Arthur Horace James

Arthur Horace James (born July 14, 1883 in Plymouth , Luzerne County , Pennsylvania , † April 27, 1973 ibid) was an American politician ( Republican Party ) and from 1939 to 1943 the 33rd governor of the state of Pennsylvania.

Early years and political advancement

Arthur James was the son of a miner who worked in the coal industry. In his youth, young James often had to work in the mining industry outside of school. In 1901 Arthur James graduated from Plymouth High School . He then enrolled at Dickinson Law School , where he studied law. In 1904 he passed his exams and was admitted to the bar, whereupon he worked in his hometown in his new profession. He later opened another law firm in the village of Wilkes-Barre .

In 1920 he became a district attorney in Luzerne County. An office he held until 1926. Between 1927 and 1931 he was under Governor John Stuchell Fisher whose lieutenant governor . From 1932 to 1939 he served as a judge at a Superior Court in Pennsylvania. In 1938 he applied for his party's nomination for the office of governor. He managed to win the primaries against former governor Gifford Pinchot . On November 8, 1938, he also won the actual elections against the Democratic Party, which had been weakened by allegations of corruption .

Governor of Pennsylvania

Arthur James began his four-year term on January 17, 1939. During this time, a Department of Commerce was established in Pennsylvania. A hard coal commission was also created. New laws were passed against alcohol consumption (following the abolition of the federal prohibition law in 1933, it was left to individual states to make their own laws). The governor was more interested in employers' interests. Some of the social laws introduced before his time have been repealed. Downsizing in the administration led to the layoff of 2,000 employees. Projects that were already running were stopped in order to reduce expenses. Sit-in strikes were prohibited by law.

After the United States entered the Second World War on December 7, 1941, production in Pennsylvania also had to be converted to armaments. Young men were picked up and sent to the armed forces. A defense council for Pennsylvania was also re-established; this advice had already been given during the First World War. After the National Guard was subordinated to the US Army, the governor recruited a replacement force.

Further life

After his tenure ended, James was returned to his old judicial position. But he only kept this until 1944. Then he returned to Plymouth, where he worked as a lawyer again. Arthur James was active in many academic and legal associations. He died in 1973 at the age of almost 90. Ex-Governor James was married twice and had two children.

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.

Web links

• Arthur Horace James in the database of the National Governors Association (English)
• The governors of Pennsylvania (English)
• Arthur Horace James in the database of Find a Grave (English)