Thomas Mitchell Campbell

Thomas Mitchell Campbell (born April 22, 1856 in Rusk , Texas , † April 1, 1923 in Galveston , Texas) was an American politician and governor of the state of Texas from 1907 to 1911 .

Early years and political advancement

Thomas Campbell attended public schools in his home country. He then studied law at Trinity University . In 1878 he was admitted to the bar. He then started to work in his new profession in Longview . From 1889 he worked for the financially troubled International Great Northern Railroad . After the company was saved, he became its manager in 1892. His main opponent was the financial mogul Jay Gould , who was preparing to bring this railroad under his control. Campbell was against monopoly positions and retired from the railroad business in 1897 to return to work as a lawyer.

Campbell became a member of the Democratic Party . He shared the liberal views of his friend, former Texas Governor Jim Hogg . This also supported him in his endeavors to win the office of governor in 1906. Hogg died before the elections, but Campbell adopted his policies in the election campaign and was eventually elected as the new governor of his state.

Texas Governor

Thomas Campbell took up his new office on January 15, 1907 and, after being re-elected in 1908, was able to exercise it until January 17, 1911. Some reform laws were passed during his tenure. This included some anti-trust laws. A food control law should ensure the quality of the food. The power of lobbyists was restricted and funding increased the education budget. In addition, new ministries were created in Texas to control banks and insurance companies, to carry out statistical surveys of the labor market and to process the history of the state. The system of lending convicts to work has also been abolished.

Another résumé

After the end of his governorship, Campbell returned to practice as a lawyer. In 1916 he ran unsuccessfully for a seat in the US Senate . Governor Campbell died in 1923. He had five children with his wife, Fannie Irene Bruner.

literature

Janet Schmelzer: Our Fighting Governor: The Life of Thomas M. Campbell and the Politics of Progressive Reform in Texas. Texas A&M University Press, College Station 2014, ISBN 978-1-62349-181-9 .
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

personal data
SURNAME	Campbell, Thomas Mitchell
BRIEF DESCRIPTION	American politician
DATE OF BIRTH	April 22, 1856
PLACE OF BIRTH	Rusk , Texas
DATE OF DEATH	April 1, 1923
Place of death	Galveston , Texas