Guy L. Moser
| Guy Louis Moser | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| |||
| Former U.S. Representative from Pennsylvania's 14th Congressional District From: January 3, 1937 – January 3, 1943 | |||
| Predecessor | William E. Richardson | ||
| Successor | Daniel K. Hoch | ||
| Information | |||
| Party | Democrat | ||
| Religion | Lutheran[1] | ||
Guy Louis Moser (January 23, 1886 – May 9, 1961) was a Democrat from Pennsylvania who represented the state's 14th congressional district in the United States House of Representatives for three terms. A relatively unknown political figure, little substantial information is published about him despite his notable stance against several civil rights measures during his tenure.
Early life and career
Moser was born in Amity Township, Pennsylvania (located in Berkshire County) to Henry George Moser and the former Mary Margaret Sassaman. After attending and completing rural schools, he entered a career in painting and paperhanging.[2]
As a postal inspector, Moser at one point aided the capturing of eight robbers.[1] He also caught a man who attempted to rob a railroad station in 1930.
Political career
In the 1910s, Moser at one point worked with future president Franklin D. Roosevelt to help elect Woodrow Wilson.[1]
U.S. House of Representatives
During the strongly Democrat-favoring 1936 election cycle, Moser ran for the House as an acolyte of President Roosevelt.[1] He easily won the general election over Republican opponent Charles E. Roth,[3] and was re-elected in 1938[4] and 1940.[5]
Along with the vast majority of his House party colleagues, Moser voted for the House substitute of Roosevelt's Judicial Procedures Reform Bill (known as the infamous court packing scheme),[6] which provided additional incentives for the retirement of United States Supreme Court justices so the president could replace them with preferred pro-New Deal picks.[7]
In 1937, Moser was one of several Northern Democrats in the House to vote against anti-lynching legislation, the Gavagan–Wagner Act, that year.[8] According to the Congressional Record, he justified his position on the grounds that he opposed provisions in Section 4 of the legislation which would authorize the prosecution of those who do not apprehend lynchers within thirty days, stating:[9]
| “ | Mr. Chairman, I have investigated cases for the Federal Government that have led to the prosecution of those guilty of crime. In innumerable instances it was not possible to apprehend within a given limit of time. The time I consumed was never restricted. In the investigations that led to the obtaining of evidence on which to apprehend, and on which to convict, frequently many months were necessarily consumed, and at times years, approaching dangerously near the deadline of the statute of limitations—3 years. I cannot under any circumstances vote to make my people liable under such prima-facie evidence amenable to the proviso therein mentioned. | ” |
Moser similarly voted against the anti-lynching legislation in 1940, the Gavagan–Fish Act.[10] He in addition opposed an anti-poll tax measure two years later.[11]
Death
Moser died in 1961 at the age of seventy-four; his only surviving relative at the time was a nephew, Robert Althouse.[1] The funeral service was held at Dengler Funeral home and officiated by Rev. Paul J. Birdsboro. Moser is interred at Amityville Church Cemetery, located in Athol.
See also
- Frank E. Hook, like-minded Democrat U.S. representative from Michigan
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 May 10, 1961. Guy Moser, Ex-Legislator And Amity Native, Dies. The Mercury via Newspapers.com. Retrieved September 25, 2021.
- ↑ Guy L. Moser. Prabook. Retrieved September 25, 2021.
- ↑ PA - District 14 Race - Nov 03, 1936. Our Campaigns. Retrieved September 25, 2021.
- ↑ PA - District 14 Race - Nov 08, 1938. Our Campaigns. Retrieved September 25, 2021.
- ↑ PA District 14 Race - Nov 05, 1940. Our Campaigns. Retrieved September 25, 2021.
- ↑ TO PASS H. R. 2518, (P. A. 10), A BILL PROVIDING FOR THE RETIREMENT OF JUSTICES OF THE SUPREME COURT.. GovTrack.us. Retrieved September 25, 2021.
- ↑ Fascinating Politics (April 28, 2021). The Court Packing Episode. Mad Politics: The Bizarre, Fascinating, and Unknown of American Political History. Retrieved September 25, 2021.
- ↑ TO PASS H. R. 1507, AN ANTI-LYNCHING BILL.. GovTrack.us. Retrieved September 25, 2021.
- ↑ GPO-CRECB-1937-pt3-v81-20-2.pdf. Congressional Record. Retrieved September 25, 2021.
- ↑ TO PASS H.R. 801, A BILL TO MAKE LYNCHING A FEDERAL CRIME.. GovTrack.us. Retrieved September 25, 2021.
- ↑ TO PASS H.R. 1024 WHICH DECLARES ILLEGAL THE REQUIREMENT OF A POLL TAX AS A PREREQUISITE FOR VOTING OR REGISTERING TO VOTE FOR PRESIDENT, VICE-PRESIDENT, OR U.S. REPRESENTATIVE.. GovTrack.us. Retrieved September 25, 2021.
External links
- Profile at the Biographical Directory of the United States Congress
- GUY L. MOSER DEAD; EX-REPRESENTATIVE via The New York Times, published May 10, 1961 – article behind paywall
- Profile at Find a Grave