Albert B. Cummins

Albert B. Cummins

Albert Baird Cummins (born February 15, 1850 in Carmichaels , Greene County , Pennsylvania , † July 30, 1926 in Des Moines , Iowa ) was an American politician ( Republican Party ) who founded the state of Iowa between 1908 and 1926 in the US Senate represented. He was also its 18th governor from 1902 to 1908 .

Early years

His father was the farmer and carpenter Thomas L. Cummins, his mother Sarah Baird Flenniken. Cummins attended local schools in his home country and then Waynesburg College until 1869. After that he worked as a carpenter for a short time. He was also in the management of Clayton County and in Allen County in Indiana hired and worked on railway construction. After studying law in Chicago , he was admitted to the bar in 1875. He then ran a law firm in Des Moines with his brother.

Political career

Between 1887 and 1889, Cummins was a member of the Iowa House of Representatives . In 1894 and 1900 he ran unsuccessfully for a seat in the US Senate. Between 1896 and 1900 he was a member of the Republican National Committee . At that time he supported William McKinley's presidential campaigns .

In 1901 he was elected the new governor of his state. Cummins took office on January 16, 1902. During his tenure, laws were passed to control the railroad and insurance companies. The penal system was reformed and child labor laws improved. It was then that Iowa also introduced the principle of pre-election in public elections. On November 24, 1908, Cummins resigned from office to join the US Senate.

His move to Congress was preceded by the death of Senator William B. Allison , whose current term Cummins had to end. He was then re-elected in 1909, 1914 and 1920. He was US Senator (Class 3) from November 24, 1908 until his death on July 30, 1926. Between 1919 and 1925 he was President pro tempore of the Senate . Cummins was also a member of several committees such as B. the Committee on Public Service and Retrenchment , which he chaired. Other committees Cummins served on: the Committee on Shipping on the Mississippi River and its Tributaries, the Committee on Interstate Commerce, and the Committee on Judicary .

Albert Cummins was buried in Des Moines. He was married to Ida Lucette Gallery since 1874. The couple had a daughter together.

literature

• Robert Sobel, John Raimo (Eds.): Biographical Directory of the Governors of the United States, 1789–1978. Volume 2. Meckler Books, Westport 1978, 4 volumes.
• Cummins, Albert Baird . In: Encyclopædia Britannica . 11th edition. tape 30 : Abbe - English history . London 1922, p. 779 (English, full text [ Wikisource ]).

Web links

• Albert B. Cummins in the Biographical Directory of the United States Congress (English)
• Albert Cummins in the National Governors Association (English)
• Albert B. Cummins in the database of Find a Grave (English)

Individual evidence

1. ^ ^{A b c} John D. Buenker: Cummins, Albert Baird. In: American National Biography Online.