Grand Old Partisan

Grand Old Partisan celebrates more than seventeen decades of Republican heroes and heroics. Today, I honor Ralph Cameron, born October 21st 1863. After five years fishing in Newfoundland, he clerked at a Boston store. Moving to Flagstaff at age twenty-six, he prospected near the Grand Canyon. Seeing its tourism potential, the entrepreneur built a hotel near the Bright Angel Trail.  Cameron served as county sheriff and delegate to the 1896 Republican National Convention. He was elected congressional delegate in 1908. To him goes much credit for the GOP-controlled 61st Congress granting Arizona statehood. He lost a bid for U.S. Senator, then the governorship. In 1920, Cameron won a second Senate campaign. Perhaps his greatest legislative achievement was authorization of the Coolidge Dam and related irrigation projects. a graveside epitaph: "Secured Statehood for Arizona. Arizona can never forget him." Back to Basics f...

Grand Old Partisan celebrates more than seventeen decades of Republican heroes and heroics. Today, I salute Edward Baker. What a career he had! Born in London, Baker immigrated to Pennsylvania with his parents as a child and then to Illinois as a teenager. There, he joined the Whig Party and was elected to the state legislature. Abraham Lincoln befriended him and named his second son after him. In 1844, Baker won a term in the U.S. House of Representatives. The young congressman resigned in order to command a regiment during the Mexican War. He then won another congressional term. Baker next moved to San Francisco in 1851 and practiced law. Within months of moving to Oregon in 1859 he was elected to the U.S. Senate as a Republican. Outbreak of civil war, Senator Baker raised a regiment of Pennsylvania volunteers and became its colonel. October 21st 1861, rebels shot him while he was leading an impetuous attack along the Potomac River abo...

Grand Old Partisan celebrates more than seventeen decades of Republican heroes and heroics. Today, I honor Marshall Jewell, born October 20th 1825. S avvy investments in telegraphy followed apprenticing at his father's leather tannery. The family businesses contributed to the Union war effort. Peace restored, he won four terms as Governor of Connecticut. Ulysses Grant named him Ambassador to Russia. Jewell's next political office was Postmaster General. He contended for the 1876 presidential nomination. His management skills while chairing the RNC helped James Garfield win the 1880 presidential election. "exemplified the highest and best life of the American citizen" "of rare social qualities, of unusual business and executive abilities" Back to Basics for the Republican Party is my civil rights history of the GOP. To quote the book: "The more we Republicans know about the history of our party, the more Democrats will worry about the futur...

Grand Old Partisan celebrates more than seventeen decades of Republican heroes and heroics. Today, I honor James Mann, born in Illinois, October 20th 1856. After volunteering with various civic organizations, this tireless attorney served on the Chicago city council. He chaired the 1894 Illinois GOP convention. Mann was elected to the U.S. House of Representatives in 1896, and went on to win another twelve terms. His foremost achievement was introducing the 19th Amendment, granting women the right to vote. In his biography of Woodrow Wilson, an opponent of women’s suffrage, Christopher Cox noted that Mann rose from his hospital sickbed to vote for the amendment. Congressmen greeted him with several minutes of applause. Mann also introduced the Pure Food and Drug Act. Failing health cost him the Speakership. "His career has been characterized by fidelity and devotion to the high aims and purposes of the country he loved." Back to Basics for the Republican Party ...

Grand Old Partisan celebrates more than seventeen decades of Republican heroes and heroics. Today, I salute Drew Bowers, born in Arkansas, October 19th 1886. His career began teaching school. He served in the army during WWI. The eloquent speaker won praise as an effective trial attorney. During the Reconstruction era, Democrats nearly eradicated the GOP in southern states. Nonetheless, courageous Republicans kept hope alive. Bowers ran for state representative in 1908 and 1916, then for congressman in 1924. These losses were followed by two unsuccessful campaigns for governor. President Coolidge named him Assistant U.S. Attorney, and President Eisenhower re-named him to the office. Bowers retired at age seventy-six, then worked in private practice until age ninety. Back to Basics for the Republican Party is my civil rights history of the GOP. To quote the book: "The more we Republicans know about the history of our party, the more Democrats will worry a...

Grand Old Partisan celebrates more than seventeen decades of Republican heroes and heroics. Today, I honor Bertha Landes, born in Massachusetts, October 19th 1868. Graduating from University of Indiana, she moved to Seattle when her geology professor husband was hired by the University of Washington. Landes won election to the city council in 1922, soon becoming its president. Two years later, with the mayor out of state, she fired the corrupt police chief, only to see him re-instated several days later. In 1926, Landes was elected to a two-year term as mayor. Her campaign theme was that Seattle needed some municipal housekeeping . Among her accomplishments were building the civic auditorium, curbing corruption and reducing crime. Landes served on the Women’s Division at the Republican National Committee. She was also active with the League of Women Voters. Back to Basics for the Republican Party is my civil rights history of the GOP. T...