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Created page with "'''John Robert Thomas, Sr.''' (October 11, 1846 – January 19, 1914), also known as '''J. R. Thomas''', was a judge from Illinois who served as the state's U.S. represent..."
'''John Robert Thomas, Sr.''' (October 11, 1846 – January 19, 1914), also known as '''J. R. Thomas''', was a judge from [[Illinois]] who served as the state's U.S. representative for five terms from 1879 to 1889. He was later appointed by President [[William McKinley]] to serve for a post in the Indian Territory.
==Political career==
===U.S. House of Representatives===
Thomas was first elected to Congress in the 1878 midterms, narrowly defeating Democrat William J. Allen by two percentage points with a plurality polling 47% of the vote.<ref>[https://www.ourcampaigns.com/RaceDetail.html?RaceID=618886 IL District 18 Race - Nov 05, 1878]. ''Our Campaigns''. Retrieved November 10, 2021.</ref> He was re-elected four times, with the margins being similarly narrow.<ref>[https://www.ourcampaigns.com/CandidateDetail.html?CandidateID=68774 Candidate - John Robert Thomas]. ''Our Campaigns''. Retrieved November 10, 2021.</ref>
In 1883, Thomas was one of only seven House Republicans to vote against the [[Pendleton Civil Service Reform Act]],<ref>[https://www.govtrack.us/congress/votes/47-2/h272 TO PASS S. 133, A BILL REGULATING AND IMPROVING THE U. S. CIVIL SERVICE. (J.P. 163).] ''GovTrack.us''. Retrieved November 10, 2021.</ref> which replaced the traditional [[spoils system]] with a [[bureaucratic]] [[civil service system]]. The conservative Republican [[Stalwart]] faction which earlier opposed civil service reform almost entirely voted for the Pendleton Act under immense political pressure following the assassination of [[James A. Garfield]].
Thomas did not run for re-election in 1888, and was succeeded by Democrat William Ralls Morrison.
==References==
{{reflist}}
==External links==
*[https://bioguide.congress.gov/search/bio/T000176 Profile] at the ''Biographical Directory of the United States Congress
*[https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/7189140/john-robert-thomas Profile] at ''Find a Grave
{{DEFAULTSORT:Thomas, John R.}}
[[Category:Illinois]]
[[Category:Oklahoma]]
[[Category:Judges]]
[[Category:Former United States Representatives]]
[[Category:Republicans]]
[[Category:Civil Rights]]
==Political career==
===U.S. House of Representatives===
Thomas was first elected to Congress in the 1878 midterms, narrowly defeating Democrat William J. Allen by two percentage points with a plurality polling 47% of the vote.<ref>[https://www.ourcampaigns.com/RaceDetail.html?RaceID=618886 IL District 18 Race - Nov 05, 1878]. ''Our Campaigns''. Retrieved November 10, 2021.</ref> He was re-elected four times, with the margins being similarly narrow.<ref>[https://www.ourcampaigns.com/CandidateDetail.html?CandidateID=68774 Candidate - John Robert Thomas]. ''Our Campaigns''. Retrieved November 10, 2021.</ref>
In 1883, Thomas was one of only seven House Republicans to vote against the [[Pendleton Civil Service Reform Act]],<ref>[https://www.govtrack.us/congress/votes/47-2/h272 TO PASS S. 133, A BILL REGULATING AND IMPROVING THE U. S. CIVIL SERVICE. (J.P. 163).] ''GovTrack.us''. Retrieved November 10, 2021.</ref> which replaced the traditional [[spoils system]] with a [[bureaucratic]] [[civil service system]]. The conservative Republican [[Stalwart]] faction which earlier opposed civil service reform almost entirely voted for the Pendleton Act under immense political pressure following the assassination of [[James A. Garfield]].
Thomas did not run for re-election in 1888, and was succeeded by Democrat William Ralls Morrison.
==References==
{{reflist}}
==External links==
*[https://bioguide.congress.gov/search/bio/T000176 Profile] at the ''Biographical Directory of the United States Congress
*[https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/7189140/john-robert-thomas Profile] at ''Find a Grave
{{DEFAULTSORT:Thomas, John R.}}
[[Category:Illinois]]
[[Category:Oklahoma]]
[[Category:Judges]]
[[Category:Former United States Representatives]]
[[Category:Republicans]]
[[Category:Civil Rights]]