Moses Alexander
Encyclopedia
Moses Alexander was the second elected Jewish governor of a US state (c.f. Washington Bartlett
), serving as the 11th Governor of Idaho from 1915 until 1919. He was Idaho's first and so far only Jewish Governor.
, Bavaria. He emigrated to the United States in 1867 and settled in New York City, but within a year accepted an invitation from his cousin to work in a clothing store in Chillicothe, Missouri
. Alexander showed a talent for the business and was made a partner in the store in 1874. In 1876, he married Helena (née Hedwig) Kaestner, a Christian immigrant from Germany who converted to Judaism.
In Chillicothe Alexander showed an early interest in Democratic
politics, particularly within the progressive
wing of the party. In 1886, he was elected to the Chillicothe City Council. The next year, Alexander was elected mayor and served two terms. His primary concern as mayor was addressing the city's dire financial situation.
In 1891, Alexander left Chillicothe with the intention of moving to Alaska
. While en route, he made a stop in Boise, Idaho, to look at its investment opportunities. Based on that, he abandoned his plans in Alaska and settled in Boise instead. In July 1891, Alexander opened the first of several clothing stores on the corner of Ninth and Main in Boise.
In 1895, Alexander led an effort to build Ahavath Beth Israel synagogue, the first in Idaho. Completed in 1896, today Ahavath Beth Israel is the oldest synagogue in continuous use west of the Mississippi River
.
In 1908, Alexander was declared the Democratic nominee for governor in a bitterly contested nomination process which required intervention by the Idaho Supreme Court. However, he was defeated in the general election by Republican
nominee James H. Brady
. Alexander was offered the nomination again in 1910, but declined due to poor health.
In 1914, Alexander entered the gubernatorial race on a platform strongly supporting
prohibition
and limited government spending. Alexander won the general election against Republican incumbent John M. Haines
thanks, in part, to a misappropriation scandal in the state treasurer's office that dogged the Republican ticket.
Alexander was reelected in 1916, over his Republican opponent D. W. Davis
by only 572 votes, the closest gubernatorial election in Idaho history.
became common practice in Idaho in the ensuing years.
World War I was another central issue during Alexander's administration. Alexander pledged state militia troops to both the war cause and to the Mexican Expedition
against Pancho Villa
. Despite rampant anti-German hysteria in Idaho during the period, Alexander himself was never thought of as unpatriotic even though he was born in present-day Germany.
and Progressive
H. F. Samuels
.
Throughout the 1920s, Alexander remained active with the Idaho Democratic Party
as a speaker and delegate to Democratic National Convention
s. He made his last public appearance for the Democrats on December 29, 1931, less than a week before his death in Boise
. Alexander is buried in Morris Hill Cemetery in Boise.
Washington Bartlett
Washington Montgomery Bartlett was the 20th Mayor of San Francisco, California from 1883–1887 and was California's first and to date only Jewish Governor of California.- Life and career :...
), serving as the 11th Governor of Idaho from 1915 until 1919. He was Idaho's first and so far only Jewish Governor.
Early life and career
Alexander was born in ObrigheimObrigheim
Obrigheim is a town in the district of Neckar-Odenwald-Kreis, in Baden-Württemberg, Germany....
, Bavaria. He emigrated to the United States in 1867 and settled in New York City, but within a year accepted an invitation from his cousin to work in a clothing store in Chillicothe, Missouri
Chillicothe, Missouri
Chillicothe is a city in and the county seat of Livingston County, Missouri, United States. The population was 9,515 at the 2010 census. The name "Chillicothe" is Shawnee for "big town", and was named after their Chillicothe, located since 1774 about a mile from the present-day city.Chillicothe is...
. Alexander showed a talent for the business and was made a partner in the store in 1874. In 1876, he married Helena (née Hedwig) Kaestner, a Christian immigrant from Germany who converted to Judaism.
In Chillicothe Alexander showed an early interest in Democratic
Democratic Party (United States)
The Democratic Party is one of two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Republican Party. The party's socially liberal and progressive platform is largely considered center-left in the U.S. political spectrum. The party has the lengthiest record of continuous...
politics, particularly within the progressive
Progressivism in the United States
Progressivism in the United States is a broadly based reform movement that reached its height early in the 20th century and is generally considered to be middle class and reformist in nature. It arose as a response to the vast changes brought by modernization, such as the growth of large...
wing of the party. In 1886, he was elected to the Chillicothe City Council. The next year, Alexander was elected mayor and served two terms. His primary concern as mayor was addressing the city's dire financial situation.
In 1891, Alexander left Chillicothe with the intention of moving to Alaska
Alaska
Alaska is the largest state in the United States by area. It is situated in the northwest extremity of the North American continent, with Canada to the east, the Arctic Ocean to the north, and the Pacific Ocean to the west and south, with Russia further west across the Bering Strait...
. While en route, he made a stop in Boise, Idaho, to look at its investment opportunities. Based on that, he abandoned his plans in Alaska and settled in Boise instead. In July 1891, Alexander opened the first of several clothing stores on the corner of Ninth and Main in Boise.
In 1895, Alexander led an effort to build Ahavath Beth Israel synagogue, the first in Idaho. Completed in 1896, today Ahavath Beth Israel is the oldest synagogue in continuous use west of the Mississippi River
Mississippi River
The Mississippi River is the largest river system in North America. Flowing entirely in the United States, this river rises in western Minnesota and meanders slowly southwards for to the Mississippi River Delta at the Gulf of Mexico. With its many tributaries, the Mississippi's watershed drains...
.
Political Career in Idaho
In 1897, Alexander was elected mayor of Boise. He chose not to run for reelection in 1899, but was elected again in 1901. During his terms as mayor, Boise's volunteer fire department was reorganized into a professional body, anti-gambling ordinances were passed and other city improvements were made.In 1908, Alexander was declared the Democratic nominee for governor in a bitterly contested nomination process which required intervention by the Idaho Supreme Court. However, he was defeated in the general election by Republican
Republican Party (United States)
The Republican Party is one of the two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Democratic Party. Founded by anti-slavery expansion activists in 1854, it is often called the GOP . The party's platform generally reflects American conservatism in the U.S...
nominee James H. Brady
James H. Brady
James Henry Brady was a U.S. politician from the Republican Party. He served as the eighth Governor of Idaho from 1909 to 1911 and a United States Senator representing Idaho from 1913 until his death.-Biography:...
. Alexander was offered the nomination again in 1910, but declined due to poor health.
In 1914, Alexander entered the gubernatorial race on a platform strongly supporting
prohibition
Prohibition
Prohibition of alcohol, often referred to simply as prohibition, is the practice of prohibiting the manufacture, transportation, import, export, sale, and consumption of alcohol and alcoholic beverages. The term can also apply to the periods in the histories of the countries during which the...
and limited government spending. Alexander won the general election against Republican incumbent John M. Haines
John M. Haines
John Michiner Haines was the tenth Governor of Idaho from 1913 until 1915. Prior to being elected governor he served as mayor of Boise from 1907 to 1909....
thanks, in part, to a misappropriation scandal in the state treasurer's office that dogged the Republican ticket.
Alexander was reelected in 1916, over his Republican opponent D. W. Davis
D. W. Davis
David William Davis was the 12th Governor of Idaho, serving from 1919 to 1923.Davis was born in Cardiff, Wales. His family immigrated to the United States in 1875, and settled in Rippey, Iowa...
by only 572 votes, the closest gubernatorial election in Idaho history.
Governor
Upon taking office, Alexander set to work immediately on making Idaho a dry state. As of January 1, 1916, prohibition was law in Idaho. Alexander continued to be an ardent prohibition supporter even though bootleggingRum-running
Rum-running, also known as bootlegging, is the illegal business of transporting alcoholic beverages where such transportation is forbidden by law...
became common practice in Idaho in the ensuing years.
World War I was another central issue during Alexander's administration. Alexander pledged state militia troops to both the war cause and to the Mexican Expedition
Pancho Villa Expedition
The Pancho Villa Expedition—officially known in the United States as the Mexican Expedition and sometimes colloquially referred to as the Punitive Expedition—was a military operation conducted by the United States Army against the paramilitary forces of Mexican insurgent Francisco "Pancho" Villa...
against Pancho Villa
Pancho Villa
José Doroteo Arango Arámbula – better known by his pseudonym Francisco Villa or its hypocorism Pancho Villa – was one of the most prominent Mexican Revolutionary generals....
. Despite rampant anti-German hysteria in Idaho during the period, Alexander himself was never thought of as unpatriotic even though he was born in present-day Germany.
Later years
Alexander did not run for reelection in 1918. He was the Democratic nominee for governor again in 1922, but was not able to campaign as vigorously as he had before. That year, Alexander finished third in the general election behind Republican Charles C. MooreCharles C. Moore
Charles Calvin Moore was the 13th Governor of Idaho, serving from 1923 until 1927.Moore served in the Idaho Legislature as a member of the Idaho State House of Representatives from 1903 to 1906. He was elected the 14th Lieutenant Governor of Idaho in 1918 and served in that capacity during the...
and Progressive
Progressive Party (United States, 1912)
The Progressive Party of 1912 was an American political party. It was formed after a split in the Republican Party between President William Howard Taft and former President Theodore Roosevelt....
H. F. Samuels
H. F. Samuels
H. F. Samuels was the leading spokesman of the Idaho chapter of the Non-Partisan League and later the Idaho Progressive Party in the 1910s and 1920s.Samuels became a multi-millionaire in the mining industry in northern Idaho...
.
Throughout the 1920s, Alexander remained active with the Idaho Democratic Party
Idaho Democratic Party
The Idaho Democratic Party is an Idaho political party affiliated with the United States Democratic Party. Although the party has been in the minority for most of the state's history, it has produced several notable public figures, including the late U.S...
as a speaker and delegate to Democratic National Convention
Democratic National Convention
The Democratic National Convention is a series of presidential nominating conventions held every four years since 1832 by the United States Democratic Party. They have been administered by the Democratic National Committee since the 1852 national convention...
s. He made his last public appearance for the Democrats on December 29, 1931, less than a week before his death in Boise
Boise, Idaho
Boise is the capital and most populous city of the U.S. state of Idaho, as well as the county seat of Ada County. Located on the Boise River, it anchors the Boise City-Nampa metropolitan area and is the largest city between Salt Lake City, Utah and Portland, Oregon.As of the 2010 Census Bureau,...
. Alexander is buried in Morris Hill Cemetery in Boise.