George E. Cryer

George E. Cryer

Cryer in 1921
32nd Mayor of Los Angeles
In office
July 1, 1921 – July 1, 1929
Preceded by Meredith P. Snyder
Succeeded by John C. Porter
Personal details
Born George Edward Cryer
May 13, 1875
Waterloo, Douglas County, Nebraska[1]
Died May 24, 1961(1961-05-24) (aged 86)
Los Angeles, California
Political party Republican
Spouse(s) Isabel Grace Gay
Children Edward Gay Cryer and Catherine Christine Cryer
Residence Los Angeles, California
Alma mater University of Michigan
Religion Presbyterian[1]

George Edward Cryer (May 13, 1875 – May 24, 1961) was an American lawyer and politician. A Republican, Cryer served as the 32nd Mayor of Los Angeles from 1921 to 1929, a period of rapid growth in the city's population. During his administration, the Los Angeles City Hall and Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum were built, and the city's population surpassed 1,000,000. Prior and subsequent to serving as mayor, he was a lawyer. Between 1929 and 1931, Cryer became engaged in a widely publicized libel court case with the Reverend Robert P. Shuler, a radio evangelist who accused Cryer of being a "grafter" who had entered office a poor man and left office a millionaire.

Early years

Born on a farm in Waterloo, Douglas County, Nebraska, Cryer moved to southern California with his family in 1885. He was educated in the Redlands and Pasadena public schools and graduated from Los Angeles High School.[2] When the Spanish–American War was declared in 1898, Cryer volunteered and served as a private in Company G, Seventh California Infantry. He was mustered out with rank of sergeant.[1][2][3]

After his military service, Cryer enrolled at the University of Michigan Law School where he was the assistant editor of the Michigan Law Review.[2] He graduated with honors and began the practice of law in Los Angeles in 1903.[2][4] In September 1906, Cryer married Isabel Grace Gay.[1] Mrs. Cryer was also a graduate of the University of Michigan, though the two did not meet until they were both residents of Los Angeles.[4] Cryer and his wife had a son, Edward Gay Cryer (born. c. 1912) and a daughter, Catherine Christine Cryer (born c. 1915).[4]

Cryer's first public office was as first assistant United States Attorney, a position he held from approximately 1910–1912.[1][2] He then served as the chief assistant Los Angeles City Attorney (1912–1913) and the chief deputy Los Angeles County District Attorney (1915–1919).[2][5] He gained fame for prosecution of public corruption. In 1917, he was the prosecutor in the corruption case brought against Los Angeles County Supervisor Richard H. Norton.[6]

Mayor of Los Angeles

Cryer was elected mayor of the City of Los Angeles in 1921 in a close election against the incumbent Meredith P. Snyder.[7] Cryer's campaign promised to close the "dens of vice,"[8] and attacked Snyder as being corrupt and unfit to be mayor. The Los Angeles Police Commissioner sent a telegram to the newspapers before the election asking, "Shall crime and protected vice continue, or will the voters and taxpayers elect George E. Cryer mayor?"[9] Cryer billed himself as a non-politician: "I know nothing about politics, and I shall never be a politician. I have an idea that the business of the City of Los Angeles can be conducted like any other business ... quietly, effectively, efficiently."[10] The Los Angeles Times backed Cryer, noting, "To talk with George E. Cryer is to know instinctively that he is not a politician clutching at straws for a 'platform,' but that he is a quiet, effective man who does things."[11]

Cryer was re-elected mayor in 1923 and again in 1925—the latter election was for the first four-year mayoral term. His eight-year administration was a period of explosive population growth, as the city passed 1,000,000 in population, and suburban sprawl began as businesses and residents moved west from the city's historic core.[12] During his administration, large public works projects were launched, including the construction of the Los Angeles City Hall, the Central Library (built at a cost of $2.3 million), the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum, and the Mulholland Highway.[12][13] Cryer delivered the opening address and welcome the opening ceremony for the Coliseum on Armistice Day in 1923,[14] and he led a parade of floats from the countries of the world as part of a ceremony marking the dedication of City Hall. The city also expanded its municipal-owned public utility system (the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power), and Cryer was instrumental in the passage of the legislation that provided for the construction of the Hoover Dam and All-American Canal, providing water and electricity to Los Angeles.[5]

After the St. Francis Dam disaster in 1928, Cryer won national prominence and commendation for promptly accepting the city's responsibility for the disaster and agreeing to pay damages without the necessity of legal proceedings.[1][15][16]

Cryer was also a leader in the successful effort to bring the 1932 Summer Olympic Games to Los Angeles. In May 1924, he declared a city-wide half-day holiday and urged city residents to fill the new Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum to capacity for Olympic try-outs. By filling the Coliseum, Cryer sought to demonstrate the city's desire to host the Olympic games.[17] Cryer led a parade of athletes into the Coliseum for an event that included a boxing exhibition by Jack Dempsey.[18]

Cryer was also an opponent of communism and the activities of the Industrial Workers of the World. On taking office in 1921, Cryer declared: "In this day of 'isms' and I.W.W. agitation, every enemy of our flag and country and institutions is carrying on this insidious propaganda of destruction, and it is, therefore, very necessary and proper that the forces of law and order should be alive, awake, and on guard."[3]

Allegations of corruption

"George E. Cryer Sketched In Action", from the Los Angeles Times, March 26, 1921

Though Cryer had been elected to office as a reformer who would eliminate public corruption, Cryer's administration became the target of corruption claims.[19] Cryer defended his integrity against such charges and asserted when he left office that "Los Angeles is now the cleanest large city in the country, far superior to any city anywhere comparable in size."[20]

Some historical accounts indicate that Cryer was controlled by the city's political boss, Kent Kane Parrot, and a coterie of bootleggers and criminals, including "vice kingpin" Charles H. Crawford (a model for some of Raymond Chandler's villains).[21] Indeed, the loosely organized crime syndicate operating within the city government became known as "the City Hall Gang" during the 1920s.[21] Some have written that Cryer was a mere figurehead and that Parrot was the "de facto mayor" who ran the Harbor Commission and the Los Angeles Police Department, even transferring personnel without consulting with the city's police chief.[21]

Cryer's opponent in 1925 focused attention on Parrot's role in city government: "I ask, as I shall continue to ask through this campaign: 'Mr. Cryer, how much longer is Kent Parrot going to be the de-facto Mayor of Los Angeles'?"[22]

By 1927, the Los Angeles Times was openly critical of the relationship between Parrot and Cryer, referring to Cryer as Parrot's "personal mayor".[23] Though the Times had been a strong backer of Cryer, the paper in 1927 published an editorial referring to the city government as "Our Local Tammany", a reference to Boss Tweed's Tammany Hall machine that controlled New York politics in the 19th Century. The article ignored Cryer and focused its attack on the "clumsy" corruption of the political machine run by "Boss Parrot":

"Evidently Boss Parrot's subordinates are not well trained. Give him a few more years in control and he will, perhaps, do better. He must learn to think up plausible reasons for the actions of the organization and not let the purely political motive stick out like a sore thumb. Perhaps he thinks the voters of Los Angeles are so lacking in intelligence that this is unnecessary; if so, he is mistaken. It does not pay to be so raw anywhere."[24]

A campaign to recall Cryer in 1927 was led by the City Planning Commissioner, Estelle Holman, and rumors spread that Cryer was "tired" and "weary" of the job, and that an "Unknown Committee of Twenty-Five" had formed to tell "the Parrot-Cryer lame-duck city 'administration' to ease the Mayor out of the side door of the City Hall."[25]

By 1929, relations between the two principals of "the so-called Parrot-Cryer political machine" had been severed. Parrot leaked a report to the Los Angeles Record that Cryer would not seek re-election, and those close to Cryer openly charged Parrot with betraying the mayor.[26] Cryer himself announced in late February 1929 that he would not run for re-election as mayor.[26]

Shuler libel trial

In the late 1920s, a popular radio evangelist, the Rev. Robert P. "Fighting Bob" Shuler, repeatedly branded Cryer as a "grafter" and the "chief exploiter," called his administration "one of the must corrupt the city ever saw," linked him to vice king Charlie Crawford, and asserted that Cryer went into office as a poor man and came out as a millionaire.[27][28][29] Shuler's charges, made both on his radio station, KGEF, and in his magazine, led to a widely publicized libel lawsuit by Cryer against Shuler. The details of the Shuler libel suit were front page news at the Los Angeles Times for much of 1929.[20][20][30][31][32][33][34][35][36][37][38][39][40][41][42][43][44][45][46][47][48][49][50][51]

At the trial in November 1929, Shuler's lawyer cross-examined Cryer about allegations that he "pitched dice at in Farmer Page's place," and about his accumulation of wealth during his eight years as mayor. Cryer testified that he had a personal fortune of $160,000 when he took office in 1921 and left office in 1929 with a personal wealth of $450,000 which Cryer credited to "realty deals absolutely uninfluenced by his political position."[20] Asked if he had ever taken a bribe, Cryer replied:

"No, sir; never at any time, directly or indirectly. I never profited by my office. In fact, I considered it a financial detriment. It was the darndest job I ever had. It took practically all of my time, Sundays and every other day, and most of the night. I had to take the telephone out of my house so I could get a little sleep. I used to come home at nights from a banquet or something and people would call me sometimes at 3 o'clock in the morning -- some of them apparently insane."[43]

The jury found Shuler not guilty on one count and failed to reach a verdict on a second count.[27][50] When Shuler continued his attacks on Cryer, Shuler brought further proceedings in 1931, this time an administrative action before the Federal Radio Commission ("FRC") seeking revocation of the broadcast license for Shuler's radio station, KGEF.[27] Shuler's controversial broadcasts also included attacks on Catholics, African Americans, the YWCA (for sponsoring dances that extended into the early hours of Sunday morning), and Rufus B. von KleinSmid, the President of the University of Southern California for permitting evolution to be taught. In November 1931, Cryer succeeded in winning an order from the FRC revoking KGEF's broadcast license.[52]

Later years and death

After leaving office in 1929, Cryer went into the private practice of law.[5] He ran for mayor again in 1933, but was defeated in the primary election. Cryer also served for a time as the president of Mutual Oil Company.[53]

Cryer died at age 87 following surgery for a broken hip suffered when he tripped over a garden hose at his house in Los Angeles.[5] As part of the city's memorial service, Cryer's body was carried into the rotunda of City Hall by an honor guard of policemen, a wreath placed on his casket by Mayor Norris Poulson, and his body lay in state in the rotunda.[54][55] Cryer was entombed at Forest Lawn Mausoleum.[5]

In the 2008 motion picture Changeling, the part of Mayor George Cryer was played by Reed Birney.[56][57]

References

Wikimedia Commons has media related to George E. Cryer.
  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 "Biography File on George Cryer" (PDF). Los Angeles Public Library.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 6 "Ask 'Examiner' To Play Fair: Veterans Demand Cryer's War Record Be Published". Los Angeles Times. 1921-06-03.
  3. 1 2 "Cryer Pledges Pure Loyalty: Takes Sharp Slap at 'Isms' and I.W.W.". Los Angeles Times. 1921-06-22.
  4. 1 2 3 Alma Whitaker (1921-06-26). "The Woman Behind Cryer". Los Angeles Times.
  5. 1 2 3 4 5 "George Cryer, Ex-Mayor Dies After Surgery". Los Angeles Times. 1961-05-25.
  6. ↑ "Audit System Declared Lax: Defendant Clashes with the State Prosecutor". Los Angeles Times. 1917-09-28.
  7. ↑ "Cryer Is Elected Mayor of Los Angeles: Lead About Seven Thousand; Snyder Forces Admit Defeat". Los Angeles Times. 1921-06-08.
  8. ↑ "Cryer Assures Vice Cleanup: Ministers Applaud Resolves of Mayoralty Seeker". Los Angeles Times. 1921-04-26.
  9. ↑ "Burge Denounces Mayor". Los Angeles Times. 1921-04-20.
  10. ↑ "Efficiencey Is Cryer Watchword: A Pictured Glimpse of the Personal Side of Our New Mayor". Los Angeles Times. 1921-05-26.
  11. ↑ "Politics: The Watchman". Los Angeles Times. 1921-05-31.
  12. 1 2 "L.A. Mayors: The Great, the Near Great and the Un-Great". Los Angeles Times. 1969-03-25.
  13. ↑ "Cryer Makes Curtain Bow: He Completes Eight Years in City Hall; Wooden Key Will Be Given Porter Tomorrow". Los Angeles Times. 1929-06-30.
  14. ↑ "City to Bow in Memory of Departed Heroes; Huge Parade and Memorial Service at Coliseum to Commemorate Armistice Day". Los Angeles Times. 1923-11-11.
  15. ↑ "As to Responsibility: Mayor and City Attorney Say Los Angeles Will Face Dam Situation in Broad, Helpful Way". Los Angeles Times. 1928-03-15.
  16. ↑ "Cryer Offers Dam Fund Plan; Special Message Opposes Water Rate Boost Would Pay Flood Damage from Bureau Money Taxpayers Then to Defray Bond Interest". Los Angeles Times. 1928-05-01.
  17. ↑ "Holiday for Olympics Is Proclaimed: Mayor Urges Citizens to Attend Tryouts at Coliseum on Saturday". Los Angeles Times. 1924-05-22.
  18. ↑ "Parade to Start Off Tryouts: Mayor Cryer to Lead Athletes in March Around Field Saturday". Los Angeles Times. 1924-05-19.
  19. ↑ "Cryer Machine Torn by Strife: Birnbaum Resigns as Council Bars Foss Appointment; Police Commission Leaders Raise Voices of Woe; 'Mayor's Gone Over to Foe,' Wails ex-Minion". Los Angeles Times. 1927-07-16.
  20. 1 2 3 4 "Cryer Quizzed on Politics: Ex-Mayor Target of Sweeping Cross-Examination as Witness in Shuler Libel Trial". Los Angeles Times. 1929-11-09.
  21. 1 2 3 Cecilia Rasmussen (1999-10-03). "Mall Is Legacy of '20s Crime, Corruption". Los Angeles Times.
  22. ↑ "Bledsoe Hurls Defy at Cryer: Challenges Parrot's Status as De-Facto Mayor". Los Angeles Times. 1925-04-23.
  23. ↑ The Sentry on His Beat (1927-02-06). "The Watchman". Los Angeles Times.
  24. ↑ "Our Local Tammany". Los Angeles Times. 1927-01-16.
  25. ↑ The Watchman (1927-09-15). "Mayor Likely to Step Down; City Hall Rumors Say He'll Quit Fairly Soon; Scramble Begins to Line Up Votes for Successor Clarke and Lickley Backed; Recall Move Goes On". Los Angeles Times.
  26. 1 2 The Watchman (1929-03-01). "Mayor Cryer Announces He Will Not Make Race". Los Angeles Times.
  27. 1 2 3 "Cryer Assails Shuler Charge: Ex-Mayor Calls Accusation Against Him False". Los Angeles Times. 1931-01-18.
  28. ↑ Cecilia Rasmussen (1997-11-23). "Mixing Fire, Brimstone and Politics". Los Angeles Times.
  29. ↑ "Champion "Ag'inner" of Universe Is Shuler; Belligerent Local Pastor Holds All Records for Attacks Upon Everybody, Everything". Los Angeles Times. 1930-06-01.
  30. ↑ "Cryer Assails Shuler Charge; Ex-Mayor Calls Accusation Against Hint False Leaving Office With Large Fortune Denied Judge McComb Takes Rap at Radio Preacher". Los Angeles Times. 1929-01-18.
  31. ↑ "CRYER PLANS PROSECUTION; Mayor Submits Shuler Magazine Article to Nix to Pass on Question of Libel". Los Angeles Times. 1929-03-02.
  32. ↑ "Shuler Balm Galls Crye; Pastor's Attempt to Explain Magazine Attack Will Not Stop Libel Suit, Mayor Says". Los Angeles Times. 1929-03-05.
  33. ↑ "Mayor Still Up in Arms; Cryer Reaffirms Plan to Press Libel Action Against Bob Shuler Due to Article". Los Angeles Times. 1929-03-09.
  34. ↑ "Cryer Begins Shuler Action; Complaint Charging Libel Filed by Mayor Accused Preacher Must Answer Today Asserted Defaming article Basis of Charges". Los Angeles Times. 1929-03-29.
  35. ↑ "Cryer May Elect Not to Appeal: Mayor Considers Going Ahead with Shuler Suit on One Remaining Count". Los Angeles Times. 1929-04-03.
  36. ↑ "Shuler Trial Date Decided; Criminal Libel Action Set for October 8, Next Minister Also Faces Civil Suit on Slander Pastor Accused by Cryer on Magazine Atack". Los Angeles Times. 1929-09-13.
  37. ↑ "Libel Trial of Shuler Opens Today: Pastor Will Face Charge for Statement About ex-Mayor Cryer". Los Angeles Times. 1929-10-28.
  38. ↑ "Defense Hinted in Shuler Case; Will Contend Attacks on Cryer Privileged State to Shown Source of ex-Mayor's Wealth Jury Expected to be Sworn Some Time Today". Los Angeles Times. 1929-10-30.
  39. ↑ "Shuler Muzzle Asked by Cryer; Barring of Radio Trial Talks Urged by ex-Mayor Court Hears Lengthy Request at Libel-Case Opening Pastor's Own Attorney Wants Him to Keep Silent". Los Angeles Times. 1929-10-31.
  40. ↑ "SHULER CASE EVIDENCE DUE; Selection of Jury Expected to be Finished Today; Defendant Flayed for Radio Comment". Los Angeles Times. 1929-11-01.
  41. ↑ "SHULER JURY LIKELY TODAY; Five-Day Struggle Declared to be Near Conclusion; Forty Talesmen Examined". Los Angeles Times. 1929-11-04.
  42. ↑ "Shuler Trial Stage All Set: First Witness for Cryer to Take Stand Today". Los Angeles Times. 1929-11-05.
  43. 1 2 "Cryer Lists His Wealth: Former Mayor Places Fortune as $450,000 in Testimony at Shuler Libel Trial". Los Angeles Times. 1929-11-08.
  44. ↑ "BOTH SIDES OF SHULER CASE BUSY; Prosecution Soon to Close Its Case and Then Pastor Will Go on Witness Stand". Los Angeles Times. 1929-11-10.
  45. ↑ "Shuler Admits Lack of Facts; He Doesn't Know if Cryer Ever Took Bribe Pastor on Stand in Libel Suit of ex-Mayor Letter to Fitts Described as Mere Warning". Los Angeles Times. 1929-11-13.
  46. ↑ "Cryer in Hot Shuler Clash; Ex-Mayor Cross-examines Pastor in Libel Trial Preacher Denies Questioning Honesty of Executive Case Expected to Go to Jury Tomorrow Afternoon". Los Angeles Times. 1929-11-14.
  47. ↑ "Shuler Verdict Possible Today; Prosecutors Flay Pastor in Libel Arguments Kent Parrot Denies Story Told by Churchman Minister Pictured Leader in Ousting of Oaks". Los Angeles Times. 1929-11-15.
  48. ↑ "CRYER STORMS AT FOE IN COURT; Autorney D'Orr Under Fire in Trial of Shuler Defense Lawyer Declared Unfair and Unjust Jury Expected to Receive Case Early Today". Los Angeles Times. 1929-11-16.
  49. ↑ "Deadlock Seen in Shuler Jury; Court Attaches Think Libel Case Verdict Hopeless; Dictionary Sent for to Aid in Weighing Evidence; Closing Argument Made by Brockman Raps Pastor". Los Angeles Times. 1929-11-17.
  50. 1 2 "SHULER VERDICT FAVORS PASTOR; Jury Acquits Him on One of Libel Counts Disagreement Reported on Other Accusation Woman Seeks Conviction on Second Charge". Los Angeles Times. 1929-11-18.
  51. ↑ "THE SHULER VERDICT". Los Angeles Times. 1929-11-19.
  52. ↑ "Shuler Plans Radio Appeal; Order Silencing Station Shock to Pastor He Reports $4.77 Message Came "Collect" Mass Meeting to Decide on Fight for KGEF". Los Angeles Times. 1931-11-14.
  53. ↑ Howard Kegley (1933-07-06). "Oil News". Los Angeles Times.
  54. ↑ "Rites Revised for Ex-Mayor George Cryer". Los Angeles Times. 1961-05-26.
  55. ↑ "Ex-Mayor Cryer Paid Tribute at City Hall". Los Angeles Times. 1961-05-27.
  56. ↑ http://www.hotflick.net/pictures/008CGL_Reed_Birney_001.html
  57. ↑ http://www.aspenfilm.org/docs/AS0809_Changeling.pdf
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