                e. Crane elected Secretary of State; later becomes acting governor

 

Significant Terms/Names

Franklin D. Roosevelt   Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC)   Griffenhagen report          state of Absaroka

Gov. Leslie Miller         Rural Electrification Administration (REA)       state income tax                           Lester Hunt

John B. Kendrick                  Public Works Administration (PWA)     state sales tax (1935)       Allen True

Joseph C. O'Mahoney                Works Progress Administration (WPA)   Willis Van Devanter         Nels Smith

"guidebook series"                Agricultural Adjustment Admin. (AAA)     "court-packing" plan        Dr. Arthur G. Crane

Francis E. Warren                Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC)                          Tracy McCraken

"Tulsa-plus" pricing                   reclamation projects                                            "bucking horse" symbol