Arthur Cyprian Harper (1866–1948) was an American banker who served as the 26th Mayor of

Los Angeles, California Los Angeles, often referred to by its initials L.A., is the List of municipalities in California, most populous city in the U.S. state of California, and the commercial, Financial District, Los Angeles, financial, and Culture of Los Angeles, ...

, from December 13, 1906, to March 11, 1909. He was forced to resign in the wake of a recall drive due to dishonesty that marked his administration. While mayor, he began work on the Los Angeles Civic Center.

Biography

A native of

Columbus, Mississippi Columbus is a city in and the county seat of Lowndes County, Mississippi, Lowndes County, on the eastern border of Mississippi, United States, located primarily east, but also north and northeast of the Tombigbee River, which is also part of the ...

, Harper was the son of a wealthy businessman.Obituary from "Los Angeles in the 1900s"
He was bank teller that had a predilection for drinking, gambling, and frequenting brothels before becoming Mayor. Harper was elected Mayor in 1906 and briefly had a honeymoon period with the

Los Angeles Herald The ''Los Angeles Herald'' or the ''Evening Herald'' was a newspaper published in Los Angeles in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Founded in 1873 by Charles A. Storke, the newspaper was acquired by William Randolph Hearst in 1931. It ...

, saying his first year was the "most satisfactory twelve months in Los Angeles history." His administration was corrupt, with the Oil and Railroad industry controlling the city through bribes and payoffs. The city government also took protection money from brothels, casinos, and saloons. The Herald exposed the corruption after they uncovered a $25 million payout to Harper for the building of the

Los Angeles Aqueduct The Los Angeles Aqueduct system, comprising the Los Angeles Aqueduct (Owens Valley aqueduct) and the Second Los Angeles Aqueduct, is a water conveyance system, built and operated by the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power. The Owens Valley ...

. The Herald called his corruption "his dishonor" in a series of articles entitled "Is Vice Protected in Los Angeles?" The public turned on Harper and started the first recall movement in American history, collecting 25,000 signatures in support. He decided to resign instead of facing a recall election. Harper died in

Palmdale, California Palmdale is a city in northern Los Angeles County, California, United States. The city lies in the Antelope Valley of Southern California. The San Gabriel Mountains separate Palmdale from the Los Angeles Basin to the south. On August 24, 1962 ...

, on December 25, 1948. He was buried at

Angelus-Rosedale Cemetery Angelus-Rosedale Cemetery is a cemetery, located at 1831 West Washington Boulevard in the West Adams, Los Angeles, West Adams neighborhood of Los Angeles, southwest of Downtown Los Angeles, Downtown. History Located in the West Adams, Los Angeles ...

Central Los Angeles Central Los Angeles is the historical urban region of the city of Los Angeles, containing downtown Los Angeles, and several nearby regions in southwest Los Angeles County, California. Geographic designation by The City of Los Angeles The Los Ang ...

References

1866 births 1948 deaths 20th-century mayors of places in California Burials at Angelus-Rosedale Cemetery Democratic Party mayors in California Mayors of Los Angeles People from Palmdale, California Politicians from Columbus, Mississippi {{California-mayor-stub