William MO Dawson

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William Mercer Owens Dawson (born May 21, 1853 in Bloomington , Garrett County , Maryland , †  March 12, 1916 in Charleston , West Virginia ) was an American politician and from 1905 to 1909 the twelfth governor of the state of West Virginia.

Early years and political advancement

William Dawson attended public schools in Cranberry, now part of Terra Alta . Then he became a journalist. Between 1873 and 1891 he was the owner and editor of a newspaper called the Preston County Journal. Dawson became involved in the Republican Party early on . He was the party's district leader in Preston County for 13 years . From 1881 to 1889 he represented his district in the West Virginia Senate . In 1895 he became Mayor of Kingwood ; from 1897 he was a Secretary of State in the cabinet of Governor George W. Atkinson . His party nominated him in 1904 as a candidate for the gubernatorial election of that year, which he won with 50.8 percent of the vote against the Democrat John J. Cornwell .

West Virginia Governor

After the successful election Dawson could take up his new office on March 4, 1905. During his tenure, the powers of the tax officer, whose office had only been established by his predecessor Albert B. White , were greatly expanded. A change in the law made it easier for the governor to dismiss tax officials who did not comply with the law. In 1909 the administration was restructured. Many ministries were subordinated to a control council, the so-called Board of Control . The governor was also able to enforce a new electoral law. Other plans, for example in the area of ​​the environment or for better labor laws, got stuck in parliament.

Another résumé

After his four-year term on March 4, 1909, he held a number of different administrative posts in the government of his state. Among other things, he was a member of the control council he founded. William Dawson died in 1916.

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personal data
SURNAME Dawson, William MO
ALTERNATIVE NAMES Dawson, William Mercer Owens (full name)
BRIEF DESCRIPTION American politician
DATE OF BIRTH May 21, 1853
PLACE OF BIRTH Bloomington , Maryland
DATE OF DEATH March 12, 1916
Place of death Charleston , West Virginia