James Alexander Fowler
Encyclopedia
James Alexander Fowler was an American lawyer who served in various capacities as an Assistant Attorney General
and Special Assistant to the U.S. Attorney General from 1908 to 1914, and from 1921 to 1926. In this role, he either argued or prepared briefs for several notable Supreme Court
cases, and was active in the organization of the shortly-lived Commerce Court
. Fowler was an unsuccessful candidate for Governor of Tennessee in 1898 as well as for U.S. Senator in 1928. He served one term as Mayor of Knoxville, Tennessee
, from 1927 to 1929.
, the son of Joseph and Mary Conner Fowler. He attended the Holston Seminary in New Market, Tennessee
, and obtained his law degree from East Tennessee Wesleyan University (now Tennessee Wesleyan College
) in 1884. He then moved to Clinton, Tennessee
, and worked as principal of Clinton High School for about a year. He was admitted to the bar in 1886, and commenced the practice of law in Anderson County
and surrounding counties.
Fowler received the Republican Party
nomination for Governor in 1898. Democrats
dominated most statewide elections during this period, and Fowler was easily defeated in the general election, managing to garner just 39.8% of the vote.
In 1899, Fowler formed a law partnership, Lucky, Sanford and Fowler, with C.E. Lucky and future Supreme Court justice Edward Terry Sanford
. He moved to Knoxville two years later. In 1907, Fowler served as a special prosecutor during the high-profile trial of James Fulton, an attorney accused of killing fellow attorney and University of Tennessee
football standout, Sam Parker.
in June 1908, and was reappointed by President William Howard Taft
the following year. In May 1911, he was appointed Assistant to the Attorney General (which marked a promotion) by Taft. While the Taft Administration came to an end in March 1913 after his defeat in the presidential election of the previous year, Fowler was retained as a special assistant by Woodrow Wilson
's first attorney general, James C. McReynolds. Following McReynolds' nomination to the Supreme Court in August 1914, Fowler returned to private practice in Knoxville.
As an assistant or special assistant to the Attorney General, Fowler primarily handled the Justice Department's antitrust cases (which are now handled by the department's Antitrust Division). In this role, he argued several cases before the Supreme Court. In 1913, he prepared the brief and delivered the argument for United States v. Chandler-Dunbar Water Power Company, a case involving water rights and compensation for property seized by the government. His brief in this case was referenced throughout the 1936 landmark case, Ashwander v. Tennessee Valley Authority
. Fowler also argued several cases before the short-lived Commerce Court
, and later wrote a paper in the North American Review defending this court.
In 1921, Fowler was appointed Special Assistant to the Attorney General by Attorney General Harry M. Daugherty
. Daugherty initially tasked Fowler with handling the federal government's cases arising from New York's Lockwood investigations, which involved acts of extortion committed by the leaders of building materials unions. He later handled several Supreme Court cases, including Federal Trade Commission v. American Tobacco Co. (1924), United States v. Ninety-Five Barrels Alleged Apple Cider Vinegar
, and United States v. General Electric Co.
(1926).
. After his second city council term ended in 1931, he returned to private practice. He died on November 18, 1955, and was interred in Knoxville's Greenwood Cemetery.
Fowler was a member of the University of Tennessee Board of Trustees, and was president of the Board of Trustees for his alma mater, Tennessee Wesleyan College. He was also active in numerous Methodist charities and organizations. His lawfirm, renamed Fowler and Fowler after his sons joined, continued operating in Knoxville under various partners for several years after his death, and his descendants continued practicing law in the Knoxville area into the 21st century.
United States Assistant Attorney General
Many of the divisions and offices of the United States Department of Justice are headed by an Assistant Attorney General.The President of the United States appoints individuals to the position of Assistant Attorney General with the advice and consent of the Senate...
and Special Assistant to the U.S. Attorney General from 1908 to 1914, and from 1921 to 1926. In this role, he either argued or prepared briefs for several notable Supreme Court
Supreme Court of the United States
The Supreme Court of the United States is the highest court in the United States. It has ultimate appellate jurisdiction over all state and federal courts, and original jurisdiction over a small range of cases...
cases, and was active in the organization of the shortly-lived Commerce Court
United States Commerce Court
The Commerce Court of the United States was a brief-lived federal trial court. It was created by the Mann-Elkins Act in 1910 and abolished a mere three years later. The Commerce Court was a specialized court, given jurisdiction over cases arising from orders of the Interstate Commerce Commission...
. Fowler was an unsuccessful candidate for Governor of Tennessee in 1898 as well as for U.S. Senator in 1928. He served one term as Mayor of Knoxville, Tennessee
Knoxville, Tennessee
Founded in 1786, Knoxville is the third-largest city in the U.S. state of Tennessee, U.S.A., behind Memphis and Nashville, and is the county seat of Knox County. It is the largest city in East Tennessee, and the second-largest city in the Appalachia region...
, from 1927 to 1929.
Early life
Fowler was born at Bull Run Crossing in rural Knox County, TennesseeKnox County, Tennessee
Knox County is a county in the U.S. state of Tennessee. Its 2007 population was estimated at 423,874 by the United States Census Bureau. Its county seat is Knoxville, as it has been since the creation of the county. The county is at the geographical center of the Great Valley of East Tennessee...
, the son of Joseph and Mary Conner Fowler. He attended the Holston Seminary in New Market, Tennessee
New Market, Tennessee
New Market is a town in Jefferson County, Tennessee, United States. It is part of the Morristown, Tennessee Metropolitan Statistical Area. The population was 1,234 at the 2000 census.-Geography:New Market is located at ....
, and obtained his law degree from East Tennessee Wesleyan University (now Tennessee Wesleyan College
Tennessee Wesleyan College
Tennessee Wesleyan College is a small liberal arts college founded in 1857, located in the East Tennessee city of Athens. It is affiliated with the Holston Conference of the United Methodist Church...
) in 1884. He then moved to Clinton, Tennessee
Clinton, Tennessee
Clinton is a city in Anderson County, Tennessee, United States. Its population was 9,409 at the United States Census, 2000. It is the county seat of Anderson County. Clinton is included in the "Knoxville, Tennessee Metropolitan Statistical Area".-Geography:...
, and worked as principal of Clinton High School for about a year. He was admitted to the bar in 1886, and commenced the practice of law in Anderson County
Anderson County, Tennessee
Anderson County is a U.S. county located in the U.S. state of Tennessee. As of the 2010 census, its population is 75,129. Its county seat is Clinton.It is included in the Knoxville, Tennessee, Metropolitan Statistical Area.-Geography:...
and surrounding counties.
Fowler received the Republican Party
Republican Party (United States)
The Republican Party is one of the two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Democratic Party. Founded by anti-slavery expansion activists in 1854, it is often called the GOP . The party's platform generally reflects American conservatism in the U.S...
nomination for Governor in 1898. Democrats
Democratic Party (United States)
The Democratic Party is one of two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Republican Party. The party's socially liberal and progressive platform is largely considered center-left in the U.S. political spectrum. The party has the lengthiest record of continuous...
dominated most statewide elections during this period, and Fowler was easily defeated in the general election, managing to garner just 39.8% of the vote.
In 1899, Fowler formed a law partnership, Lucky, Sanford and Fowler, with C.E. Lucky and future Supreme Court justice Edward Terry Sanford
Edward Terry Sanford
Edward Terry Sanford was an American jurist who served as an Associate Justice on the United States Supreme Court from 1923 until his death in 1930. Prior to his nomination to the high court, Sanford served as an Assistant Attorney General under President Theodore Roosevelt from 1905 to 1907, and...
. He moved to Knoxville two years later. In 1907, Fowler served as a special prosecutor during the high-profile trial of James Fulton, an attorney accused of killing fellow attorney and University of Tennessee
University of Tennessee
The University of Tennessee is a public land-grant university headquartered at Knoxville, Tennessee, United States...
football standout, Sam Parker.
Justice Department
Fowler was appointed U.S. Assistant Attorney General by President Theodore RooseveltTheodore Roosevelt
Theodore "Teddy" Roosevelt was the 26th President of the United States . He is noted for his exuberant personality, range of interests and achievements, and his leadership of the Progressive Movement, as well as his "cowboy" persona and robust masculinity...
in June 1908, and was reappointed by President William Howard Taft
William Howard Taft
William Howard Taft was the 27th President of the United States and later the tenth Chief Justice of the United States...
the following year. In May 1911, he was appointed Assistant to the Attorney General (which marked a promotion) by Taft. While the Taft Administration came to an end in March 1913 after his defeat in the presidential election of the previous year, Fowler was retained as a special assistant by Woodrow Wilson
Woodrow Wilson
Thomas Woodrow Wilson was the 28th President of the United States, from 1913 to 1921. A leader of the Progressive Movement, he served as President of Princeton University from 1902 to 1910, and then as the Governor of New Jersey from 1911 to 1913...
's first attorney general, James C. McReynolds. Following McReynolds' nomination to the Supreme Court in August 1914, Fowler returned to private practice in Knoxville.
As an assistant or special assistant to the Attorney General, Fowler primarily handled the Justice Department's antitrust cases (which are now handled by the department's Antitrust Division). In this role, he argued several cases before the Supreme Court. In 1913, he prepared the brief and delivered the argument for United States v. Chandler-Dunbar Water Power Company, a case involving water rights and compensation for property seized by the government. His brief in this case was referenced throughout the 1936 landmark case, Ashwander v. Tennessee Valley Authority
Ashwander v. Tennessee Valley Authority
Ashwander v. Tennessee Valley Authority, 297 U.S. 288 , was a case decided by the United States Supreme Court providing the first elaboration of the doctrine of "Constitutional avoidance".-Background:...
. Fowler also argued several cases before the short-lived Commerce Court
United States Commerce Court
The Commerce Court of the United States was a brief-lived federal trial court. It was created by the Mann-Elkins Act in 1910 and abolished a mere three years later. The Commerce Court was a specialized court, given jurisdiction over cases arising from orders of the Interstate Commerce Commission...
, and later wrote a paper in the North American Review defending this court.
In 1921, Fowler was appointed Special Assistant to the Attorney General by Attorney General Harry M. Daugherty
Harry M. Daugherty
Harry Micajah Daugherty was an American politician. He is best known as a Republican Party boss, and member of the Ohio Gang, the name given to the group of advisors surrounding president Warren G...
. Daugherty initially tasked Fowler with handling the federal government's cases arising from New York's Lockwood investigations, which involved acts of extortion committed by the leaders of building materials unions. He later handled several Supreme Court cases, including Federal Trade Commission v. American Tobacco Co. (1924), United States v. Ninety-Five Barrels Alleged Apple Cider Vinegar
United States v. Ninety-Five Barrels Alleged Apple Cider Vinegar
United States v. Ninety-Five Barrels Alleged Apple Cider Vinegar, 265 U.S. 438 , was a case in which the Supreme Court of the United States held that apple cider vinegar is mislabeled when that vinegar is made from dried apples. The label at issue indicated that the vinegar was made from "selected"...
, and United States v. General Electric Co.
United States v. General Electric Co.
United States v. General Electric Co. is a 1926 decision of the United States Supreme Court holding that a patentee who has granted a single license to a competitor to manufacture the patented product may lawfully fix the price at which the licensee may sell the product.-Background:GE owned three...
(1926).
Later life
Fowler was elected to Knoxville's city council in 1927, and chosen as mayor by his fellow councilmen. He was reelected in 1929, but did not serve as mayor during his second term. Fowler received the Republican nomination for U.S. Senate in 1928, but was defeated in the general election by Kenneth McKellarKenneth McKellar
Kenneth Douglas McKellar was an American politician from Tennessee who served as a United States Representative from 1911 until 1917 and as a United States Senator from 1917 until 1953...
. After his second city council term ended in 1931, he returned to private practice. He died on November 18, 1955, and was interred in Knoxville's Greenwood Cemetery.
Fowler was a member of the University of Tennessee Board of Trustees, and was president of the Board of Trustees for his alma mater, Tennessee Wesleyan College. He was also active in numerous Methodist charities and organizations. His lawfirm, renamed Fowler and Fowler after his sons joined, continued operating in Knoxville under various partners for several years after his death, and his descendants continued practicing law in the Knoxville area into the 21st century.
External links
- James A. Fowler Papers – University of Tennessee Howard H. Baker Center for Public Policy
- The Commerce Court – a 1913 paper written by Fowler