Frank P. Woods
Encyclopedia
Frank Plowman Woods was a five-term Republican U.S. Representative
from Iowa's 10th congressional district
, in north-central Iowa. He reached a House leadership position after only two terms. However, in 1917 his vote against the United States' declaration of war
on the German Empire
effectively ended his political career, leading his loss of the Republican nomination for re-election to his seat, and of his leadership position for the remainder of his final term.
Born near Sharon, Wisconsin
, Woods attended the public schools and the Northern Indiana Normal School, Valparaiso, Indiana
.
He moved to Estherville, Iowa
, in 1887 and worked in a newspaper office for two years. He engaged in the real estate, loan and insurance business until about 1902 when he helped organize the Iowa Savings Bank of Estherville. He also became involved in the publication of the Northern Vindicator newspaper of Estherville, before and after its merger with the Emmet County Republican. He managed Iowa Governor Albert B. Cummins
' successful campaign for a third term in 1906, and served as chairman of the Republican State Central Committee in 1906 and 1907.
In 1908, Woods defeated incumbent Congressman James Perry Conner
in the Republican primary for Iowa's 10th congressional district, and then won the general election. His district, known as the "big tenth," was made up of Boone, Calhoun, Carroll, Emmet, Greene, Hamilton, Humboldt, Hancock, Kossuth, Palo Alto, Pocahontas, Winnebago, and Webster counties. He sided with the progressive wing of his party, against the more conservative "stand-patters."As a Republican his seat was relatively secure; in its fifty-year existence the 10th district never elected a Democrat.
In 1913, after his second re-election, he was elected chairman of the National Republican Congressional Committee
. However, his congressional career took a hard turn in April 1917, when he was one of only 56 members of Congress to vote against the resolution declaring war against Germany. Several weeks later, Woods also voted against the Espionage Act of 1917
.
The other Iowa congressman to vote against war, Harry E. Hull
, survived the resulting furor and won re-election, but Woods did not. Facing many challengers from his own party in the wartime 1918 Republican primary election, he was defeated by Algona lawyer (and future U.S. Senator) L. J. Dickinson. In the immediate aftermath of his loss in the primary, fellow National Republican Campaign Committee members demanded that he also resign his leadership position. Those efforts faded when Woods announced he would resign following the summer recess, but when he changed his mind, he was forced out of the chairmanship. In all, Woods served in the House from March 4, 1909 to March 3, 1919.
After Congress, Woods returned to Estherville. In 1921, he moved to the Pasadena, California
area, where his parents had moved several years earlier.He lived in California until his death in Altadena, California
on April 25, 1944.
He was interred in Mountain View Cemetery.
United States House of Representatives
The United States House of Representatives is one of the two Houses of the United States Congress, the bicameral legislature which also includes the Senate.The composition and powers of the House are established in Article One of the Constitution...
from Iowa's 10th congressional district
Iowa's 10th congressional district
Iowa's 10th congressional district existed from 1883 to 1933, when Iowa sent eleven congressmen to the United States House of Representatives. The district, known as "The Big Tenth," covered large areas of north-central Iowa.-Makeup:...
, in north-central Iowa. He reached a House leadership position after only two terms. However, in 1917 his vote against the United States' declaration of war
Declaration of war by the United States
A declaration of war is a formal declaration issued by a national government indicating that a state of war exists between that nation and another. For the United States, Article One, Section Eight of the Constitution says "Congress shall have power to ... declare War"...
on the German Empire
German Empire
The German Empire refers to Germany during the "Second Reich" period from the unification of Germany and proclamation of Wilhelm I as German Emperor on 18 January 1871, to 1918, when it became a federal republic after defeat in World War I and the abdication of the Emperor, Wilhelm II.The German...
effectively ended his political career, leading his loss of the Republican nomination for re-election to his seat, and of his leadership position for the remainder of his final term.
Born near Sharon, Wisconsin
Sharon, Wisconsin
Sharon is a village in Walworth County, Wisconsin, United States. The population was 1,549 at the 2000 census. The village is located within the Town of Sharon.-Notable people:* Walter Samuel Goodland, Governor of Wisconsin, was born in Sharon....
, Woods attended the public schools and the Northern Indiana Normal School, Valparaiso, Indiana
Valparaiso, Indiana
Valparaiso is a city in and the county seat of Porter County, Indiana, United States. The population was 31,730 at the 2010 census, making it the 2nd largest city in Porter County.-History:...
.
He moved to Estherville, Iowa
Estherville, Iowa
Estherville is a city in Emmet County, Iowa, United States. The population was 6,360 in the 2010 census, a decline from 6,656 in the 2000 census. It is the county seat of Emmet County. Estherville is home to the main campus of Iowa Lakes Community College...
, in 1887 and worked in a newspaper office for two years. He engaged in the real estate, loan and insurance business until about 1902 when he helped organize the Iowa Savings Bank of Estherville. He also became involved in the publication of the Northern Vindicator newspaper of Estherville, before and after its merger with the Emmet County Republican. He managed Iowa Governor Albert B. Cummins
Albert B. Cummins
Albert Baird Cummins was the 18th Governor of Iowa, U.S. Senator and two-time presidential candidate. Cummins was perhaps the most influential leader in Iowa politics in the first quarter of the 20th century...
' successful campaign for a third term in 1906, and served as chairman of the Republican State Central Committee in 1906 and 1907.
In 1908, Woods defeated incumbent Congressman James Perry Conner
James Perry Conner
James Perry Conner was a Republican U.S. Representative from Iowa's 10th congressional district from 1900 to 1909.-Background:...
in the Republican primary for Iowa's 10th congressional district, and then won the general election. His district, known as the "big tenth," was made up of Boone, Calhoun, Carroll, Emmet, Greene, Hamilton, Humboldt, Hancock, Kossuth, Palo Alto, Pocahontas, Winnebago, and Webster counties. He sided with the progressive wing of his party, against the more conservative "stand-patters."As a Republican his seat was relatively secure; in its fifty-year existence the 10th district never elected a Democrat.
In 1913, after his second re-election, he was elected chairman of the National Republican Congressional Committee
National Republican Congressional Committee
The National Republican Congressional Committee is the Republican Hill committee which works to elect Republicans to the United States House of Representatives....
. However, his congressional career took a hard turn in April 1917, when he was one of only 56 members of Congress to vote against the resolution declaring war against Germany. Several weeks later, Woods also voted against the Espionage Act of 1917
Espionage Act of 1917
The Espionage Act of 1917 is a United States federal law passed on June 15, 1917, shortly after the U.S. entry into World War I. It has been amended numerous times over the years. It was originally found in Title 50 of the U.S. Code but is now found under Title 18, Crime...
.
The other Iowa congressman to vote against war, Harry E. Hull
Harry E. Hull
Harry Edward Hull was a five-term Republican U.S. Representative from Iowa's 2nd congressional district, and Commissioner General of Immigration in the Coolidge and Hoover administrations....
, survived the resulting furor and won re-election, but Woods did not. Facing many challengers from his own party in the wartime 1918 Republican primary election, he was defeated by Algona lawyer (and future U.S. Senator) L. J. Dickinson. In the immediate aftermath of his loss in the primary, fellow National Republican Campaign Committee members demanded that he also resign his leadership position. Those efforts faded when Woods announced he would resign following the summer recess, but when he changed his mind, he was forced out of the chairmanship. In all, Woods served in the House from March 4, 1909 to March 3, 1919.
After Congress, Woods returned to Estherville. In 1921, he moved to the Pasadena, California
Pasadena, California
Pasadena is a city in Los Angeles County, California, United States. Although famous for hosting the annual Rose Bowl football game and Tournament of Roses Parade, Pasadena is the home to many scientific and cultural institutions, including the California Institute of Technology , the Jet...
area, where his parents had moved several years earlier.He lived in California until his death in Altadena, California
Altadena, California
Altadena is an unincorporated area and census-designated place in Los Angeles County, California, United States, approximately from the downtown Los Angeles Civic Center, and directly north of the city of Pasadena, California...
on April 25, 1944.
He was interred in Mountain View Cemetery.