Joseph Weldon Bailey
Encyclopedia
Joseph Weldon Bailey, Sr. (October 6, 1862 April 13, 1929) was a United States Senator, United States Representative, lawyer, and a Populist
political figure. He served as a Congressional Representative
between 1891 and 1901, and as the House minority leader
from 1897 until 1899. In 1901, he was elected to the United States Senate
, serving until 1913.
, Bailey attended the University of Mississippi where he joined the prestigious Delta Psi fraternity ( AKA St. Anthony Hall) in 1879. Bailey was admitted to the bar
in Mississippi in 1883. He moved to Gainesville, Texas
in 1885, where he continued to practice law. He had been politically active as a Democrat
in both Mississippi and his new home and had a reputation as an excellent public speaker. He was elected to the House in 1891, and to the Senate in 1901. As the Minority leader of the United States House of Representatives
in the 1890s he was very influential on his colleagues.
His political career was tarnished by an assault against Senator Albert J. Beveridge
, and subsequent investigations brought to light suspicious income and financial ties to the oil industry. Although he was regarded as a great populist orator, even influencing William Jennings Bryan
in some aspects of his political philosophy allegations against him in 1906 threatened his election to the United States Senate
.
After an unsuccessful election attempt to Governor of Texas
in 1920, Bailey moved to Dallas, Texas
to practice law. In 1929 he died in a courtroom.
Populism
Populism can be defined as an ideology, political philosophy, or type of discourse. Generally, a common theme compares "the people" against "the elite", and urges social and political system changes. It can also be defined as a rhetorical style employed by members of various political or social...
political figure. He served as a Congressional Representative
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...
between 1891 and 1901, and as the House minority leader
Minority leader of the United States House of Representatives
The House Minority Leader is one of the party leaders of the United States House of Representatives. This title is currently held by Democratic Representative Nancy Pelosi of California....
from 1897 until 1899. In 1901, he was elected to the United States Senate
United States Senate
The United States Senate is the upper house of the bicameral legislature of the United States, and together with the United States House of Representatives comprises the United States Congress. The composition and powers of the Senate are established in Article One of the U.S. Constitution. Each...
, serving until 1913.
Biography
Born in MississippiMississippi
Mississippi is a U.S. state located in the Southern United States. Jackson is the state capital and largest city. The name of the state derives from the Mississippi River, which flows along its western boundary, whose name comes from the Ojibwe word misi-ziibi...
, Bailey attended the University of Mississippi where he joined the prestigious Delta Psi fraternity ( AKA St. Anthony Hall) in 1879. Bailey was admitted to the bar
Admission to the bar in the United States
In the United States, admission to the bar is the granting of permission by a particular court system to a lawyer to practice law in that system. Each U.S. state and similar jurisdiction has its own court system and sets its own rules for bar admission , which can lead to different admission...
in Mississippi in 1883. He moved to Gainesville, Texas
Gainesville, Texas
Gainesville is a city in and the county seat of Cooke County, Texas, United States. The population was 15,538 at the 2000 census.-History:...
in 1885, where he continued to practice law. He had been politically active as a Democrat
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...
in both Mississippi and his new home and had a reputation as an excellent public speaker. He was elected to the House in 1891, and to the Senate in 1901. As the Minority leader of the United States House of Representatives
Minority leader of the United States House of Representatives
The House Minority Leader is one of the party leaders of the United States House of Representatives. This title is currently held by Democratic Representative Nancy Pelosi of California....
in the 1890s he was very influential on his colleagues.
His political career was tarnished by an assault against Senator Albert J. Beveridge
Albert J. Beveridge
Albert Jeremiah Beveridge was an American historian and United States Senator from Indiana.-Early years:Albert J. Beveridge was born October 6, 1862 in Highland County, Ohio and his parents moved to Indiana soon after his birth, and his boyhood was one of hard work...
, and subsequent investigations brought to light suspicious income and financial ties to the oil industry. Although he was regarded as a great populist orator, even influencing William Jennings Bryan
William Jennings Bryan
William Jennings Bryan was an American politician in the late-19th and early-20th centuries. He was a dominant force in the liberal wing of the Democratic Party, standing three times as its candidate for President of the United States...
in some aspects of his political philosophy allegations against him in 1906 threatened his election to the United States Senate
United States Senate
The United States Senate is the upper house of the bicameral legislature of the United States, and together with the United States House of Representatives comprises the United States Congress. The composition and powers of the Senate are established in Article One of the U.S. Constitution. Each...
.
After an unsuccessful election attempt to Governor of Texas
Governor of Texas
The governor of Texas is the head of the executive branch of Texas's government and the commander-in-chief of the state's military forces. The governor has the power to either approve or veto bills passed by the Texas Legislature, and to convene the legislature...
in 1920, Bailey moved to Dallas, Texas
Dallas, Texas
Dallas is the third-largest city in Texas and the ninth-largest in the United States. The Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex is the largest metropolitan area in the South and fourth-largest metropolitan area in the United States...
to practice law. In 1929 he died in a courtroom.
External links
- Joseph Weldon Bailey at Find-A-Grave
- early photo