William Henry Strayer (January 10, 1866October 18, 1946) was an American attorney and politician from the state of Oregon. He served in the Oregon State Senate from 1915 through 1946, representing Baker County. Throughout his long service as a state senator, he was part of a small minority of Democrats elected to the Oregon Senate.
He was the only Democrat in the Oregon State Senate during the 1921 and 1931 legislative sessions. When he died in office, Strayer had served longer in the Oregon legislature than any other citizen in the state's history. Today, Strayer is the second-longest-serving legislator in Oregon history.
Early life
Strayer was born in Freeport, Iowa, on January 10, 1866, the son of George and Mary Strayer. As a young man, he worked as a farm hand and later taught school in South Dakota and Illinois before being accepted into Northern Indiana University. He graduated from the university in 1889 with a law degree. He was later admitted to the Illinois bar."Dean of Senate Dies in Baker",Capital Journal, Salem, Oregon, October 18, 1946, p. 1."W. H. (Bill) Strayer, Veteran Legislator, Turns 80; Home Town Attends an Open House",Statesman Journal, Salem, Oregon, January 16, 1946, p. 1."Bill Strayer’s 79th Birthday",Capital Journal, Salem, Oregon, January 10, 1945, p. 7."William H Strayer in entry for George Strayer", United States Census, 1870, database with images accessed via FamilySearch on August 1, 2020.
Strayer moved to Oregon in 1896, settling in the Eagle Valley near Richland, where he published the Eagle Valley News. He met Donna Nevada Holcolm in Richland. He married her in Boise, Idaho, on August 19, 1895. Together they had two children, a son and a daughter."Mrs Strayer Dies at Baker",Capital Journal, Salem, Oregon, February 5, 1941, p. 12.
In 1898, Strayer ran for a seat in the Oregon House of Representatives as a member of the People's Party, a populist political movement that supported Oregon Governor Sylvester Pennoyer. Strayer was endorsed by the La Grande Observer newspaper. However, he finished last in a four-person race, receiving only 99 votes."People’s Party Ticket", La Grande Observer, La Grande, Oregon, May 25, 1898, p. 2.; Lipin, Lawrence, "Populism in Oregon",The Oregon Encyclopedia, Portland State University and Oregon Historical Society, Portland, Oregon, July 10, 2019.; "Editorial Comments",La Grande Observer, La Grande, Oregon, May 26, 1898, p. 2."June Election",Capital Journal, Salem, Oregon, June 13, 1898, p. 2.
In 1903, Strayer was admitted to the Oregon bar and moved to Baker, Oregon, to open a law practice. He served as the Baker city attorney and later the Baker County prosecutor. He was also elected to the local school board. After arriving in Baker, Strayer joined a number of civic and fraternal groups including Moose, Masons, and Shriners lodges. He remained a practicing attorney in Baker for the rest of his life, a total of 42 years.Logan, C. K., "Session Sidelights of the 42nd Legislature",Capital Journal, Salem, Oregon, February 12, 1943, p. 7.
State senator (1915–1923)
In 1914, Strayer announced he would run for the District 23 seat in the Oregon State Senate as a Democrat. At that time, District 23 represented Baker County in northeastern Oregon. He was unopposed in the Democratic primary while two Republicans filed for the District 23 position. Strayer faced Frank B. Mitchell in the general election. Strayer won the general election by a margin of 519 votes. The final result was 2,399 votes for Strayer and 1,880 votes going to Mitchell."Official Count of Election in State is Made", Statesman Journal, Salem, Oregon, March 15, 1914, p. 8.; "Ten Who File Fail to Make Primary in Race for Jobs", Oregon Daily Journal, Portland, Oregon, April 11, 1914, p. 9.; Official List Shows Winners, Statesman Journal, Salem, Oregon, June 30, 1914, p. 13.; Count Complete, La Grande Observer, La Grande, Oregon, November 6, 1914, p. 8.
Strayer took his seat in the Oregon State Senate on January 11, 1915, representing District 23. He worked through the 1915 regular legislative session that ended on February 20. He was one of only two Democratic senators seated in the 30-member senate that session. During the session, he served on the county affairs and alcoholic traffic committees."Day Beats Perkins for Ways, Means Chair in Senate",Oregon Daily Journal, Portland, Oregon, January 12, 1915, p. 5.; "1915 Regular Session (28th) January 11 – February 20", Oregon Legislators and Staff Guide, Oregon State Archives, Salem, Oregon, accessed July 26, 2020.
Because Oregon senate terms are for four-years, Strayer did not have to run for re-election prior to the 1917 legislative session. The session opened on January 8. He was one of five Democrats in the senate that session. Nevertheless, he was appointed to the powerful ways and means committee. He also served on the alcoholic traffic, insurance, mining, and revisions of laws committees. The session ended on February 19."President Moser of State Senate Makes Committees Known",Oregon Daily Journal, Portland, Oregon, January 8, 1917, p. 2.; "1917 Regular Session (29th) January 8 – February 19", Oregon Legislators and Staff Guide, Oregon State Archives, Salem, Oregon, accessed July 26, 2020.
In 1918, Strayer ran for re-election. He was the only Democrat to file for the District 23 seat. In addition, no Republicans entered the race, so he was unopposed in both the Democratic primary and the general election."Sen Strayer and Judge Phelps File",Oregon Daily Journal, Portland, Oregon, April 3, 1918, p. 7.; "Vacancies Exist in Ticket for the Primaries May 17",Oregon Daily Journal, Portland, Oregon, April 7, 1918, p. 4.
The 1919 legislative session began on January 13. He was one of three Democrats in the state senate that session. During the session, Strayer was appointed to the ways and means, alcoholic traffic, insurance, mining, and revisions of laws committees. The session lasted six weeks, ending on February 27."Grants Pass Man Draws Ways and Means Committee",Oregon Daily Journal, Portland, Oregon13 January 1919, p. 6."1919 Regular Session (30th) January 13 – February 27", Oregon Legislators and Staff Guide, Oregon State Archives, Salem, Oregon, accessed July 26, 2020. He also served in a week-long special session the following year. That special session opened on January 12, 1920, and finished business on December 17."1920 Special Session (30th) January 12 – 17", Oregon Legislators and Staff Guide, Oregon State Archives, Salem, Oregon, accessed July 26, 2020.
Since he was at the mid-point of his four-year term, Strayer did not have to run for re-election in 1920. The 1921 regular legislative session began on February 10. During this session, he served on the alcoholic traffic, industries, irrigation, public lands, and revisions of laws committees. While Strayer was the only Democrat in the Oregon State Senate that session, he introduced six bills, four of which were passed and became law. The regular session ended on February 23."Organization of Senate and House Completed Quickly",Oregon Daily Journal, Portland, Oregon, January 11, 1921, p. 8.; "1921 Regular Session (31st) January 10 – February 23", Oregon Legislators and Staff Guide, Oregon State Archives, Salem, Oregon, accessed July 26, 2020."Record of Candidates", Capital Journal, Salem, Oregon, May 6, 1924, p. 4. He also served during a special legislative session later that year. That session began on December 19 and lasted less than a week, ending on December 24. Strayer was the only Democrat serving in the senate during the special session."1921 Special Session (31st) December 19 – 24", Oregon Legislators and Staff Guide, Oregon State Archives, Salem, Oregon, accessed July 26, 2020.
Strayer ran for re-election in 1922. He was unopposed in Democratic primary for the District 23 senate seat. In addition, no Republicans filed for the District 23 seat, so he was unopposed in both the Democratic primary and the general election."Olcott’s Lead Over Hall Now Stands at 521",Oregon Daily Journal, Portland, Oregon, June 9, 1922, p. 2.; "Pierce is Given 34,237 Majority in Final Count",Oregon Daily Journal, Portland, Oregon, November 24, 1922, p. 20.
The 1923 legislative session began on February 8. Because he was the senior senator of the four Democrats serving in that chamber, Strayer became the spokesman for the newly elected Democratic governor, Walter M. Pierce. He also served on the ways and means, enrolled bills, irrigation, and mining committees. The session lasted six weeks, ending on February 22."1923 Regular Session (32nd) January 8 – February 22", Oregon Legislators and Staff Guide, Oregon State Archives, Salem, Oregon, accessed July 26, 2020."W. H. Strayer",Statesman Journal, Salem, Oregon, January 9, 1923, p. 10."Hall Heads Highways Committee",Capital Journal, Salem, Oregon, January 9, 1923, p. 1 & 5.
United States Senate candidate (1924)
In 1924, Strayer was in the middle of his four-year term, so he could run for another office without losing his state senate seat. He decided to run for the United States Senate."Bill Stryer Hurls Hat in Ring for Senate", Capital Journal, Salem, Oregon, December 18, 1923, p. 6. His campaign slogan was: Only by spending less money can the cost of government be reduced."Milton Miller and Strayer in Race for Senate", Capital Journal, Salem, Oregon, February 15, 1924, p. 2. During the campaign, Strayer was endorsed by Governor Pierce."Democratic Policy", Statesman Journal, Salem, Oregon, December 14, 1923, p. 4.
Strayer ran on his record as a fiscal conservative and small-government Democrat. In the state senate, he often voted against popular programs that he thought cost taxpayers too much money. These included appropriations for the University of Oregon medical school and state libraries. During his years in the legislature, he also voted against numerous bills that he believed unnecessarily extended the power and influence of state agencies. In the four-way race for the Democratic nomination, Strayer ran a close second behind Milton A. Miller of Portland. In the primary to nominate the Democratic party's United States senate candidate, Miller got 10,932 votes versus Strayer's 10,566. The other two candidates ran further behind; George Mansfield received 8,605 votes, while W. R. King trailed the field with 8,101 votes."Official Count of Election in State is Made", Eugene Guard, Eugene, Oregon, June 12, 1924, p. 1.
State senator (1925–1933)
After losing his bid for the United States Senate, Strayer continued his service in the state senate. The regular 1925 legislative session began on January 12. As in the 1923 legislative session, he was one of four Democrats with a seat in the state senate. During the session he was appointed to the ways and means, livestock, mining, municipal affairs, enrolled bills, and revision of laws committees. The six-week session ended on February 26."1925 Regular Session (33rd) January 12 – February 26", Oregon Legislators and Staff Guide, Oregon State Archives, Salem, Oregon, accessed July 26, 2020."Committee Berths are Assigned",Capital Journal, Salem, Oregon, January 12, 1923, p. 6.
In 1926, another United States Senate seat was open, and Strayer was discussed in the media as a possible Democratic candidate. However, the state senate seat in District 23 was also up for election. Strayer could file as a candidate in only one race. He chose to defend his District 23 seat."Strayer Seeks Reelection", Capital Journal, Salem, Oregon, March 30, 1926, p. 1. Ultimately, no Democrats entered the District 23 race, and no Republican filed to run against Strayer either, leaving him unopposed in both the Democratic primary and the general election."245 Aspirants at Primaries for 194 Places", News-Review, Roseburg, Oregon, April 17, 1926, p. 1.