James L. Whitley

James Lucius Whitley (born May 24, 1872 in Rochester , New York , †  May 17, 1959 ) was an American politician . Between 1929 and 1935 he represented New York State in the US House of Representatives .

Career

James Whitley attended his home public schools and the Rochester Free Academy . After a subsequent law degree at Union University in Albany and his admission to the bar in 1899, he began to work in this profession in Rochester. In the meantime he took part in the Spanish-American War of 1898 as a sergeant in a volunteer unit . In 1900 and 1901 Whitley was an advisor to the City of Rochester; from 1902 to 1904 he was the lead auditor of the local service commission. At the same time he embarked on a political career as a member of the Republican Party. From 1905 to 1910 he was a member of the New York State Assembly , from 1918 to 1928 he was a member of the State Senate . For 20 years he participated as a delegate at the regional party conventions of the Republicans in New York State.

In the 1928 congressional election , Whitley was elected to the United States House of Representatives in Washington, DC , in the 38th  constituency of New York , where he succeeded Democrat Meyer Jacobstein on March 4, 1929 . After two re-elections, he was able to complete three legislative terms in Congress by January 3, 1935 . This time had been shaped by the events of the Great Depression since autumn 1929 . The first of the Roosevelt government's New Deal laws were passed in 1933 , which Whitley's party was rather hostile to. In 1935 the provisions of the 20th Amendment to the Constitution were applied for the first time , according to which the legislative period of the Congress ends or begins on January 3rd.

In 1934, James Whitley was not re-elected. After his time in the US House of Representatives, he practiced as a lawyer again. He died on May 17, 1959 in Rochester, where he was also buried.

Web links

• James L. Whitley in the Biographical Directory of the United States Congress (English)

predecessor	Office	successor
Meyer Jacobstein	United States House of Representatives for New York (38th constituency) March 4, 1929 - January 3, 1935	James PB Duffy