James Robert Mann (Illinois)

James Robert Mann
House Minority Leader
In office
1911–1919
Preceded by Champ Clark
Succeeded by Champ Clark
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Illinois's 2nd district
In office
March 4, 1903 – November 30, 1922
Preceded by John J. Feely
Succeeded by Morton D. Hull
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Illinois's 1st district
In office
March 4, 1897 – March 3, 1903
Preceded by J. Frank Aldrich
Succeeded by Martin Emerich
Personal details
Born (1856-10-20)October 20, 1856
Bloomington, Illinois
Died November 30, 1922(1922-11-30) (aged 66)
Washington, D.C.
Political party Republican
Alma mater University of Illinois at Urbana
James Mann (right) with Speaker of the House Champ Clark.
1911–1919

James Robert Mann (October 20, 1856 – November 30, 1922) was an American legislator and U.S. Representative from Illinois, 1897–1922. He was a member of the Republican party, and served as House Minority Leader from 1911 to 1919.[1]

Early life

James Robert Mann was born near Bloomington, McLean County, Illinois on October 20, 1856. His older brother was Frank Irving Mann (1854-1937) farmer, editor of the Prairie Farmer news publication, and author of The Farmers Creed.

James attended University of Illinois at Urbana and graduated in 1876. He graduated from Union College of Law in 1881 and became a lawyer in Chicago. Mann held several local political offices before serving in the House of Representatives.


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:

Service in the House

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."[2] He was a leading opponent of the Harrison Act and Prohibition, despite the popularity of such legislation amongst his fellow Midwestern progressives.

Death

Congressman Mann died in Washington, D.C. of pneumonia on November 30, 1922 at age 66 before the close of the 67th United States Congress.[1] He was interred in Oak Woods Cemetery in Chicago.

References

  1. 1 2 "James R. Mann Dies in Washington Home After Week's Illness, Ending in Pneumonia". New York Times. December 1, 1922. Retrieved 2014-08-04. Representative James R. Mann of Illinois, for nearly twenty-six years a member of the House, and during most of that time a leader of the Republican Party, died at his home here at 11:15 o'clock tonight.
  2. ↑ http://www.nytimes.com/learning/general/onthisday/big/0112.html#article

Additional information

 This article incorporates public domain material from the Biographical Directory of the United States Congress document "MANN, James Robert".

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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