Lawrence William Cramer
Encyclopedia
Lawrence William Cramer (December 26, 1897–1978) was the second civilian Governor of the United States Virgin Islands.
Cramer was born in New Orleans, Louisiana
. He graduated from the University of Wisconsin–Madison and obtained a master's degree
from Columbia University
. He then spent two years in the United States Army
during World War I
and was wounded in battle. After the war, he returned as a professor of Government at Columbia University and wrote a book about the diplomatic background of the war.
Cramer was Lieutenant Governor
under Paul Martin Pearson
since 1931. Both he and Pearson were subpoena
ed to appear in Washington, D.C.
before the Senate
regarding a scandal / political dispute that ultimately resulted in the forced resignation of Pearson and the appointment of Cramer as full governor on August 21, 1935. After his appointment, the Senate hearings continued and Robert Herrick
was made acting-Governor.
Before Cramer was even installed, he had been tainted by his predecessor's reputation. The Islands' Colonial Council voted on July 29, 1935, to petition President
Franklin D. Roosevelt
to bring the Islands back under the control of the United States Navy
, as it had been prior to 1931.
After his inauguration, however, Cramer made some positive moves which quelled fears. First, he was sworn in by a native judge and not a mainland one. He announced stepped-up rum
exporting plans and petitioned the Department of the Interior for increased home rule for the territory. He also petitioned for universal suffrage
. These moves were successful and the moves to oust Cranmer ceased.
However, his difficulties resurfaced in 1937 as the Legislative Assembly of the United States Virgin Islands met for the first time and refused to consider eight of the nine bills he asked them to vote on. Cramer continued to have difficulties with the Assembly over tax law and other matters.
He resigned as governor in December, 1941. Cramer later served as executive secretary of the President's Committee on Fair Employment Practices during World War II.
Cramer's Park, a popular beach on St. Croix, U.S. Virgin Islands is named after him.
Cramer was born in New Orleans, Louisiana
New Orleans, Louisiana
New Orleans is a major United States port and the largest city and metropolitan area in the state of Louisiana. The New Orleans metropolitan area has a population of 1,235,650 as of 2009, the 46th largest in the USA. The New Orleans – Metairie – Bogalusa combined statistical area has a population...
. He graduated from the University of Wisconsin–Madison and obtained a master's degree
Master's degree
A master's is an academic degree granted to individuals who have undergone study demonstrating a mastery or high-order overview of a specific field of study or area of professional practice...
from Columbia University
Columbia University
Columbia University in the City of New York is a private, Ivy League university in Manhattan, New York City. Columbia is the oldest institution of higher learning in the state of New York, the fifth oldest in the United States, and one of the country's nine Colonial Colleges founded before the...
. He then spent two years in the United States Army
United States Army
The United States Army is the main branch of the United States Armed Forces responsible for land-based military operations. It is the largest and oldest established branch of the U.S. military, and is one of seven U.S. uniformed services...
during World War I
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
and was wounded in battle. After the war, he returned as a professor of Government at Columbia University and wrote a book about the diplomatic background of the war.
Cramer was Lieutenant Governor
Lieutenant Governor of the United States Virgin Islands
The following is a list of Lieutenant Governors of the United States Virgin Islands.*David Earle Maas - Republican...
under Paul Martin Pearson
Paul Martin Pearson
Dr. Paul Martin Pearson was an author, college professor, and a very embattled first civilian Governor of the United States Virgin Islands....
since 1931. Both he and Pearson were subpoena
Subpoena
A subpoena is a writ by a government agency, most often a court, that has authority to compel testimony by a witness or production of evidence under a penalty for failure. There are two common types of subpoena:...
ed to appear in Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C., formally the District of Columbia and commonly referred to as Washington, "the District", or simply D.C., is the capital of the United States. On July 16, 1790, the United States Congress approved the creation of a permanent national capital as permitted by the U.S. Constitution....
before the Senate
United States Senate
The United States Senate is the upper house of the bicameral legislature of the United States, and together with the United States House of Representatives comprises the United States Congress. The composition and powers of the Senate are established in Article One of the U.S. Constitution. Each...
regarding a scandal / political dispute that ultimately resulted in the forced resignation of Pearson and the appointment of Cramer as full governor on August 21, 1935. After his appointment, the Senate hearings continued and Robert Herrick
Robert Herrick (novelist)
Robert Welch Herrick was a novelist who was part of a new generation of American realists. His novels deal with the turbulence of industrialized society and the turmoil it can create in sensitive, isolated people...
was made acting-Governor.
Before Cramer was even installed, he had been tainted by his predecessor's reputation. The Islands' Colonial Council voted on July 29, 1935, to petition President
President of the United States
The President of the United States of America is the head of state and head of government of the United States. The president leads the executive branch of the federal government and is the commander-in-chief of the United States Armed Forces....
Franklin D. Roosevelt
Franklin D. Roosevelt
Franklin Delano Roosevelt , also known by his initials, FDR, was the 32nd President of the United States and a central figure in world events during the mid-20th century, leading the United States during a time of worldwide economic crisis and world war...
to bring the Islands back under the control of the United States Navy
United States Navy
The United States Navy is the naval warfare service branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the seven uniformed services of the United States. The U.S. Navy is the largest in the world; its battle fleet tonnage is greater than that of the next 13 largest navies combined. The U.S...
, as it had been prior to 1931.
After his inauguration, however, Cramer made some positive moves which quelled fears. First, he was sworn in by a native judge and not a mainland one. He announced stepped-up rum
Rum
Rum is a distilled alcoholic beverage made from sugarcane by-products such as molasses, or directly from sugarcane juice, by a process of fermentation and distillation. The distillate, a clear liquid, is then usually aged in oak barrels...
exporting plans and petitioned the Department of the Interior for increased home rule for the territory. He also petitioned for universal suffrage
Universal suffrage
Universal suffrage consists of the extension of the right to vote to adult citizens as a whole, though it may also mean extending said right to minors and non-citizens...
. These moves were successful and the moves to oust Cranmer ceased.
However, his difficulties resurfaced in 1937 as the Legislative Assembly of the United States Virgin Islands met for the first time and refused to consider eight of the nine bills he asked them to vote on. Cramer continued to have difficulties with the Assembly over tax law and other matters.
He resigned as governor in December, 1941. Cramer later served as executive secretary of the President's Committee on Fair Employment Practices during World War II.
Cramer's Park, a popular beach on St. Croix, U.S. Virgin Islands is named after him.