Ernest Rudolph Fatland (August 20, 1896 – January 22, 1980) was an American businessman and politician who served as a state legislator for Oregon. He was a Republican who served six years in the Oregon House of Representatives, where he represented a district in rural north central Oregon. He served as Speaker of the Oregon House of Representatives during the 1939 legislative session. During his time as speaker, Fatland also served as acting governor on several occasions when the elected governor was traveling outside the state. After leaving the state House of Representatives, Fatland was appointed to the Oregon Liquor Control Commission. Later, he served one four-year term in the Oregon State Senate.
Early life
Fatland was born in Cambridge, Iowa, on August 20, 1896. He was the son of Brit O. Fatland and Elsie Sarah (Berhow) Fatland. In 1904, he moved with his family from Iowa to Oregon, settling in Portland."Ernie A. Fatland", Capital Journal, Salem, Oregon, January 21, 1980, p. 13."Former State Official Dies", The World, Coos Bay, Oregon, January 21, 1980, p. 3."Ernie A. Fatland", Statesman Journal, Salem, Oregon, January 22, 1980, p. 13."E. R. Fatland Announces to Success Earl Snell", Hepner Gazette Times, Heppner, Oregon, April 5, 1934, p. 4. Fatland attended Washington High School in Portland, where he was captain of the debate team and an active thespian."Student Training Hard for Triangular Debate", Oregon Daily Journal, Portland, Oregon, March 29, 1914, p. 18."Debate Will Settle Championship", Oregon Daily Journal, Portland, Oregon, December 20, 1914, p. 6."Students Produce Play Successfully", Oregon Daily Journal, Portland, Oregon, December 21, 1913, p. 7."Class play is on Tonight", Oregon Daily Journal, Portland, Oregon, June 4, 1915, p. 9. He was also editor of the high school newspaper.
After finishing high school, Fatland worked as a salesman for a Portland-based wholesale paper company. He also worked at a photo engraving shop before joining the United States Army in 1917. Fatland served as a military chauffeur/staff car driver in the Army Air Corps during World War I."Ernest R. Fatland", Oregon, World War I, Veteran State Aid Applications, 1921–1938, Oregon State Archives, Salem, Oregon, accessed via Family Search, www.familysearch.org on December 7, 2020.
Businessman and civic leader
After leaving the Army, Fatland operated a dairy farm in Arlington, Oregon, for a short time. In 1919, Fatland moved to Condon, Oregon, where he purchased a tire repair business in partnership with Clair Hopper. The business was originally housed in a 16-foot by 20-foot shop building in downtown Condon. In 1920, Fatland bought out Hopper's share of the business. A year later, he began doing automobile lubrication jobs and selling gasoline, oil, batteries, and automobile accessories. Over the years, Fatland grew the company into a successful regional automobile supply firm. In 1928, he built a large new store in downtown Condon to accommodate his expanding business.MacNab, Gordon G., "Former State Legislator Recalls Depression Era", Corvallis Gazette-Times, Corvallis, Oregon, May 6, 1970, p. 23."Historical Data", Condon Commercial Historic District, National Register of Historic Places Registration Form, Portland, Oregon, May 29, 1998, pp. 7–43.
After settling in Condon and establishing his business, Fatland married Velma Marie Couture on May 28, 1922. Together, they had two sons."E. R. Fatland Seeking Legislative Post Again", Hepner Gazette Times, Heppner, Oregon, October 29, 1936, p. 1."Ernest Fatland", Oregon Death Index, 1903–1998, citing Wasco, Oregon, certificate number 89-08459, Oregon State Archives and Records Center, Salem, Oregon, accessed via www.familysearch.org on January 31, 2021."Ernest Rudolph Fatland", Family Search, Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Salt Lake City, Utah, accessed via www.familysearch.org on January 31, 2021.
While Fatland was a successful businessman, he was also active in politics and served in a number of local government positions. He was a member of the Condon City Council for six years. He was also a member of the local school board for three years. As a dedicated Republican, he served on the Gilliam County Republican Central Committee. He was president of the John Day Highway Improvement Association and was an active member of the Gilliam County Tax Reduction League. During the early years of the Great Depression, Fatland was chairman of the Gilliam County Debt Adjustment Committee, an organization that helped farmers reduce their mortgage payments and other debts to save their farms from foreclosure.
In addition, Fatland was active in a number of civic and fraternal organizations. He was a member of the local Masonic lodge, American Legion, and the local grange.
State representative
In 1934, Fatland decided to run for a District 22 seat the Oregon House of Representatives, representing Gilliam, Morrow, Sherman, and Wheeler counties. While incumbent Jesse O. Turner of Heppner also filed as a Republican, no Democrats joined the race. Because there were two seats in House District 22, political parties were able to nominate two candidates in the primary election so both Fatland and Turner were advanced to the general election."Interest Slight in May", Hepner Gazette Times, Heppner, Oregon, April 26, 1934, p. 4. While there were no Democrats on the primary ballot, Hanson Hughes won the Democratic nomination with 49 write-in votes."Dunne, Martin Up; Sales Tax Licked", Hepner Gazette Times, Heppner, Oregon, May 24, 1934, p. 1.
After winning the Democratic primary with write-in votes, Hughes dropped out of race before the general election, leaving only the two Republicans. However, because there had been a Democratic nominee, county commissioners from the four counties represented by District 22 were charged with selecting a replacement candidate for the Democratic ticket. They chose Paul Lynch."Hanson Hughes Out of Representative Race", Hepner Gazette Times, Heppner, Oregon, October 4, 1934, p. 1."Lynch Runs for Legislature as Hughes Refuses", Oregon Statesman, Salem, Oregon, October 23, 1934, p. 10. In the general election, Fatland and Lynch won the two District 22 seats. "Martin Wins Here in Taking Office", Hepner Gazette Times, Heppner, Oregon, November 8, 1934, p. 1. "Many Changes in List for New Legislature", Oregon Statesman, Salem, Oregon, November 11, 1934, p. 5.
Fatland took his seat in the Oregon House on January 14, 1935, representing District 22. He served through the 1955 regular legislative session which ended on March 13. During the session, Fatland was appointed to the agriculture, highways and highway revenues, alcoholic control, education, and game committees. As a member of the legislature, Fatland became a strong advocate for increased highway construction in eastern Oregon."1935 Regular Session (38th): January 14 – March 13", Oregon Legislators and Staff Guide, Oregon State Archives, Salem, Oregon, accessed December 22, 2020."Martin Wins Here in Taking Office", Hepner Gazette Times, Heppner, Oregon, January 17, 1935, p. 1."Law Makers Busy in Salem", Gates City Journal, Nyssa, Oregon, February 7, 1935, p. 1.
After the close of the 1935 regular session, Representative Lynch resigned from the legislature. County commissioners from the four District 22 counties selected Giles L. French, a Republican, to replace Lynch. Later that year, Fatland and French participated in a special legislative session. The special session began on October 21 and lasted through November 9.
In 1936, Fatland announced his decision to run for re-election in House District 22. He was joined by fellow incumbent Republican Giles French. Two Democrats, Hanson Hughes and I. D. Gray also filed in District 22. Because there were two seats in District 22, the two Republicans and both Democrats were advanced to the general election."Candidates have Four Days to File", Hepner Gazette Times, Heppner, Oregon, March 26, 1936, p. 1."H. Hughes Files for State Legislature", Hepner Gazette Times, Heppner, Oregon, April 2, 1936, p. 1. In the general election, Fatland and French won the two District 22 seats. Fatland received 2,344 votes while French got 1,946; Hughes was third with 1,725 and Gray trailed behind with 1,573 votes."Roosevelt Takes County Heavily", Hepner Gazette Times, Heppner, Oregon, November 5, 1936, p. 1.
Oregon's 1937 regular legislative session opened on January 11, 1937. Fatland served through the legislative assembly which ended on March 8. During the session, he was appointed vice chairman of alcoholic control committee. He was also a member of the agriculture, highways and highway revenues, education, labor and industry, and game committees."1937 Regular Session (39th): January 11 – March 8", Oregon Legislators and Staff Guide, Oregon State Archives, Salem, Oregon, accessed December 22, 2020."District Legislators Given Assignments", Hepner Gazette Times, Heppner, Oregon, January 14, 1937, p. 1.
In early 1938, Fatland announced his re-election bid. Fellow incumbent Giles French also filed as a Republican in District 22. No Democrats filed in the District, so Fatland and French were unopposed in both the Republican primary and the general election."Giles L. French Gives Voters Break", Hepner Gazette Times, Heppner, Oregon, May 12, 1938, p. 4."Largest Increase as Registration Ends", Hepner Gazette Times, Heppner, Oregon, October 13, 1938, p. 1.
After the general election in November, Fatland began consolidating his support for the House speaker position. The Oregon House had a 48 to 12 Republican majority heading into the 1939 session. As a result, it was clear that a Republican would be speaker. There were three other Republicans seeking the position, Walter Fuhrer of Salem, Earl Hill of Lane County, and Frank Lonergan of Portland. By early December, Fatland had locked up enough votes from his colleagues to ensure his election as speaker."State Capital News", Hepner Gazette Times, Heppner, Oregon, November 17, 1938, p. 5."Slated Speaker", Hepner Gazette Times, Heppner, Oregon, December 8, 1938, p. 1."Eastern Oregon Men Get Speakership in Senate, House", Nyssa Gates City Journal, Nyssa, Oregon, December 8, 1938, p. 1.
The 1939 legislative session opened on January 9. When the House was organized, Fatland was elected speaker. The same day, he made the House committee appointments. "1939 Regular Session (40th): January 9 – March 15", Oregon Legislators and Staff Guide, Oregon State Archives, Salem, Oregon, accessed December 22, 2020."New Governor Keynotes Management, Suggests Plans for Better Distribution of School Monies, Other Funds; Industrial Peace to be Prime Aim", Eugene Guard, Eugene, Oregon, January 9, 1939, p. 1. It proved to be a routine session until the final week when there was a push by several legislators to pass a bill that would have placed a sales tax referendum before voters. Fatland killed the bill by preventing it from reaching the House floor."Complete List of House Committees", Albany Democrat-Herald, Albany, Oregon, March 16, 1939, p. 1. The session finally closed on March 15.
After the 1939 legislative session ended, Fatland and Senate President Robert M. Duncan automatically became co-chairmen of the Legislative Emergency Board. The emergency board is a powerful legislative committee that acts on behalf of the entire legislature when that body is out of session. Fatland and Duncan appointed selected legislators to serve on the board for the remainder of the biennium."Capital News", Hepner Gazette Times, Heppner, Oregon, March 23, 1939, p. 7.