was an associate justice of the Supreme Court of Alabama from 1921 to 1927. He sought reelection to the court in 1926 but was defeated by a candidate supported by the Ku Klux Klan. In 1930, Miller sought the Alabama governorship. The Democratic primary pitted Miller against William C. Davis (his strongest opponent), Woolsey Finnell, Watt T. Brown, J.A. Carney, and Charles C. McCall. During the campaign, Miller attacked the reforms of the Bibb Graves administration and the political power of the Ku Klux Klan. Therefore, Miller's election as governor was a blow to the Klan. When Miller was inaugurated as governor on January 19, 1931, the State of Alabama was $20,000,000.00 in debt. Miller considered reducing the state's debt the primary objective of his administration. After twice calling the Alabama Legislature into special session, Miller was able to secure an amendment to the Constitution of Alabama permitting the collection of state income tax. A state inheritance tax was passed along with the budget control act, which prohibited the State of Alabama from spending beyond incoming revenues. The salaries of state employees were also drastically reduced. Miller did not consider the income tax or budget control act his most significant achievement; instead, he felt the state bank holiday he declared in March 1933, eight days before Franklin D. Roosevelt declared a national bank holiday his greatest achievement. In 1932, Miller commissioned Brookings Institution to study Alabama's state and local governments to achieve a more efficient government. However, the Alabama Legislature did not adopt most of the study's findings. During Miller's administration, the miles of paved roads in Alabama doubled, and all highway work was paid in cash. Miller was known for his frugality, and he shocked many in Montgomery when he brought his milk cow from Camden to the Alabama Governor's Mansion. After leaving the governor's office in 1935, Miller returned to Camden, where he resumed law practice. He died at his daughter's residence in Selma, Alabama, on February 6, 1944, and is buried in the Camden Cemetery in Camden, Alabama. Margaret Duggan Miller preceded her husband in death on February 16, 1934, and is also buried in the Camden Cemetery. References Governor Benjamin Miller 1864 births 1944 deaths Alabama lawyers Governors of Alabama University of Alabama alumni People from Wilcox County, Alabama Politicians from Selma, Alabama American Presbyterians Erskine College alumni Democratic Party governors of Alabama Justices of the