Joseph Weldon Bailey Sr. (October 6, 1862 – April 13, 1929), was a United States senator, member of the U.S. House of Representatives, lawyer, and Bourbon Democrat who was famous for his speeches extolling conservative causes of his time, such as opposition to woman suffrage or restrictions on child labor. He served as a Congressional Representative between 1891 and 1901, and as the House Minority leader from 1897 until 1899. In 1901, he was elected to the Senate, serving until 1913. Historian Elna C. Green says that Bailey "was known in Texas as a rigorous defender of states' rights, constitutional conservatism, and governmental economy. His opponents considered him the symbol of privilege and corruption in government."[1]
He had been politically active as a Democrat in both Mississippi and his new home and had a reputation as an excellent public speaker who promoted Jeffersonian democracy. He was elected to the House in 1891 and quickly distinguished himself as leading advocate for free silver, which contributed to his election as Minority Leader of the United States House of Representatives in 1897.[3] He exerted considerable influence on his colleagues, but also struggled to unify his divided caucus.[4] On April 14, 1897, some House Democrats, led by David A. De Armond sought to block a three day adjournment, a maneuver understood as a repudiation of Bailey's cooperative relationship with Republican Speaker Thomas Brackett Reed.[5]
Bailey's most severe disappointment as minority leader came in 1898, when he argued that congressmen who had accepted commissions to serve in the army without resigning from Congress had violated the Ineligibility Clause of the Constitution.[6] Despite Bailey's advocacy, a majority of Democrats opposed a motion to consider a resolution which would have removed several members from Congress who had simultaneously held commissions during the Spanish–American War.[6] The next day, Bailey declared that he would not be a candidate for minority leader in the next Congress.[6]
He was elected to the U.S. Senate in 1901. His political career was tarnished by an assault against Senator Albert J. Beveridge, an Indiana Republican. Subsequent investigations brought to light suspicious income and financial ties that Bailey had to the burgeoning oil industry. Nevertheless, financial allegations against Bailey in 1906 threatened his reelection to the Senate, a task then the prerogative of the Texas legislature, rather than party voters.[4] His tenure ended on January 3, 1913 when he resigned his Senate seat.[7]
After his defeat by Pat M. Neff in the Democratic gubernatorialprimary in 1920, Bailey moved to Dallas to practice law. On April 13, 1929, he died in a courtroom in Sherman, Texas, having just sat down after completing an argument.[8]
Referencesedit
^Green, Elna M. (1999). "From Antisuffragism to Anti-Communism: The Conservative Career of Ida M. Darden". Journal of Southern History. 65 (2): 291. JSTOR 2587365.
^"TSHA | Bailey, Joseph Weldon". www.tshaonline.org. Retrieved 2022-01-31.
^Holcomb, Bob Charles (June 1968). Senator Joe Bailey, Two Decades of Controversy (Thesis). Texas Technical College. p. 86.
joseph, bailey, joseph, weldon, bailey, joseph, weldon, bailey, october, 1862, april, 1929, united, states, senator, member, house, representatives, lawyer, bourbon, democrat, famous, speeches, extolling, conservative, causes, time, such, opposition, woman, su. For his son see Joseph Weldon Bailey Jr Joseph Weldon Bailey Sr October 6 1862 April 13 1929 was a United States senator member of the U S House of Representatives lawyer and Bourbon Democrat who was famous for his speeches extolling conservative causes of his time such as opposition to woman suffrage or restrictions on child labor He served as a Congressional Representative between 1891 and 1901 and as the House Minority leader from 1897 until 1899 In 1901 he was elected to the Senate serving until 1913 Historian Elna C Green says that Bailey was known in Texas as a rigorous defender of states rights constitutional conservatism and governmental economy His opponents considered him the symbol of privilege and corruption in government 1 Joseph W BaileyJoseph Bailey c 1910 to 1915United States Senatorfrom TexasIn office March 4 1901 January 3 1913Preceded byHorace ChiltonSucceeded byRienzi M JohnstonHouse Minority LeaderIn office March 4 1897 March 3 1899Preceded byOffice EstablishedSucceeded byJames D RichardsonMember of the U S House of Representatives from Texas s 5th districtIn office March 4 1891 March 3 1901Preceded bySilas HareSucceeded byChoice B RandellPersonal detailsBornJoseph Weldon Bailey 1862 10 06 October 6 1862Crystal Springs Copiah County Mississippi C S A now Crystal Springs Copiah County Mississippi U S A DiedApril 13 1929 1929 04 13 aged 66 Sherman Texas U S A Resting placeFairview Cemetery in Gainesville TexasPolitical partyDemocraticAlma materUniversity of MississippiOccupationLawyer and politician Contents 1 Biography 2 References 3 Further reading 4 External linksBiography editBorn in Crystal Springs in Copiah County outside Jackson Mississippi Bailey attended the University of Mississippi at Oxford where in 1879 he joined the prestigious Delta Psi fraternity AKA St Anthony Hall He graduated with a law degree from Cumberland University in 1883 and was admitted to the bar in Mississippi that same year 2 He moved to Gainesville Texas in 1885 where he continued to practice law He had been politically active as a Democrat in both Mississippi and his new home and had a reputation as an excellent public speaker who promoted Jeffersonian democracy He was elected to the House in 1891 and quickly distinguished himself as leading advocate for free silver which contributed to his election as Minority Leader of the United States House of Representatives in 1897 3 He exerted considerable influence on his colleagues but also struggled to unify his divided caucus 4 On April 14 1897 some House Democrats led by David A De Armond sought to block a three day adjournment a maneuver understood as a repudiation of Bailey s cooperative relationship with Republican Speaker Thomas Brackett Reed 5 Bailey s most severe disappointment as minority leader came in 1898 when he argued that congressmen who had accepted commissions to serve in the army without resigning from Congress had violated the Ineligibility Clause of the Constitution 6 Despite Bailey s advocacy a majority of Democrats opposed a motion to consider a resolution which would have removed several members from Congress who had simultaneously held commissions during the Spanish American War 6 The next day Bailey declared that he would not be a candidate for minority leader in the next Congress 6 He was elected to the U S Senate in 1901 His political career was tarnished by an assault against Senator Albert J Beveridge an Indiana Republican Subsequent investigations brought to light suspicious income and financial ties that Bailey had to the burgeoning oil industry Nevertheless financial allegations against Bailey in 1906 threatened his reelection to the Senate a task then the prerogative of the Texas legislature rather than party voters 4 His tenure ended on January 3 1913 when he resigned his Senate seat 7 After his defeat by Pat M Neff in the Democratic gubernatorial primary in 1920 Bailey moved to Dallas to practice law On April 13 1929 he died in a courtroom in Sherman Texas having just sat down after completing an argument 8 References edit Green Elna M 1999 From Antisuffragism to Anti Communism The Conservative Career of Ida M Darden Journal of Southern History 65 2 291 JSTOR 2587365 TSHA Bailey Joseph Weldon www tshaonline org Retrieved 2022 01 31 Holcomb Bob Charles June 1968 Senator Joe Bailey Two Decades of Controversy Thesis Texas Technical College p 86 a b Caro Robert A 1990 The Years of Lyndon Johnson The Path to Power Vintage Books p 47 ISBN 978 0 679 72945 7 Holcomb 1968 p 118 a b c Holcomb 1968 p 166 BAILEY Joseph Weldon 1862 1929 Library of Congress Retrieved 23 June 2015 J W Bailey dies trying a lawsuit The New York Times Associated Press 14 April 1929 p 29 Retrieved 5 January 2023 Further reading editAcheson Sam Hanna Joe Bailey The Last Democrat New York 1932 Gould Lewis Progressives and Prohibitionists Texas Democrats in the Wilson Era U of Texas Press 1973 External links edit nbsp Wikimedia Commons has media related to Joseph Weldon Bailey United States Congress BAILEY Joseph Weldon id B000044 Biographical Directory of the United States Congress Joseph Weldon Bailey from the Handbook of Texas Online Joseph W Bailey at Find a Grave nbsp This article incorporates public domain material from the Biographical Directory of the United States Congress U S House of RepresentativesPreceded byNew Title House Minority Leader1897 1899 Succeeded byJames D RichardsonTennesseePreceded bySilas Hare Member of the U S House of Representatives from Texas s 5th congressional district1891 1901 Succeeded byChoice B RandellU S SenatePreceded byHorace Chilton U S Senator Class 2 from Texas1901 1913 Succeeded byRienzi M Johnston Portals nbsp Biography nbsp Mississippi nbsp Texas nbsp Law nbsp Politics Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Joseph W Bailey amp oldid 1178182631, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
