Frank Lowden

From Conservapedia
Jump to: navigation, search
! This article has an inadequate number of citations.
You are encouraged to add sources for verifiability, but please abide by The Conservapedia Commandments & Style Guide.
Conservlogo.png
Frank Lowden
Lowden.jpg
25th Governor of Illinois
From: January 8, 1917 – January 10, 1921
Predecessor Edward Dunne
Successor Len Small
Former U.S. Representative from Illinois's 13th Congressional District
From: November 6, 1906 – March 3, 1911
Predecessor Robert R. Hitt
Successor John C. McKenzie
Information
Party Republican
Spouse(s) Florence Pullman

Frank Orren Lowden was the Governor of Illinois from 1917 to 1921. Before that, he was a member of the United States House of Representatives from 1906 to 1911. Lowden was the conservative Republicans' choice for President in 1920, though he lost the nomination to Warren G. Harding.

Career

Lowden first entered politics when he was became a Representative in 1906 to fill the vacant seat of the deceased Robert R. Hitt. He was elected Governor of Illinois in 1916, and became very popular as Governor. He reorganized the state government, and managed to cut taxes despite rising prices through the introduction of a budget system.[1] In 1918 he vetoed a bill to eliminate the death penalty. As governor, he also enthusiastically marshalled his state's resources in support of the United States's effort in World War I. He even sent out state troops to prevent the meeting of the People's Council (a pro-German organization) when the Chicago mayor refused too. Most importantly, however, he gained nationwide recognition and fame for his handling of the Chicago race riot of 1919 and a simultaneous transit strike, which helped propel his candidacy for the Republican presidential nomination of 1920 due to his support for law and order.[2] A Reservationist, he opposed entry into the League of Nations without the Lodge Reservations.[1] He also supported women's suffrage.

At the 1920 Republican National Convention, he deadlocked with General Leonard Wood, who was a more progressive candidate. After several rounds of nominations but still no winner, Republican Party bosses met in a smoke-filled room to discuss a compromise candidate. Lowden's supporters coalesced around the compromise candidate Warren G. Harding, who was considered a moderate conservative.[3] Harding won the nomination and the election. Lowden would go on to win the Republican nomination for Vice President in 1924, but he declined it. He ran for President again in 1928, but Herbert Hoover won the Republican nomination on the first ballot. He died on March 20, 1943.

References

  1. 1.0 1.1 https://en.m.wikisource.org/wiki/1922_Encyclop%C3%A6dia_Britannica/Lowden,_Frank_Orren
  2. Krist, Gary (2012). City of Scoundrels: The Twelve Days of Disaster That Gave Birth to Modern Chicago. New York: Crown, 220–221. ISBN 978--0-307-45429-4. 
  3. "Harding Nominated for President on the Tenth Ballot at Chicago; Coolidge Chosen for Vice President", New York Times, 13 June 1920.