William Lair Thompson (January 1, 1880 – August 5, 1940), known as Lair Thompson or W. Lair Thompson, was an American politician and lawyer from the state of Oregon. He served one term in the Oregon House of Representatives followed by a four-year term in the Oregon State Senate. Thompson was a conservative Republican who represented a large rural district. He served as President of the Oregon Senate during the 1915 legislative session. Thompson was one of Oregon's most prominent trial attorneys, handling a number of high-profile cases including one, Bunting v. Oregon, that required him to present arguments before the United States Supreme Court.
Early life
Thompson was born on January 1, 1880, in Linn County, Oregon, the son of Rufus and Adaline (Hill) Thompson. His father was a successful rancher, and for a time, a postmaster. Thompson attended public school in Albany, Oregon, and worked as a printer's apprentice at the Albany Herald for 3 years before entering McMinnville College in 1897.Gaston, Joseph, "Hon. W. Lair Thompson", The Centennial History of Oregon, 1811-1912 (Volume 4), S. J. Clarke Publishing Company, Chicago, Illinois, 1912, pp. 804-805."W. Lair Thompson", History of the Columbia River Valley From The Dalles to the Sea (Volume 2), S. J. Clarke Publishing Company, Chicago, Illinois, 1928, pp. 318-319."William Lair Thompson, 1 Jan 1880; citing LeBanon, Linn, Oregon, reference DF1136, FHL microfilm 2,229,219", Oregon Births and Christenings database, 1868-1929, accessed via FamilySearch January 28, 2016."William Lair Thompson; citing Portland City no 7, Oregon, United States", United States World War I Draft Registration Cards 1917-1918, NARA microfilm publication M1509 FHL microfilm 1,852,145, National Archives and Records Administration, Washington, DC, accessed via FamilySearch January 28, 2016. While at college, Thompson won a statewide oration contest in 1900. He graduated from McMinnville College with a Bachelors of Arts degree in 1902. Thompson then returned to Albany where he managed and edited the Albany Herald while studying for the Oregon State Bar examination. He passed the bar in 1904 and began a law practice in Albany."Oratorical Contest", Eugene Guard, Eugene, Oregon, March 10, 1900, p. 1."Were All Admitted", Weekly Oregon Statesman, Salem, Oregon, October 14, 1904, p. 5.
In 1905, Thompson was appointed chief clerk for the Oregon House of Representatives. He served during the 1905 legislative session which began in January and lasted about six weeks. After the session adjourned, Thompson returned to Albany and resumed his private law practice. Later that year, he was elected Albany city recorder and police judge."1905 Regular Session (23rd): January 9-February 17", Oregon Legislators and Staff Guide, Oregon Secretary of State, Salem, Oregon, accessed January 28, 2016."City Election", Albany Democrat, Albany, Oregon, December 8, 1905, p. 3. He married Elsie Hobbs on September 19, 1906, at her home in Eugene, Oregon."Social News of Western Oregon", Daily Capital Journal, Salem, Oregon, September 20, 1906, p. 6. Thompson was reappointed as chief clerk for the legislature's regular 1907 session, which lasted from mid-January through February 23."1907 Regular Session (24th): January 14-February 23", Oregon Legislators and Staff Guide, Oregon Secretary of State, Salem, Oregon, accessed January 28, 2016. After the session ended, Thompson returned to Albany for a short time. He resigned as Albany city recorder in May 1907 and moved to Lakeview, Oregon, in June. Later that year, Thompson was elected Lakeview's city attorney. Over the next few years, he built a successful private law practice, bought ranch property in south central Oregon, and joined several civic and fraternal groups. He became a respected Republican Party leader with a statewide reputation."County S.S.", Albany Democrat, Albany, Oregon, May 10, 1907, p. 5.
State representative Thompson, a Republican, was elected to the Oregon House of Representatives in 1910. He was one of two House members elected to represent District 21, a very large, rural district which included Crook (at that time, Crook County included what is now Crook, Deschutes and Jefferson counties), Grant, Klamath, and Lake counties."No Opposition to Assembly in 17 Oregon Districts", Oregon Daily Journal, Portland, Oregon, September 17, 1910, p. 3. After he was elected, Thompson announced he would run for Speaker of the House, one of three legislators seeking that post. In the House, Republicans outnumbered Democrats 58 to 2, so the struggle for speaker was between various factions of the Republican Party. As the leader of the conservative Republican bloc in the House (a group Oregon newspapers called the Old Guard), Thompson made a very strong run for the speaker position."Thompson Looms for Speakership", Oregon Daily Journal, Portland, Oregon, January 1, 1911, p. 3."Speakership May Be Free-For-All", Oregon Daily Journal, Portland, Oregon, January 3, 1911, p. 3. Ultimately, he fell short of the votes he needed and threw his support behind John P. Rusk. His support gave Rusk the votes necessary to be elected speaker, though two House members still voted for Thompson."Biannual session of Legislature begins Tomorrow ", Oregon Daily Journal, Portland, Oregon, January 8, 1911, p. 1."Selling and Rusk are the Victors", Albany Evening Herald, Albany, Oregon, January 10, 1911, p. 1."Old Guard Aids Machines Enemy, It is Explained", Oregon Daily Journal, Portland, Oregon, January 10, 1911, p. 6.
Thompson was an active leader throughout the session. When Rusk, a progressive Republican, failed to appoint conservatives to key committees, a number of Thompson supporters tried unsuccessfully to remove the speaker."Revolt Against Rusk, Strengthens, Fails", Oregon Daily Journal, Portland, Oregon, February 9, 1911, p. 5. The 1911 legislative session lasted less than two months, from January 9 through February 18."1911 Regular Session (26th): January 9-February 18", Oregon Legislators and Staff Guide, Oregon Secretary of State, Salem, Oregon, accessed January 28, 2016. After the session, Thompson returned to his law practice in Lakeview. Later that year, he joined Doctor Bernard Daly and other prominent civic leaders to successfully advocate for the completion of the Nevada–California–Oregon Railway line north to Lakeview."Lakeview Soon to have First Railroad", Morning Register, Eugene, Oregon, July 20, 1911, p. 5.
State senator In 1912, Thompson decided to run for the state senate seat in District 17. The senate district included Crook, Klamath, and Lake Counties."The World", Albany Democrat, Albany, Oregon, January 19, 1912, p. 1. He won the Republican primary"Official Returns of State are Now Nearly Complete", Oregon Daily Journal, Portland, Oregon, April 27, 1912, p. 2. and then the general election."Republicans will Hold Legislature", Eugene Guard, Eugene, Oregon, November 9, 1912, p. 13. Some Oregon newspapers considered him a contender for President of the Senate, but he was never a serious candidate for the position."Who'll Capture Next leaderships Knotty Problem", Oregon Daily Journal, Portland, Oregon, November 10, 1912, p. 4. He took his seat in the Oregon Senate on January 13, 1913, and served through the 1913 regular session, which ended on March 3."1913 Regular Session (27th): January 13-March 5" , Oregon Legislators and Staff Guide, Oregon Secretary of State, Salem, Oregon, accessed January 28, 2016. Since Oregon state senators serve a four-year term, Thompson did not have to run for re-election prior to the opening of the 1915 legislative session. However, once the November 1914 general election was over, he announced that he would actively seek the President of the Senate position. Just a few days after the election, Thompson had 11 of the 16 votes he needed to be elected Senate President."Senator Thompson is out to Capture Senate Presidency", Oregon Daily Journal, Portland, Oregon, November 12, 1914, p. 13. By mid-December, he had enough pledged votes to ensure his election.Contest Close for Speaker", Morning Register, Eugene, Oregon, December 13, 1914, p. 1."Speaker of the House", Oregon Daily Journal, Portland, Oregon, December 31, 1914, p. 4. When the Oregon Senate elected its president in January 1915, Thompson was the only candidate nominated for the position. He received 25 out of 28 Republican votes. In addition, both Democratic senators voted for Thompson. Two Republicans voted for Senator W. D. Wood and Thompson joined them to honor Wood."Senate Gets Down to Business as per Arranged Scedulue", Oregon Daily Journal, Portland, Oregon, January 11, 1915, p. 1."1915 Regular Session (28th): January 11-February 20", Oregon Legislators and Staff Guide, Oregon Secretary of State, Salem, Oregon, accessed January 28, 2016.
During the 1915 legislative session, Thompson proposed a major revision of Oregon's judicial system. The bill would have increased the number of circuit court judges and transferred trial work from county judges (local political leaders) to circuit judges (members of the Oregon Bar). It would also have created a circuit court of appeals."Thompson Bill Seeks To Create Circuit Judges", Evening Herold, Klamath Falls, Oregon, January 20, 1915, p. 1. When it became clear the legislature would not pass Thompson's judicial reform bill, he submitted another bill to create a new district judge position for Lake County."Lair Thompson Wants One Judge", Oregon Daily Journal, Portland, Oregon, February 4, 1915, p. 1. That bill was passed near the end of the session. It was reported that some House members feared Thompson might use his position as President of the Senate to hold up House bills if Lake County did not get a district judge."Fear of Senate Club Aids in Passage of Lair Thompson Bill", Oregon Daily Journal, Portland, Oregon, February 16, 1915, p. 13. Despite the session's political give-and-take, Thompson was recognized by his senate colleagues for his evenhanded leadership. At the close of the session, all of his colleagues, including the senate's two Democrats and both of the Republican senators who did not vote for him at the beginning of the session, lauded his leadership."Thompson is Given Token of Esteem by Other Senators", Oregon Daily Journal, Portland, Oregon, February 20, 1915, p. 3.