Josiah William Bailey
Encyclopedia
Josiah William Bailey was a Democratic
U.S. senator
from the state of North Carolina
between 1931 and 1946. Born in Warrenton, NC
, he grew up in Raleigh and graduated from Wake Forest College (now Wake Forest University
). Before turning to a career in law, Bailey was editor of the Biblical Recorder
, a newspaper for North Carolina Baptists.
Elected to the U.S. Senate in 1930 by defeating longtime Democratic
Senator Furnifold McLendel Simmons
, Bailey earned a reputation as a conservative while in office. In 1937, he co-authored the bi-partisan Conservative Manifesto
, a document criticizing President Franklin Roosevelt's New Deal
and proposing more conservative alternatives. Among other things, the Manifesto called for lower taxes and less spending.(http://www.northcarolinahistory.org/encyclopedia/12/entry) During his time in office, he served as chairman of two different committees: the Committee on Claims and later the Committee on Commerce
.
Bailey died in office in 1946.
Well known for his quotes, two of the most famous of which are most likely:
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...
U.S. senator
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...
from the state of North Carolina
North Carolina
North Carolina is a state located in the southeastern United States. The state borders South Carolina and Georgia to the south, Tennessee to the west and Virginia to the north. North Carolina contains 100 counties. Its capital is Raleigh, and its largest city is Charlotte...
between 1931 and 1946. Born in Warrenton, NC
Warrenton, North Carolina
Warrenton is a town in Warren County, North Carolina, United States. The population was 811 at the 2000 census. Founded in 1779, it is the county seat of Warren County. It is home to one of the campuses of Vance-Granville Community College....
, he grew up in Raleigh and graduated from Wake Forest College (now Wake Forest University
Wake Forest University
Wake Forest University is a private, coeducational university in the U.S. state of North Carolina, founded in 1834. The university received its name from its original location in Wake Forest, north of Raleigh, North Carolina, the state capital. The Reynolda Campus, the university's main campus, is...
). Before turning to a career in law, Bailey was editor of the Biblical Recorder
Biblical Recorder
The Biblical Recorder is a weekly newspaper published by the Baptist State Convention of North Carolina .-Early history:The newspaper was founded in 1835 by Thomas Meredith, a prominent Southern Baptist leader in North Carolina....
, a newspaper for North Carolina Baptists.
Elected to the U.S. Senate in 1930 by defeating longtime Democratic
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...
Senator Furnifold McLendel Simmons
Furnifold McLendel Simmons
Furnifold McLendel Simmons was a Democratic member of the United States House of Representatives from 1887 to 1889 and U.S. senator from the state of North Carolina between 1901 and 1931. He served as chairman of the powerful Committee on Finance from 1913 - 1919...
, Bailey earned a reputation as a conservative while in office. In 1937, he co-authored the bi-partisan Conservative Manifesto
Conservative Manifesto
The Conservative Manifesto was a position statement drafted in 1937 by a bipartisan coalition of conservative politicians...
, a document criticizing President Franklin Roosevelt's New Deal
New Deal
The New Deal was a series of economic programs implemented in the United States between 1933 and 1936. They were passed by the U.S. Congress during the first term of President Franklin D. Roosevelt. The programs were Roosevelt's responses to the Great Depression, and focused on what historians call...
and proposing more conservative alternatives. Among other things, the Manifesto called for lower taxes and less spending.(http://www.northcarolinahistory.org/encyclopedia/12/entry) During his time in office, he served as chairman of two different committees: the Committee on Claims and later the Committee on Commerce
United States Senate Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation
The United States Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation is a standing committee of the United States Senate in charge of all senate matters related to the following subjects:* Coast Guard* Coastal zone management* Communications...
.
Bailey died in office in 1946.
Well known for his quotes, two of the most famous of which are most likely:
"They who forgive most, shall be most forgiven."
"Since we humans have the better brain, isn't it our responsibility to protect our fellow creatures from, oddly enough, ourselves?".
External links
- The "Conservative Manifesto" from the North Carolina History Project
- Biblical Recorder Column on Bailey
- "Taking on FDR: Senator Josiah Bailey and the 1937 Conservative Manifesto" by Troy Kickler, December 13, 2006
- Raleigh News & Observer Column on Bailey's Friendship with Huey Long
- Raleigh News & Observer Discussion of North Carolina Politics
- Josiah William Bailey at Find-A-Grave
Sources
- Finley, Keith M. Delaying the Dream: Southern Senators and the Fight Against Civil Rights, 1938–1965 (Baton Rouge, LSU Press, 2008).
Further reading
- Moore, John Robert. Senator Josiah William Bailey of North Carolina: A Political Biography. Durham: Duke University Press, 1968.