James Robert Mann (Illinois)
about 1920
James Robert Mann (October 20, 1856–November 30, 1922) was an American legislator and U.S. Representative from Illinois, 1897–1922. He was born near Bloomington, McLean County, Illinois. He was a lawyer in Chicago and held several local political offices before serving in the House of Representatives. He was a member of the Republican party, and served as House Minority Leader from 1911 to 1919.
Congressman Mann died in Washington, D.C. at age 66 and was interred in Oakwood Cemetery in Chicago.
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Education
- Bloomington County public schools
- University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, graduated 1876
- Union College of Law, Chicago, graduated 1881
Professional life
He was admitted to the Illinois bar in 1881 and commenced his practice in Chicago. He held several local offices before being elected as a congressman:
- Member of the Oakland Board of Education in Chicago (1887)
- Attorney for Hyde Park and the South Park commissioners of Chicago
- Chairman of the Illinois State Republican convention (1894)
- Member of the City Council of Chicago (1892–1896)
- Master in chancery of the Superior Court of Cook County
- Chairman of the Republican county conventions at Chicago (1895, 1902)
- Elected as Republican (1896) to the 55th Congress with 13 successive terms
Service in the House
- Chairman, Committee on Elections No. 1 (58th – 60th Congresses)
- Committee on Interstate and Foreign Commerce (61st Congress)
- Committee on Women Suffrage (66th Congress)
- Minority Leader (62nd – 65th Congresses)
Notable legislation
Congressman Mann was one of the sponsors of the Mann-Elkins Act, which gave more power to the Interstate Commerce Commission to regulate railroad rates. He is probably best known for his authorship of the Mann Act of 1910, which was a reaction to the "white slavery" issue and prohibited transportation of women between states for purposes of prostitution. He introduced legislation that became the Pure Food and Drugs Act of 1906.
He was considered to be a leader in the cause of amending the United States Constitution to grant suffrage to women. However, he was quoted as saying, "'They should have been at home where they belonged,' referring to the women in the pageant."[1] He was a leading opponent of the Harrison Act and Prohibition, despite the popularity of such legislation amongst his fellow Midwestern progressives.
External links
- James Robert Mann (Illinois) at the Biographical Directory of the United States Congress
- Extended bibliography – United States Congress website
Additional information
- Ellis, L. Ethan. “James Robert Mann: Legislator Extraordinary”. Journal of the Illinois State Historical Society 46 (Spring 1953): 28-44.
| United States House of Representatives | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by J. Frank Aldrich |
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Illinois's 1st congressional district 1897-1903 |
Succeeded by Martin Emerich |
| Preceded by John J. Feely |
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Illinois's 2nd congressional district 1903-1922 |
Succeeded by Morton D. Hull |
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