Arthur Cyprian Harper (1866–1948) was an American banker who served as the 26th Mayor of Los Angeles, California, 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, Harper was the son of a wealthy businessman. He was bank teller that had a predilection for drinking, gambling, and frequenting brothels before becoming Mayor. The Herald exposed the corruption after they uncovered a $25 million payout to Harper for the building of the Los Angeles Aqueduct.