Herbert Hadley (R)

Overview

At a Glance

• Promoted legislation to improve public health and safety
• Successfully advocated for expanded duties of the State Board of Health
• Created the office of State Food and Drug Commissioner
• Promoted conservation of Missouri resources, created fish and game commission, and game protection board
• Penal reforms: focus on rehabilitation; steps to abolish convict labor; reduced overcrowding; supervised prison-release program
• Endorsed establishment of county juvenile courts
• Unsuccessful in attempt to create a public service commission

Personal History

Herbert Spencer Hadley was born in Olathe, Kansas, to John Milton Hadley and Harriet Beach Hadley. His education began in the public schools of Olathe and continued at the University of Kansas, eventually leading him to Northwestern University Law School in Chicago. While at Northwestern, Hadley developed his public speaking skills as a collegiate debater and played a key role in establishing the Northwestern Law Review. After graduating from law school, he entered private legal practice in Kansas City, Missouri.

Hadley served as governor until 1913 before joining a law firm in Kansas City, where he continued to advance his legal career. He also served as special counsel to the Interstate Commerce Commission from 1913 to 1916. In 1917, for health reasons, Hadley relocated to Colorado, where he began teaching at the law school at the University of Colorado. During this time, he served as special counsel for the Colorado State Railway Commission from 1919 to 1921. However, in 1923, Hadley returned to Missouri to accept the position of chancellor at Washington University in St. Louis, where he would influence many future legal professionals.

In his later years, Hadley focused on advocating for legal reform. He became a member of both the Council on Legal Education of the American Bar Association and the Council of the American Law Institute. His contributions to the latter organization included helping to draft a model code of criminal procedure aimed at modernizing and streamlining legal practices. Additionally, Hadley was part of a distinguished group of legal scholars who contributed to "The New Federalist," a publication by the American Bar Association designed to update the original Federalist Papers by Alexander Hamilton, James Madison, and John Jay. He also chaired the National Crime Commission's committee on criminal procedures and was one of the authors of the Missouri Crime Survey (1926). The findings and recommendations from this survey played a crucial role in establishing an intermediate reformatory and a parole board, which were key components of Missouri's penal reform efforts.

Throughout his distinguished career, Hadley received several honorary degrees, including those from Northwestern University in 1909, the University of Missouri in 1910, and Harvard University in 1925. He was also a prominent organizer of several important groups, such as the Knife and Fork Club of Kansas City, the Young Republicans Association of Missouri, and the National Association of Attorneys General.

On October 8, 1901, Hadley married Agnes Lee, and together they had three children. Despite his professional successes, Hadley struggled with chronic health issues, including pulmonary problems and a weak heart. He passed away in St. Louis in 1927 and was laid to rest at Riverview Cemetery in Jefferson City, leaving behind a legacy of legal reform and public service.

Political History

Hadley's political career began in 1898 when he was appointed assistant city counselor for Kansas City. Shortly thereafter, he became involved with the Missouri Republican Club, rising to the position of vice president. Drawing on his background as a trial lawyer and the connections he developed within the club, Hadley successfully campaigned for the position of prosecuting attorney for Jackson County in 1900. During his two years in office, he earned a reputation as a vigorous prosecutor, gaining notable recognition for his investigations into jury tampering within the civil court system and spearheading a campaign to suppress public gambling. Although he was defeated in his bid for re-election in 1902, Hadley accepted a role as legal counsel for the Metropolitan Street Railway of Kansas City. He experienced a resurgence in his political fortunes in 1904, leveraging the Roosevelt Republican landslide in Missouri to secure a four-year term as attorney general.

As attorney general, Hadley approached his new role with the same vigor he had demonstrated as prosecuting attorney, tackling major corporations that violated state and federal laws. His tenure was marked by antitrust lawsuits against powerful entities including the Standard Oil Corporation, the International Harvester Corporation, and the Association of Lumber Manufacturers, as well as various insurance and meat-packing companies. In addition, Hadley prosecuted Standard Oil for violating Missouri’s antitrust laws. He uncovered evidence that Standard Oil, through three subsidiaries, had unlawfully divided Missouri into trading zones for anti-competitive purposes. Hadley pursued the case across five states and called 119 witnesses, including high-ranking officials from Standard Oil. Ultimately, on December 23, 1908, the Missouri Supreme Court ruled in Hadley’s favor, barring the three corporations from doing business in Missouri and imposing a penalty of $50,000 against each. This landmark case not only solidified Hadley’s reputation as a progressive reformer but also provided vital evidence for similar prosecutions against Standard Oil in other jurisdictions and under the Sherman Anti-Trust Act at the federal level.

Hadley’s accomplishments as attorney general extended beyond antitrust cases. He also successfully litigated against railroad companies that violated Missouri's maximum freight rate and passenger fare laws. The evidence gathered in these cases influenced the state board of equalization to increase the tax assessments on various railroad companies. In collaboration with Governor Joseph W. Folk, Hadley worked to enforce Sunday-closing laws in St. Louis. His strong record as a reformer, combined with the publicity surrounding the Standard Oil case, positioned him favorably for the governor’s race in 1908, where he defeated Democrat William Cowherd by nearly 16,000 votes.

Identifying with the Theodore Roosevelt faction of the national Republican Party, Hadley served as the floor leader for the Roosevelt forces at the Republican National Convention in 1912. Although William Howard Taft secured the nomination, Hadley’s influence continued to be felt in Missouri politics.

Although voters associated Hadley with progressive ideals and a reform agenda, the Democratic Party's control of the Senate in 1909-1910 and the House in 1911-1912 hindered his ability to implement his full vision. His proposals for enhancing state revenue, granting home rule to larger cities, creating a public service commission, and establishing a state immigration commission were largely dismissed by the legislature. However, Gov. Hadley, through the legislature, expanded the responsibilities of the State Board of Health, established the Office of State Food and Drug Commissioner, regulated working hours for women, enhanced safety inspections for mines, and created the Board of Nurse Examiners.

Hadley's administration also made notable strides in conservation during a period when Missouri’s land and water resources were being depleted, and wildlife was vanishing due to over-exploitation. He instituted a fish and game commission and a game protection board, while the legislature approved the creation of a Missouri waterways commission, allocating $50,000 for the study of waterways, land drainage, and land reclamation.

Partisan divisions characterized the final two years of Hadley’s tenure, but one area of success was penal reform. The legislature enacted a new penal code that included a supervised prisoner-release program aimed at rehabilitating inmates and reducing overcrowding in prisons. Additionally, steps were taken to abolish the use of state prisoners for convict labor. A special commission, established with Gov. Hadley’s strong endorsement, recommended the creation of juvenile courts in counties with populations exceeding 50,000.

Historical Significance

Hadley’s extensive experience with the American Bar Association and his previous role as a prosecutor in Jackson County likely shaped his commitment to penal reform during his governorship. His administration successfully enacted a new penal code that included a supervised prisoner-release program aimed at rehabilitating inmates and alleviating the overcrowding in Missouri's prisons. Additionally, significant measures were taken to abolish the convict labor system for state prisoners, reflecting his progressive vision of a more humane and rehabilitative approach to criminal justice.

Overall, the Hadley administration not only advanced progressive legislation enhancing public health and safety but also laid the groundwork for future reforms by expanding infrastructure and regulatory frameworks.