Henry Hooper
Blood
1933-1941, Democrat
Henry Hooper Blood ran
for governor after being nominated by the Democrats in 1932. He defeated
his Republican opponent, William W. Seegmiller and became the seventh governor
of the state of Utah. He served two terms from 1933 to 1941. He took office
during an extremely trying time in U. S. and Utah history at the height
of the Depression. The Depression hit Utah harshly leaving it foundering
as one of the top states for citizens on relief. Utah was in desperate need
with more than one-third of Utahns suffering from unemployment.
The situation heightened in
1934 when Utah recorded its worst drought in history. Left without food,
clothing, shelter, and employment many of Utah's families struggled to
secure their basic needs.
". . . my husband (Mr. DeFriez)
worked 8 days on the cemetery (weeding it) and earnt the $ 16.00 we got
from the government through the Relief Society. We cannot ask them for
more, they havent any money. $125.00 is all this town got in Dec. and
they had to divide it all around and we got our share. We could not ask
for more, I would be ashamed and also would not want to ask the people
of Price, they would think I had nerve and laugh at us. Please (Governor)
don't say anything to either of them, we would be ashamed, we don't wish
more than our share from them."
Hundreds of letters resembling
this one crossed Governor Blood's desk each day. Mrs. DeFriez was living
with her family in a decrepit, abandoned building and needed quilts for
her family to stay warm. Mrs. DeFriez's circumstances were better than
those of countless authors of these letters; many had no shelter at all.
Countless families on relief survived on an average of $15 per month,
usually less. These letters can be found in Governor Blood's general correspondence
(series
186) and Relief programs (series
191). In responding to each of these letters, Governor Blood expressed
his desire to give aid while revealing his helpless state.
Governor Blood began the long
journey to economic recovery by instituting new programs, decreasing the
wages of state employees and slashing the size of state departments: for
instance juvenile judges also became probation officers. He also closely
followed and supported President Roosevelt's New Deal. Programs like the
Public Works Administration, Civilian Conservation Corps, Home Owners
Loan Association, National Recovery Administration and other federal programs
found their way and support in Utah. Many irrigation and reclamation projects
as well as public buildings were a result of these programs, which not
only provided employment but relief for future problems [e.g., Deer Creek
Reservoir and irrigation (series
189)]. Blood pushed and gained support from a resisting legislature
for a 2% sales tax to secure federal funds for these projects.
Along with the customary tasks
of a governor, many other notable occurrences happened during Blood's
governorship: Utah becoming the 36th state to ratify the 21st amendment
ending prohibition, the institution of the direct primary election law
and preparation for World War II. In 1939 he vetoed proposals for junior
colleges in Richfield and Roosevelt as well as low-income housing while
cautioning about the expense.
Relief from the devastating
effects of the Depression occupied Governor Blood's terms. He fought conservatively
but with great determination for Utah's citizens as shown by his two trips
to Washington in his first year as governor. He was a fiscally conservative
man of steady, circumspect plans. He held political power that few governors
have. He was trusted as shown by the dominion given him. The public did
not consider him an adventurous hero but undisputably as a man who had
great concern for this state.
Powell, Allan Kent, ed. Utah
History Encyclopedia. Henry H. Blood, by Miriam B. Murphy. Salt Lake
City: University of Utah Press, 1994.
Utah State Archives, Governor
Henry H. Blood, Correspondence(series 186), Letter from Mrs. Delilah DeFriez
on January 4, 1933.
Utah State Archives, Governor
Henry H. Blood, Relief programs(series 191).
Utah. Legislature. Laws
of Utah, 1937, ch. 29.
Series available:
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Page | This page was last updated May
29, 2002.