Henry Stewart Caulfield (R)

Overview

At a Glance

• Created Missouri State Highway Patrol (1931)
• Passed the School Law of 1931
• Established a blue-ribbon commission to review state government, schools and state institutions, to determine why Missouri was failing to thrive

Personal History

Henry S. Caulfield was born in St. Louis and embarked on his education at St. Charles College before transferring to Washington University, where he earned his law degree in 1895. That same year, he was admitted to the Missouri Bar, marking the beginning of his professional journey in law.

In 1902, Caulfield married Fannie Alice Delano, who hailed from Cuba, Missouri, and together they raised a family that included three daughters and a son. His commitment to public service began in 1906 and extended nearly fifty years, reflecting his dedication to his community and his values.

As a Lincoln Republican, Caulfield witnessed significant social changes throughout his life, including the desegregation of Missouri's public education system and the early developments of the civil rights movement. He passed away and was buried in Oak Grove Cemetery in St. Louis, leaving behind a legacy of service and commitment to justice.

Political History

Caulfield's law practice thrived, allowing him to secure the nomination and subsequent election in 1906 as the Republican representative for Missouri's 11th District in Congress. However, he chose not to seek a second term and returned to St. Louis to integrate his legal career with public service. Over the years, he held various roles, including excise commissioner of St. Louis from 1909 to 1910, judge of the St. Louis Court of Appeals from 1910 to 1912, and member of the St. Louis Public Library Board from 1918 to 1921. Later, he served as city counselor from 1921 to 1922 and was a member and chair of the St. Louis Board of Freeholders from 1925 to 1926.

In 1928, Caulfield captured the Republican nomination for governor and triumphed over Democratic challenger Francis M. Wilson amid a national Republican sweep. His administration began with significant optimism, bolstered by party support and the benefits of the prosperous economy of the 1920s. In his inaugural address in January 1929, Caulfield embraced the legacy of Lincoln, candidly acknowledging the state's failure to provide equal educational opportunities for Black citizens. He highlighted that approximately 4,000 Black children were excluded from white schools and lacked adequate access to Black schools. Furthermore, he criticized the University of Missouri for its exclusionary policies and the insufficient funding of Lincoln University, which rendered it ineffective.

To address these pressing issues, Caulfield called for a comprehensive survey of state government operations and the conditions of state institutions. This led to the release of the "State Survey Report" by a distinguished commission in November 1929, which revealed shortcomings in public education resulting from inadequate taxation. In response, the legislature raised the state income tax from 1 percent to 2 percent in 1931 to better fund essential services.

However, the onset of the Great Depression and a severe drought dramatically shifted the priorities of the Caulfield administration, as tax revenues plummeted while demands for state assistance soared. The legislature passed the School Law of 1931, allowing underfunded school districts to access state aid aimed at meeting minimum standards; unfortunately, this merely prolonged the existence of one-room schools and hindered necessary educational reforms.

Highway safety received attention with the establishment of the State Highway Patrol in 1931, and Caulfield advocated for financial support to assist the needy, with much of the funding coming from federal sources through the Reconstruction Finance Corporation. Nevertheless, inspired by President Herbert Hoover, Caulfield resisted expanding state and federal government roles in combating the Depression, which ultimately led to his selection as the keynote speaker at the 1932 Republican National Convention.

After completing his gubernatorial term in January 1933, Caulfield continued to engage in public service for another three decades. He served on the St. Louis Board of Election Commissioners from February 1937 until May 1938, when he announced his candidacy for the U.S. Senate. Despite winning his party's nomination, he faced a significant defeat against the Democratic incumbent, Bennett Champ Clark.

Caulfield's compassion and administrative skills earned him the position of director of public welfare in St. Louis from 1941 to 1949. After leaving office, he returned to practicing law but took on another public service role in 1953, joining the State Reorganization Commission of Missouri, which aimed to modernize outdated state government operations initially identified in the "State Survey Report" during his time as governor.

Historical Significance

Long before the Civil Rights movement gained momentum in the 1960s, Governor Henry S. Caulfield emerged as a strong advocate for the rights of black residents in Missouri. Although he recognized the significant inequalities faced by their communities, he did not take direct action to remedy these injustices. The critical deficiencies in public education and other areas highlighted in the "State Survey Report" were not fully addressed until nearly twenty years after Caulfield’s administration ended. The findings from this report ultimately led the state legislature to double the income tax rate from one percent to two percent.

Caulfield understood that Missouri's challenges were primarily due to a revenue shortfall that hindered the state's ability to function effectively. He acknowledged that the existing tax structure was inadequate to support essential state institutions and services. By advocating for an increase in the income tax, Caulfield aimed to alleviate the state's budgetary challenges, enabling the government to better respond to the growing demand for services during the hardships of the Great Depression.