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Walter Lafferty

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31: 394: 1099: 312:, which had acquired the O&C, had stopped selling the parcels altogether. Lafferty fought the case for years and in 1915, it ended when the U.S. government took back control of the land, paying the railroad $ 2.50 per acre for the land. Lafferty did not consider this a victory since the railroad was compensated and the state of Oregon did not get possession of the land. 1059: 445:
government to pay half of their timber revenues to the O&C counties, a number that was reduced over the years. On April 30, 1954, Lafferty won a successful appeal to return $ 6 million in timber revenue to the O&C counties. However, Congress passed a further act that gave control of those lands to the
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Lafferty died in Portland on January 15, 1964, after several weeks of failing health. At the time of his death, he was still seeking full payment for his fees from his court cases on behalf of the O&C counties and owed several hundred thousand dollars in back taxes. He was interred in Fairmount
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Lafferty, who never married, was dogged by several scandals during his political career. During his first term in Congress, he solicited the acquaintance of two young women to whom he had not been formerly introduced, including the daughter of a federal official, in violation of social norms of the
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When not fighting in court, Lafferty continued to try to reclaim his old seat in Congress. To reintroduce himself to constituents after his lengthy absence from Oregon, Lafferty launched a series of advertisements that featured an unusual assortment of information, such as excerpts from letters,
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Lafferty returned to Portland in 1946 and resumed his court fight on behalf of the O&C land grant counties. After the federal government had assumed control of the land following Lafferty's original case, the U.S. Congress had passed legislation in 1916 and 1937 that directed the federal
385:, and Progressive Arthur Moulton. In 1916, the situation repeated itself: Lafferty sought the Republican nomination and lost to McArthur, and then ran as an Independent in the general election. As before, McArthur again defeated him, along with Democrat John J. Jeffery. 1237: 304:. The railroad was to sell land to settlers at $ 2.50 an acre, but widespread abuse resulted in developers, aided by politicians, acquiring large parcels through fraudulent means in what became known as the 299:
formerly granted to the railroad by the U.S. government. In 1870, the United States government had granted the railroad three million acres (12,000 km) of land to build a line from Portland south to
1103: 359:" broke out in Portland in November 1912 surrounding the city's gay male subculture, Lafferty vowed to bring the scandal to Washington's attention, though his efforts were short-lived. 352:. While in Congress, Lafferty continued his fight on behalf of his constituents affected by the railroad land issue. He also supported equal suffrage for men and women. 453:
refused to hear Lafferty's appeal that his case had precedence. Lafferty would continue to fight the case, and for payment for his services, for the rest of his life.
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at the time of the indictment, did not return to Oregon to face the misdemeanor charge. He opened a law practice in New York, where he lived for the next 14 years.
433: 1079: 631: 1222: 224:. Lafferty spent the majority of his career both as a legislator and as an attorney attempting to have millions of acres of land previously owned by the 1167: 1132: 925: 1242: 1217: 296: 617: 1247: 253: 277: 341: 950: 1212: 1173: 1138: 1115: 337: 329: 325: 217: 112: 102: 57: 47: 601: 291:
In 1907, Lafferty took a case that would define the rest of his career: representing 18 western Oregon counties against the
1232: 1227: 993: 775: 666: 281: 462: 321: 193: 461:, and references to his fight for the O&C counties. All of his attempts, as an Independent in 1950 and as a 767: 292: 225: 413:
times. He was forced to apologize for his actions. Several years later, in 1919, Lafferty was indicted by a
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In 1914, Lafferty again ran for the Republican nomination for his seat, but was defeated in the
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grand jury for contributing to the delinquency of a 14-year-old girl. Lafferty, who was in
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come under Oregon state control, rather than the control of the U.S. federal government.
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Woman Suffrage: Hearings Before the Committee on the Judiciary, House of Representatives
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Same-Sex Affairs: Constructing and Controlling Homosexuality in the Pacific Northwest
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Republican Party members of the United States House of Representatives from Oregon
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New International Yearbook: A Compendium of the World's Progress for the Year 1916
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Following his defeat in 1916, he resumed his Portland law practice until
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With his fame earned from this case, in 1910, Lafferty was elected as a
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to Abraham M. and Helen Kinney Lafferty. He attended public schools in
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Shoemaker, Mervin (1951-12-30). "Oregon's Political Rip van Winkle".
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Rep. A.W. Lafferty decked out for a game of Congressional baseball.
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Saving Oregon's Golden Goose: Political Drama on the O&C Lands
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from 1902 to 1904. He also served three years as a captain in the
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as an Independent Progressive, but McArthur prevailed by a slim
1107: 393: 221: 108: 53: 344:, allying himself with Progressive Presidential candidate 1072: 551:. Chicago, Illinois: American Men of Mark. 1917. p.  860:. New York: Dodd, Mead and Company. 1917. p. 508. 526:"Biographical Directory of the United States Congress" 434:
Maryland-National Capital Park and Planning Commission
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to claim timber revenue from, and possession of, the
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Biographical Directory of the United States Congress
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Biographical Directory of the United States Congress
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110th Cong., vol. 153, no. 1, 2007, pp. S1837-S1838
661:. New York: The Tribune Association. p. 650. 1172: 1137: 457:snippets of poetry, pictures of notables such as 1194: 658:The Tribune Almanac and Political Register, 1914 276:In 1905, he was appointed special agent for the 501:. Binfords & Mort Publishing. p. 139. 903: 901: 751: 1168:U.S. House of Representatives 1133:U.S. House of Representatives 1030: 570: 568: 566: 564: 562: 465:in 1952, 1954, and 1956, were unsuccessful. 747:. United States Congress. 1912. p. 64. 1223:American military personnel of World War I 1013: 898: 881: 648: 520: 518: 516: 514: 512: 510: 508: 29: 1019: 986: 953:. Oregon Heritage Forests. Archived from 864: 784: 575:"Land Battle Climax of Lafferty Career". 559: 548:A Thousand American Men of Mark of To-day 492: 490: 216:(June 10, 1875 – January 15, 1964) was a 103:U.S. House of Representatives 48:U.S. House of Representatives 705: 675: 392: 370:. Despite the loss, Lafferty ran in the 278:United States Department of the Interior 918: 871:"Another girl got note from Lafferty". 505: 496: 432:, living there until he sold it to the 315: 260:. He served as prosecuting attorney of 1195: 591: 487: 326:United States House of Representatives 1243:People from Montgomery City, Missouri 968: 683:"Progressives meet as fighting force" 654: 585: 340:, running as both a Republican and a 1218:People from Audrain County, Missouri 1179:March 4, 1913 – March 3, 1915 1144:March 4, 1911 – March 3, 1915 831: 757: 596:. Portland, Oregon: Inkwater Press. 256:that year and commenced practice in 1174:Oregon's 3rd congressional district 1139:Oregon's 2nd congressional district 943: 848: 814: 713:"Lawmakers admit they're great men" 439: 424:In 1933, he purchased the historic 338:Oregon's 3rd congressional district 330:Oregon's 2nd congressional district 126:March 4, 1913 – March 3, 1915 71:March 4, 1911 – March 3, 1913 13: 792:"Rep. Lafferty loses renomination" 624: 14: 1259: 1248:Missouri National Guard personnel 1050: 1026:. pp. 8–9, Magazine section. 528:. U.S. Government Printing Office 405:, when he served as a major at a 388: 282:United States General Land Office 271: 1102: This article incorporates 1097: 1057: 983: (D.C. Cir. 1954-04-30). 951:"Legal History of O&C Lands" 632:"Oregon and California Railroad" 248:and went on to study law at the 1075:"Walter Lafferty (id: L000015)" 735: 768:University of California Press 539: 336:, he was elected to represent 293:Oregon and California Railroad 226:Oregon and California Railroad 1: 1213:University of Missouri alumni 1166:Member of the  1131:Member of the  1116:U.S. House of Representatives 1037:"A. W. Lafferty Dies at 88". 994:"Court Denies Timber Hearing" 481: 252:, graduating in 1896. He was 231: 592:Werlin, Joella, ed. (2006). 499:Dictionary of Oregon History 7: 1233:United States Army officers 821:"Puts Oregon on its feet". 350:63rd United States Congress 10: 1264: 1228:Oregon Progressives (1912) 606:. partially read into the 497:Corning, Howard M (1956). 1181: 1164: 1156: 1146: 1129: 1121: 1114: 976:Clackamas County v. McKay 926:"Riversdale House Museum" 838:"Renominated in Oregon". 581:. 1964-01-16. p. 11. 310:Southern Pacific Railroad 306:Oregon land fraud scandal 207: 199: 189: 173: 161: 156: 152: 140: 130: 119: 99: 87: 75: 64: 44: 40: 28: 21: 1073:United States Congress. 1043:. 1964-01-16. p. 1. 914:. 1919-02-02. p. 7. 908:"Lafferty is Indicted". 655:White, David M. (1914). 468: 266:Missouri National Guard 214:Abraham Walter Lafferty 1104:public domain material 888:"Lafferty hits back". 636:Oregon History Project 398: 250:University of Missouri 35:A. W. Lafferty in 1913 957:on September 16, 2007 396: 758:Boag, Peter (2003). 609:Congressional Record 476:Middletown, Missouri 316:Congressional career 308:. Then in 1903, the 236:Lafferty grew up in 1185:Clifton N. McArthur 1150:Nicholas J. Sinnott 981:219 F2d 479 447:U.S. Forest Service 430:Riverdale, Maryland 368:Clifton N. McArthur 254:admitted to the bar 240:. He was born near 218:U.S. Representative 147:Clifton N. McArthur 94:Nicholas J. Sinnott 16:American politician 616:, 2007-02-12; see 451:U.S. Supreme Court 426:Riversdale Mansion 399: 346:Theodore Roosevelt 220:from the state of 1191: 1190: 1182:Succeeded by 1147:Succeeded by 824:Los Angeles Times 603:978-1-59299-212-6 262:Montgomery County 211: 210: 1255: 1176: 1160:District created 1157:Preceded by 1141: 1125:William R. Ellis 1122:Preceded by 1112: 1111: 1101: 1100: 1084: 1067: 1065:Biography portal 1062: 1061: 1060: 1045: 1044: 1034: 1028: 1027: 1017: 1011: 1010: 1008: 1007: 990: 984: 978: 972: 966: 965: 963: 962: 947: 941: 940: 938: 937: 922: 916: 915: 905: 896: 895: 885: 879: 878: 868: 862: 861: 852: 846: 845: 835: 829: 828: 818: 812: 811: 809: 808: 796: 788: 782: 781: 755: 749: 748: 739: 733: 732: 730: 729: 717: 709: 703: 702: 700: 699: 687: 679: 673: 672: 652: 646: 645: 643: 642: 628: 622: 621: 589: 583: 582: 572: 557: 556: 543: 537: 536: 534: 533: 522: 503: 502: 494: 440:Return to Oregon 415:Multnomah County 383:Austin F. Flegel 372:general election 286:Portland, Oregon 184:Portland, Oregon 180: 177:January 15, 1964 168:Farber, Missouri 157:Personal details 143: 133: 124: 105: 90: 82:William R. Ellis 78: 69: 50: 33: 19: 18: 1263: 1262: 1258: 1257: 1256: 1254: 1253: 1252: 1193: 1192: 1187: 1178: 1170: 1162: 1152: 1143: 1135: 1127: 1098: 1088:Walter Lafferty 1063: 1058: 1056: 1053: 1048: 1036: 1035: 1031: 1018: 1014: 1005: 1003: 992: 991: 987: 974: 973: 969: 960: 958: 949: 948: 944: 935: 933: 924: 923: 919: 907: 906: 899: 891:Washington Post 887: 886: 882: 870: 869: 865: 854: 853: 849: 841:Washington Post 837: 836: 832: 820: 819: 815: 806: 804: 794: 790: 789: 785: 778: 756: 752: 741: 740: 736: 727: 725: 715: 711: 710: 706: 697: 695: 685: 681: 680: 676: 669: 653: 649: 640: 638: 630: 629: 625: 604: 590: 586: 574: 573: 560: 545: 544: 540: 531: 529: 524: 523: 506: 495: 488: 484: 471: 459:Abraham Lincoln 442: 409:training camp. 391: 378:over Lafferty, 328:, representing 318: 274: 258:Montgomery City 234: 190:Political party 182: 178: 166: 141: 131: 125: 120: 106: 101: 88: 76: 70: 65: 51: 46: 36: 24: 17: 12: 11: 5: 1261: 1251: 1250: 1245: 1240: 1235: 1230: 1225: 1220: 1215: 1210: 1205: 1189: 1188: 1183: 1180: 1163: 1158: 1154: 1153: 1148: 1145: 1128: 1123: 1119: 1118: 1095: 1094: 1085: 1069: 1068: 1052: 1051:External links 1049: 1047: 1046: 1029: 1012: 999:New York Times 985: 967: 942: 917: 897: 880: 874:New York Times 863: 847: 830: 813: 800:New York Times 783: 776: 750: 734: 721:New York Times 704: 691:New York Times 674: 667: 647: 623: 602: 584: 558: 538: 504: 485: 483: 480: 470: 467: 441: 438: 390: 389:After Congress 387: 317: 314: 273: 272:Move to Oregon 270: 233: 230: 209: 208: 205: 204: 201: 197: 196: 191: 187: 186: 181:(aged 88) 175: 171: 170: 163: 159: 158: 154: 153: 150: 149: 144: 138: 137: 134: 128: 127: 117: 116: 100:Member of the 97: 96: 91: 85: 84: 79: 73: 72: 62: 61: 45:Member of the 42: 41: 38: 37: 34: 26: 25: 23:A. W. Lafferty 22: 15: 9: 6: 4: 3: 2: 1260: 1249: 1246: 1244: 1241: 1239: 1236: 1234: 1231: 1229: 1226: 1224: 1221: 1219: 1216: 1214: 1211: 1209: 1206: 1204: 1201: 1200: 1198: 1186: 1177: 1175: 1169: 1161: 1155: 1151: 1142: 1140: 1134: 1126: 1120: 1117: 1113: 1110: 1109: 1106:from the 1105: 1093: 1089: 1086: 1082: 1081: 1076: 1071: 1070: 1066: 1055: 1042: 1041: 1040:The Oregonian 1033: 1025: 1024: 1023:The Oregonian 1016: 1001: 1000: 995: 989: 982: 977: 971: 956: 952: 946: 932:on 2008-05-10 931: 927: 921: 913: 912: 911:The Oregonian 904: 902: 894:. 1911-08-08. 893: 892: 884: 877:. 1911-08-09. 876: 875: 867: 859: 858: 851: 844:. 1916-05-21. 843: 842: 834: 827:. 1914-11-06. 826: 825: 817: 802: 801: 793: 787: 779: 777:0-520-24048-0 773: 769: 765: 761: 754: 746: 745: 738: 723: 722: 714: 708: 693: 692: 684: 678: 670: 668:0-405-06385-7 664: 660: 659: 651: 637: 633: 627: 619: 615: 611: 610: 605: 599: 595: 588: 580: 579: 578:The Oregonian 571: 569: 567: 565: 563: 554: 550: 549: 542: 527: 521: 519: 517: 515: 513: 511: 509: 500: 493: 491: 486: 479: 477: 466: 464: 460: 454: 452: 448: 437: 435: 431: 427: 422: 420: 419:New York City 416: 410: 408: 407:San Francisco 404: 395: 386: 384: 381: 377: 373: 369: 365: 360: 358: 353: 351: 347: 343: 339: 335: 331: 327: 323: 313: 311: 307: 303: 298: 297:O&C lands 294: 289: 287: 283: 279: 269: 267: 263: 259: 255: 251: 247: 243: 239: 229: 227: 223: 219: 215: 206: 202: 198: 195: 192: 188: 185: 176: 172: 169: 165:June 10, 1875 164: 160: 155: 151: 148: 145: 139: 135: 129: 123: 118: 114: 110: 104: 98: 95: 92: 86: 83: 80: 74: 68: 63: 59: 55: 49: 43: 39: 32: 27: 20: 1165: 1159: 1130: 1096: 1092:Find a Grave 1078: 1038: 1032: 1021: 1015: 1004:. Retrieved 1002:. 1955-11-22 997: 988: 975: 970: 959:. Retrieved 955:the original 945: 934:. Retrieved 930:the original 920: 909: 889: 883: 872: 866: 856: 850: 839: 833: 822: 816: 805:. Retrieved 803:. 1914-05-17 798: 786: 759: 753: 743: 737: 726:. Retrieved 724:. 1913-04-21 719: 707: 696:. Retrieved 694:. 1913-04-05 689: 677: 657: 650: 639:. Retrieved 635: 626: 614:Gordon Smith 607: 593: 587: 576: 547: 541: 530:. 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Index


U.S. House of Representatives
Oregon
2nd
William R. Ellis
Nicholas J. Sinnott
U.S. House of Representatives
Oregon
3rd
Clifton N. McArthur
Farber, Missouri
Portland, Oregon
Republican
U.S. Representative
Oregon
Oregon and California Railroad
Missouri
Farber
Pike County
University of Missouri
admitted to the bar
Montgomery City
Montgomery County
Missouri National Guard
United States Department of the Interior
United States General Land Office
Portland, Oregon
Oregon and California Railroad
O&C lands
California

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