Paul Martin Pearson
This article includes a list of general references, but it lacks sufficient corresponding inline citations. (August 2010) |
Paul Martin Pearson | |
---|---|
Born | Litchfield, Illinois, U.S. | October 22, 1871
Died | March 26, 1938 San Francisco, California, U.S.[1] | (aged 66)
Occupation(s) | Author, college professor |
Spouse |
Edna Wolfe (m. 1896) |
Children | 3, including Drew |
Paul Martin Pearson (October 22, 1871 – March 26, 1938) was a college professor, author, editor of journals, the first civilian
Pearson was born in
During World War I, he was responsible for the YMCA education programs in United States Army cantonments.
In 1869, he was married to Edna Rachel Wolfe Pearson (1874-1942), with whom he had four children, the oldest son being Drew Pearson, the well-known newspaper columnist and radio host.[citation needed]
Governor of the Virgin Islands
In 1931, Pearson was appointed by President Herbert Hoover to be the first civilian Governor of the United States Virgin Islands.[2] His new government, inaugurated March 18, 1931, was given $763,000 ($8.5 million in inflation-adjusted 2005 dollars) to try and shore up the islands' finances which were badly hurt by Prohibition. (The primary export had been rum.) They were also given the task of replacing all military-government officials with new civilian ones, a task which they were required to complete within the first six months. President Hoover visited the Virgin Islands (and Puerto Rico) as a show of support for the new civilian administration.
Herbert Brown denouncement
Less than a year after taking office, friction developed between the Governor and
Financial problems also plagued Pearson during his time as governor as the US government was providing $200,000 annually for aid. In November 1932, he proposed to Congress that the islands be allowed to export rum again, but only to foreigners so as not to violate Prohibition. However, this became moot when the 21st Amendment was ratified the following year.
Pearson continued to be unpopular with the locals, especially after passing a law which taxed all imported products from the United States at 5%. On October 19, 1933, the populace of the Virgin Islands voted in a popular
Investigations
In November 1934, a scandal erupted as Pearson's executive assistant,
In 1935 Pearson returned to the mainland to work for the new United States Housing Authority. On February 28, 1938, he suffered a stroke while on a business trip to California to urge passage of a law to permit public housing in that State. He died a month later.[3]
References
- ^ "Milestones, Apr. 4, 1938 - TIME".
- ISSN 0040-781X. Retrieved 2022-12-16.
- ^ "Paul M. Pearson Papers". Friends Historical Library of Swarthmore College.
- "Virgin Islands Get a Civil Government; Hoover Names Dr. P.M. Pearson Governor". New York Times. Jan 31, 1931. p. 1.
- "President Appoints Civilian Governor of Virgin Islands". The Washington Post. Jan 31, 1931. p. 1.
- "SAIL TODAY TO SET UP VIRGIN ISLAND REGIME". New York Times. Mar 12, 1931. p. 13.
- "THRONG GREETS CIVIL GOVERNOR IN VIRGIN ISLES". Chicago Daily Tribune. Mar 18, 1931. p. 5.
- "BROWN QUITS AS EXTRA GOVERNOR OF VIRGIN ISLES". Chicago Daily Tribune. Jun 1, 1931. p. 11.
- "VIRGIN ISLANDS AGAIN IN ROLE OF CASUS BELLI". Chicago Daily Tribune. Jun 7, 1931. p. 6.
- "VIRGIN ISLANDS HEAD ASSAILED BY SPONSOR". New York Times. Aug 4, 1931. p. 22.
- "PEARSON WINS FIRST BRUSH IN TIFF WITH BROWN". Chicago Daily Tribune. Aug 5, 1931. p. 18.
- "Virgin Islands Vote on Pearson. Exclusive". Los Angeles Times. Oct 20, 1933. p. 1.
- "P.M. PEARSON BANKRUPT". New York Times. Feb 22, 1934. p. 10.
- "VIRGIN ISLANDS SCANDAL BRINGS FEDERAL QUIZ". Chicago Daily Tribune. Nov 1, 1934. p. 6.
- "NEW INQUIRY MOVE ON VIRGIN ISLANDS". New York Times. Jan 21, 1935. p. 7.
- "Virgin Islands Inquiry Voted". Los Angeles Times. Mar 1, 1935. p. 3.
- "TYDINGS TO HEAD INQUIRY". New York Times. Apr 4, 1935. p. 11.
- "ISLANDS GET NEW RULER". Los Angeles Times. Jul 24, 1935. p. 13.