Albert H. Roberts

Albert Roberts is a redirect to this article. For other people, see Al Roberts .

Albert H. Roberts (ca.1921)

Albert Houston Roberts (born July 4, 1868 in Alpine , Overton County , Tennessee , † June 25, 1946 in Donelson , Tennessee) was an American politician and the 37th governor of Tennessee.

Life

Early years

Albert Roberts grew up in Alpine and Columbia ( Kansas ). He then attended Hiwassee College , which he successfully completed in 1892. He earned the money he needed to study law as a teacher. After his admission to the bar in 1894, he opened a law firm in Livingstone . There he practiced until 1910. In that year he became presiding judge of the Fourth Judicial District ( Chancellor of the 4th Judical District ) of Tennessee. This district spanned 15 counties in central Tennessee. Roberts visited each county twice a year, making him well known in the area.

Political career

In 1912, the Democrat Roberts was a member of Benton McMillin's campaign team , but was defeated in the election for governor. In 1914 he applied within the party for the nomination for the office of governor. The majority of the party opted for Tom C. Rye . In 1918 he made a new attempt. This time he managed not only to nominate his party, but also to win the election.

In his tenure as governor Roberts was instrumental in the ratification of the 19th Amendment to the US Constitution , which included the introduction of women's suffrage . He was in favor of a further expansion of the education system and the transport network. However, he quickly got into domestic political difficulties. A planned tax reform met with vehement resistance, including from his own party. The property tax on agricultural land rose by 260 percent within one year. In doing so, he turned the farmers against him. At the same time, he came into conflict with the workers and the trade unions because he fought strikes for better wages and working conditions with tough military and legal means. The right wing of his party and conservative circles in Tennessee could not accept the right to vote for women and opposed Roberts. Nevertheless, he ran for re-election in 1920 and clearly lost to the Republican candidate Alfred A. Taylor , also because his own party only half-heartedly supported him for the reasons mentioned.

Old age and death

After the end of his tenure, he ran a thriving law firm in Nashville with his son. In 1930 he was a member of a committee of inquiry against Governor Henry Hollis Horton . Roberts died in 1946 and was buried in Livingstone.

literature

• Robert Sobel and John Raimo (Eds.): Biographical Directory of the Governors of the United States, 1789–1978 . Volume 4, Meckler Books, Westport 1978. 4 volumes
• The National Cyclopaedia of American Biography. Vol. 40. James T. White & Company, New York.

Web links

• Albert Roberts in the National Governors Association (English)
• The governors of Tennessee (English)
• Albert H. Roberts in the database of Find a Grave (English)