Jotham P. Allds
Encyclopedia
Jotham Powers Allds was an American lawyer and politician from New York
. He was President pro tempore of the New York State Senate
for a short time in 1910.
from Colgate University
in 1883. He was admitted to the bar in 1886, and commenced practice in Norwich, N.Y.
He was a Republican member from Chenango County of the New York State Assembly
from 1896 to 1902. He was a member of the New York State Senate
from 1903 to 1910. He was an alternate delegate to the 1908 Republican National Convention
.
near the end of the previous year, it became necessary for the Republican majority to elect a successor. The majority of the Republican state senators met in caucus on January 4, 1910, and chose Allds who was supported by the Republican party machine. Seven state senators, allied with reform governor Charles Evans Hughes
and objecting to Allds, met separately at the Ten Eyck Hotel in Albany, New York
. At this meeting, State Senator Benn Conger (the President of the Corona Typewriter Company
) told his fellow senators that he had paid Allds a bribe of $1000 in 1901, when both had been assemblymen and Allds was the Majority Leader of the State Assembly, to kill a bill objected to by bridge construction companies in which Conger was interested. On January 5, Allds was chosen President pro tempore and Majority Leader of the State Senate. Shortly afterwards the Conger's statement about the bribe was leaked to the press, but Conger then denied having paid the bribe himself. On January 20, the State Senate appointed a Committee on Plan and Scope (three senators: Brackett, Grady and Meade) to decide on how to proceed. The committee decided to investigate only this one charge and hear testimony before the full senate. On January 30, Conger filed the accusation before the State Senate, stating that Allds had "demanded, received and accepted $1,000 on or about April 23, 1901, in consideration for his failure to pass a certain bill then pending before the Assembly
." On February 3, Allds answered the accusation with a denial. Hiram G. Moe testified before the State Senate on February 8 and 9 that he had handed over the envelope containing the money. On February 23, Allds resigned the Presidency pro tempore, and on March 11 George H. Cobb
was chosen to succeed. On March 29, the State Senate found Allds guilty by a vote of 40 to 9, but Allds had resigned just before the begin of the session to avoid expulsion. On April 4, Conger resigned his seat, retired from politics, and died in 1922. Allds died of liver disease at Norwich Memorial Hospital in Norwich, N.Y., in 1923.
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
. He was President pro tempore of the New York State Senate
Majority Leader of the New York State Senate
The Majority Leader of the New York State Senate is elected by the majority of the members of the New York State Senate. The position usually coincides with the title of Temporary President of the State Senate, who presides over the session of the State Senate if the Lieutenant Governor of New York...
for a short time in 1910.
Life
He was the son of Jotham G. Allds and Lucy Charlotte (Powers) Allds. He graduated A.B.Bachelor of Arts
A Bachelor of Arts , from the Latin artium baccalaureus, is a bachelor's degree awarded for an undergraduate course or program in either the liberal arts, the sciences, or both...
from Colgate University
Colgate University
Colgate University is a private liberal arts college in Hamilton, New York, USA. The school was founded in 1819 as a Baptist seminary and later became non-denominational. It is named for the Colgate family who greatly contributed to the university's endowment in the 19th century.Colgate has 52...
in 1883. He was admitted to the bar in 1886, and commenced practice in Norwich, N.Y.
He was a Republican member from Chenango County of the New York State Assembly
New York State Assembly
The New York State Assembly is the lower house of the New York State Legislature. The Assembly is composed of 150 members representing an equal number of districts, with each district having an average population of 128,652...
from 1896 to 1902. He was a member of the New York State Senate
New York State Senate
The New York State Senate is one of two houses in the New York State Legislature and has members each elected to two-year terms. There are no limits on the number of terms one may serve...
from 1903 to 1910. He was an alternate delegate to the 1908 Republican National Convention
1908 Republican National Convention
The 1908 Republican National Convention, the fourteenth presidential nominating convention of the Republican Party of the United States, was held in Chicago Coliseum, Chicago, Illinois on June 16 to June 19, 1908. It convened to nominate a successor to the popular GOP President, Theodore Roosevelt...
.
Bribery scandal
After the death of President pro tem John RainesJohn Raines
John Raines was an American lawyer and politician from New York.-Life:...
near the end of the previous year, it became necessary for the Republican majority to elect a successor. The majority of the Republican state senators met in caucus on January 4, 1910, and chose Allds who was supported by the Republican party machine. Seven state senators, allied with reform governor Charles Evans Hughes
Charles Evans Hughes
Charles Evans Hughes, Sr. was an American statesman, lawyer and Republican politician from New York. He served as the 36th Governor of New York , Associate Justice of the Supreme Court of the United States , United States Secretary of State , a judge on the Court of International Justice , and...
and objecting to Allds, met separately at the Ten Eyck Hotel in Albany, New York
Albany, New York
Albany is the capital city of the U.S. state of New York, the seat of Albany County, and the central city of New York's Capital District. Roughly north of New York City, Albany sits on the west bank of the Hudson River, about south of its confluence with the Mohawk River...
. At this meeting, State Senator Benn Conger (the President of the Corona Typewriter Company
Smith Corona
Smith Corona or the SCM Corporation is a US typewriter and calculator company. Once a large U.S. manufacturer, the company experienced sales declines in typewriters in the mid-1980s due to the introduction of PC-based word processing...
) told his fellow senators that he had paid Allds a bribe of $1000 in 1901, when both had been assemblymen and Allds was the Majority Leader of the State Assembly, to kill a bill objected to by bridge construction companies in which Conger was interested. On January 5, Allds was chosen President pro tempore and Majority Leader of the State Senate. Shortly afterwards the Conger's statement about the bribe was leaked to the press, but Conger then denied having paid the bribe himself. On January 20, the State Senate appointed a Committee on Plan and Scope (three senators: Brackett, Grady and Meade) to decide on how to proceed. The committee decided to investigate only this one charge and hear testimony before the full senate. On January 30, Conger filed the accusation before the State Senate, stating that Allds had "demanded, received and accepted $1,000 on or about April 23, 1901, in consideration for his failure to pass a certain bill then pending before the Assembly
New York State Assembly
The New York State Assembly is the lower house of the New York State Legislature. The Assembly is composed of 150 members representing an equal number of districts, with each district having an average population of 128,652...
." On February 3, Allds answered the accusation with a denial. Hiram G. Moe testified before the State Senate on February 8 and 9 that he had handed over the envelope containing the money. On February 23, Allds resigned the Presidency pro tempore, and on March 11 George H. Cobb
George H. Cobb
George Henry Cobb was an American politician from New York. He was President pro tempore of the New York State Senate and Acting Lieutenant Governor of New York in 1910.-Life:...
was chosen to succeed. On March 29, the State Senate found Allds guilty by a vote of 40 to 9, but Allds had resigned just before the begin of the session to avoid expulsion. On April 4, Conger resigned his seat, retired from politics, and died in 1922. Allds died of liver disease at Norwich Memorial Hospital in Norwich, N.Y., in 1923.
Sources
- http://politicalgraveyard.com/bio/alexandre-allee.html Political Graveyard
- http://politicalgraveyard.com/trouble/1910-1919.html Political Graveyard - Politicians in trouble 1910-1919
- A General Catalogue of Colgate University - Issued in April MCMXIII at Hamilton, New York (Colgate University, 1913)
- http://query.nytimes.com/mem/archive-free/pdf?res=9B05EFDA1730E233A25756C0A9679C946196D6CF The Rep. caucus, in NYT on January 5, 1910
- http://query.nytimes.com/mem/archive-free/pdf?res=9502EFDC1139E333A2575AC1A9679C946196D6CF Allds demands investigation, and the history of the corrupt proceedings, in NYT on January 19, 1910
- http://query.nytimes.com/mem/archive-free/pdf?res=980CE7DB1139E333A25752C2A9679C946196D6CF Committee appointed, in NYT on January 21, 1910
- http://query.nytimes.com/mem/archive-free/pdf?res=940DE7DA1E30E333A25752C3A9679C946196D6CF Conger's accusation, in NYT on January 31, 1910
- http://query.nytimes.com/mem/archive-free/pdf?res=9903E2D61730E233A25757C0A9649C946196D6CF Allds's answer to the accusation, in NYT on February 4, 1910
- http://query.nytimes.com/mem/archive-free/pdf?res=9E03E2DF1430E233A2575AC0A9649C946196D6CF Moe's testimony in NYT on February 9, 1910
- http://query.nytimes.com/mem/archive-free/pdf?res=9D00E2DA1539E433A25753C1A9649C946196D6CF Moe's testimony continued in NYT on February 10, 1910
- http://query.nytimes.com/mem/archive-free/pdf?res=9504EEDA1E30E333A25752C1A9659C946196D6CF Allds's testimony in NYT on March 11, 1910
- http://query.nytimes.com/mem/archive-free/pdf?res=9B06E6D91430E233A25750C2A9659C946196D6CF Allds's counsel's plea for acquittal, in NYT on March 23, 1910
- http://query.nytimes.com/mem/archive-free/pdf?res=9A0DE4D91139E333A25753C3A9659C946196D6CF Allds's resignation and judgment, in NYT on March 30, 1910
- http://query.nytimes.com/mem/archive-free/pdf?res=9B0DE3D71430E233A25756C0A9629C946196D6CF Conger's resignation in NYT on April 5, 1910
- http://query.nytimes.com/mem/archive-free/pdf?_r=1&res=9C06E7DD1F30EE3ABC4953DFB5668389639EDE Conger's obit in NYT on March 1, 1922 (giving first name as "Ben")