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William M. Bunn

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William M. Bunn
10th Governor ofIdaho Territory
In office
March 26, 1884 – July 9, 1885
Nominated byChester A. Arthur
Preceded byJohn N. Irwin
Succeeded byEdward A. Stevenson
Personal details
Born(1842-01-01)January 1, 1842
Philadelphia,Pennsylvania
DiedSeptember 19, 1923(1923-09-19)(aged 81)
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Political partyRepublican
SpouseCathanne Myers
ProfessionWood carver, Newspaperman

William Malcolm Bunn(January 1, 1842 – September 19, 1923) was an American newspaperman and Governor ofIdaho Territoryfrom 1884 to 1885. He began his political career holding a series of local and state offices while serving as a member of a localpolitical machine.After purchasing aPhiladelphianewspaper, he traded positive coverage for political favors. At the same time Bunn cultivated an active social life and became known for his after dinner speeches. During his tenure as governor, Bunn was caught between competing factions within his party fighting overpolygamyand concerns with the territory'sMormonpopulation.

Background

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Bunn was born inPhiladelphia, Pennsylvaniaon January 1, 1842.[1]He was raised in the city's 16th ward and educated in public schools.[2]At the age of eleven, he went to work in a factory. Bunn worked there for three years before being sent toHavana, New Yorkto attend a school run by his uncle.[3]At 16, he had completed his formal education and wasapprenticedas awood carver.[4]

At the start of theAmerican Civil War,Bunn enlisted in the72nd Pennsylvania Infantry.On June 29, 1862, during theBattle of Savage's Station,he was wounded and captured byConfederate forces.[4]Bunn was held as aprisoner of warinRichmond, Virginiauntil his release during aprisoner exchangelater that year.[3][4]Upon his return to Philadelphia, Bunn experienced a relapse of problems from his wound and received amedical discharge.[3]

Following his military service, Bunn joined with his brother in a successful wood carving business.[3]In 1870 he married Cathanne Myers. The couple had one son.[5]

Early political career

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Bunn became politically active in 1866 when he served as a delegate to Philadelphia's citywideRepublicanConvention. The next year he ran for a seat on thecity council,but withdrew his candidacy before the election to resolve a dispute within his party. In 1868 he was elected to the first of two consecutive terms in thePennsylvania General Assembly.After his time in the state assembly, Bunn was elected Register of Wills. This was followed by his election asGuardian of the Poorin 1875 and 1878.[3]While holding these various offices, Bunn also served as a partydelegateat the local, state, and national level.[6]

In 1878, Bunn purchased thePhiladelphia Sunday Transcript.[7]As owner of the newspaper, he became a supporter of theCameronpolitical machineand traded positive coverage for political favors.[7][8]

In addition to his political and business activities, Bunn developed an active social life. He became well known as a dinner speaker and his flamboyant dress earned him a reputation as one of Philadelphia's best dressed men.[7][8]As a measure of his social success, Bunn became Vice-President of the Clover Club.[7]

Governorship

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By the 1880s, Bunn had developed mining interests in bothArizonaandIdahoterritories.[8]Wishing for a political position close to his business interests, Bunn used his political connections to lobby for appointment as Governor of Arizona Territory following the resignation ofJohn C. Frémont.[7]Unsuccessful in this effort, Bunn continued looking for another appointment close to his business interests.[9]

Bunn's appointment came as a consequence of the1884 presidential election.PresidentChester Arthuragreed to appoint the newspaperman in exchange for support from the Cameron political machine. The machine in turn agreed to support Arthur's reelection as long as he maintained a lead overJames G. Blaine.[9]Bunn was commissioned as Governor of Idaho Territory on March 26, 1884.[10]

The new governor arrived in Idaho Territory on June 26, 1884.[11]Bunn quickly gained a reputation for "setting a pace that no governor before had had the experience or wealth to maintain" with his social and sartorial style resulted in him being called the "dudegovernor ". Highlights of his tenure as governor include authorization ofUS$80,000 worth ofbondsfor building a permanent capital inBoise,support for laws limitingloggingin the territory's forests, a push to establish the position of territorialattorney general,and a call to build aninsane asylumatBlackfootand eliminate the need to send the mentally ill to facilities in Oregon.[7]

However, the biggest political issue upon Bunn's arrival was the anti-Mormon movement. The new governor, more interested in his business interests, took a moderate perspective of opposing polygamy but being otherwise tolerant of the Mormon population. This placed him at odds with both the radical Republicans who advocated total disenfranchisement of the Mormons and the moderate Democrats with their Mormon allies.[12]Specific actions taken by Bunn on this issue include supporting legislation that createdBingham County,diluting Mormon influence inOneida Countyas a consequence, and signing a bill requiring territorial officials to take an anti-Mormonloyalty oath.[13]

Actions by Bunn, combined with anti-Mormon rhetoric, were not enough to satisfy the radical elements of his own party. A dispute arose between him and the leader of the radical Republican faction,US MarshalFred Dubois,when the governor refused to appoint a candidate supported by Dubois to a newly created position in Bingham County.[14]This led to a confrontation between the governor and the marshal, leading Bunn to walk away from a face-to-face meeting Dubois. Bunn claimed that Dubois was about to pull a gun on the unarmed governor, and Dubois in turn labeled Bunn a coward.[15]Despite this incident, the governor preferred to allow "Boise Ring" leader David P. B. Pride to contend with Dubois for control of the Republican party within the territory.[7]

Tensions between the moderate and radical factions continued to build until February 14, 1885.[16]In the early morning hours, after that day's newspaper had already been printed with a series of stories and editorials critical of Bunn, the offices of theBoise City Republicansuffered a break-in that scattered the paper'stype.At about the same time, the offices of theIdaho Democratwere set on fire. Neither incident caused serious damage, but did result in a popular uproar.[16]Dubois supporters used the incident as an excuse to have local newspapers reprint year-old Philadelphia editorials critical of Bunn.[17]The entire incident would later become known as the "Bunn War."[18]

At the time of the break-ins, Bunn was on an extendedleave of absence.He returned to Idaho after five months and submitted his resignation: dated July 3, 1885, it was effective six days later.[7][19]

Later life

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After his resignation, Bunn returned to his home town. In 1908 he publishedSome After Dinner Speechescontaining a collection of his oratories.[7]Bunn died in Philadelphia on September 19, 1923.[20]

References

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  1. ^McMullin & Walker 1984,p. 138.
  2. ^Donaldson 1941,p. 269.
  3. ^abcdeJoyce 1919,p. 395.
  4. ^abcDonaldson 1941,p. 270.
  5. ^Joyce 1919,p. 396.
  6. ^Joyce 1919,pp. 395–6.
  7. ^abcdefghiMcMullin & Walker 1984,p. 139.
  8. ^abcLimbaugh 1982,p. 150.
  9. ^abLimbaugh 1982,p. 151.
  10. ^"Notes from Washington".New York Times.March 27, 1884. p. 2.
  11. ^Donaldson 1941,p. 271.
  12. ^Limbaugh 1982,p. 155.
  13. ^Limbaugh 1982,p. 162.
  14. ^Limbaugh 1982,pp. 162–3.
  15. ^Limbaugh 1982,p. 163.
  16. ^abLimbaugh 1982,p. 166.
  17. ^Limbaugh 1982,pp. 166–7.
  18. ^Limbaugh 1982,p. 167.
  19. ^"Resignation of Gov. Bunn".New York Times.July 14, 1885. p. 4.
  20. ^"William M. Bunn Dies".Dallas Morning News.Associated Press. September 20, 1923. p. 3.

Bibliography

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