Albert S. Burleson

Albert S. Burleson

Albert Sidney Burleson (born June 7, 1863 in San Marcos , Texas , † November 24, 1937 ) was an American politician of the Democratic Party . He was a post office secretary in President Woodrow Wilson's cabinet .

Life

Burleson came from a wealthy southern family . His grandfather, Edward Burleson , had been Vice President of the Republic of Texas ; his father had in the American Civil War in the Confederate Army fought.

After attending school, Burleson took up law studies . He graduated from Baylor University in Waco in 1881 and from the University of Texas at Austin in 1884 . In the same year he was admitted to the bar; from 1885 he practiced in Austin. There he worked from 1885 to 1890 as the city's deputy public prosecutor ; from 1891 to 1898 he was a district attorney.

politics

His political career began in 1899 when he moved into the US House of Representatives for Texas . There he made himself particularly strong for agricultural interests. He was re-elected seven times and did not leave until 1913 when he was appointed Postmaster General in Woodrow Wilson's cabinet . He was the first native Texan to head a federal ministry .

Burleson's tenure is considered one of the most controversial in this ministry. He earned his merit by starting parcel and air mail ; In addition, the delivery of mail to rural areas has been significantly improved. In his personal political views, however, Albert Burleson was considered reactionary . His disdain for African Americans in the postal service quickly became apparent when he demoted or dismissed them in large numbers; at work they were separated from their white colleagues.

He also received criticism for further measures. Industry, for example, was accused of a lack of efficiency and the amalgamation of private interests with his office. He also drew the anger of the unions by banning strikes for postal workers. In addition, to the annoyance of liberal politicians, he severely enforced the espionage law of 1917 . For example, he ordered the local postmaster to forward any mail that appeared illegal to him. Writings that spoke out against the war were delivered with a long delay or not at all.

After the war he tried to nationalize telephone, telegraph and submarine cable traffic. However, knowing that Congress would oppose this, he left the communications infrastructure in the hands of the various company owners. In 1919, Burleson became chairman of the US Department of Telegraphy and Telephone Communications; In 1920 he led the US delegation to the international conference on cable communications. With the end of Woodrow Wilson's tenure, he also left the US government.

Individual evidence

1. ^ The Columbia Encyclopedia

Web links

• Albert S. Burleson in the Biographical Directory of the United States Congress (English)
• Albert S. Burleson at the University of Virginia Miller Center of Public Affairs (English)
• Biography in the Handbook of Texas