Bailey, Josiah William, 1873-1946

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Public official and political leader.

From the description of Josiah William Bailey papers, 1833-1967; (bulk 1930-1946). (Duke University Library). WorldCat record id: 19106021

  • 1873: Josiah William Bailey born, September 14; Warrenton, N.C.
  • 1877: Bailey's father, Christopher Thomas Bailey, appointed editor of the Biblical Recorder; family moves to Raleigh, N.C.
  • 1880 - 1889 : Bailey attends Raleigh Township Graded Schools and Raleigh Male Academy.
  • 1893: Received B.A. degree from Wake Forest College.
  • 1893 - 1907 : Edited Biblical Recorder. As editor, Bailey emphasized the need for improved public school conditions in N.C. and advocated state aid to public schools.
  • 1896 - 1900 : Member, state Board of Agriculture.
  • 1900 election: Supported disfranchisement of Negroes, Furnifold Simmons for Senate, and Charles B. Aycock for governor.
  • 1903 - 1907 : Chairman, N.C. Anti-Saloon League. Fought to establish local option. Opposed national prohibition. Resigned when League resolved to support state prohibition.
  • 1907 - 1908 : Studied law under Samuel French Mordecai, Trinity College. Admitted to the bar, began practice with Wesley N. Jones.
  • 1908: Elector at Large.
  • 1909 - 1911 : Member, Board of Education, Wake County.
  • 1911 - 1913 : Chairman, Stste Child Labor Committee.
  • 1912 election: Supported Woodrow Wilson for President and Locke Craig for governor. F.M. Simmons re-elected U.S. Senator.
  • 1913 - 1910 : Appointed by President Wilson to be Collector or Internal Revenue for N.C. Eastern District.
  • 1913: Governor Craig appointed Bailey to N.C. Constitutional Commission. Commission recommended voting reform, court changes, tax reform, required school term.
  • 1914: Assumed leadership of liberal faction of State Democratic Party. Suggestions of this faction defeated by subsequent state convention.
  • 1916: Married Edith Walker Pou.
  • 1917: Addressed N.C. General Assembly in behalf of women's suffrage.
  • 1919 - 1921 : Internal Revenue Collector for N.C.
  • 1919 - 1920 : Represented interests of the Farmers' Union before the N.C. General Assembly, opposing increased property taxes.
  • 1921: Returned to legal practice full time with James Hinton Pou.
  • 1924: Candidate for governor. Defeated in primary by Angus Wilton McLean whom Simmons supported
  • 1928: Supported Alfred E. Smith for the presidency, O. Max Gardner for governor.
  • 1930: Candidate for U.S. Senate; defeated Simmons in primary and won election with record-breaking majority.
  • 1932: Advocated currency control. Suggested reducing administrative expenses, but supported public works appropriations
  • 1932 election: Actively supported Roosevelt in N.C.
  • 1933: Opposed Agricultural Adjustment Act.
  • 1936: Re-elected to Senate.
  • 1937: Strongly opposed court packing bill. Supported Neutrality Act. Emerged as key Figure in Senate conservative alliance.
  • 1938: Opposed Fair Labor Standards Act. Became chairman of Commerce Committee.
  • 1940: Supported Selective Service Bill.
  • 1941: Supported Lend-Lease. Reversing earlier position, advocated intervention.
  • 1942: Re-elected to Senate.
  • 1945: Supported ratification of the United Nations Charter.
  • 1946: Died Dec. 15 in Raleigh, N.C.
Claims: 1931-1944 72nd-78th Congresses (Chairman, 1933-1938) Commerce: 1931-1946 72nd-79th Congresses(Chairman, 1939-1946) Finance: 1935 74th Congress (Apparently Bailey was on this committee only briefly) Interstate Commerce: 1933-1934 73rd Congress Post Office and Post Roads: 1931-1946 72nd-79th Congresses Special Committee on the Conservation of Wildlife Resources: 1933-1946 73rd-79th Congresses Special Committee to Investigate Conditions in the Merchant Marine (Chairman): 1939-1944 76th-78th Congresses Josiah William Bailey Father: Christopher Thomas Bailey Mother: Annie Sarah (Bailey) Bailey Sister: Sallie C. Bailey (married Wesley N. Jones; children: Annie Railey,Sallie W., William B.) Brother: Christopher Thomas Bailey, Jr. (married Mary Himbish) Brother: Edmund Lamar Bailey Brother: Bayard Yates Bailey (died in infancy) Edith Walker Pou Father: James Hinton Pou Mother: Annie Walker Pou Children of Josiah William and Edith Pou Bailey James Hinton Pou (b. 1917) Annie Elizabeth (b. 1920) Josiah William, Jr. (b. 1922) Edith Pou (b. 1925) Sallie (b. 1927)

From the guide to the Josiah William Bailey Papers, 1833-1967, (Duke University. David M. Rubenstein Rare Book & Manuscript Library)

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Birth 1873-09-14

Death 1946-12-15

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