Henry Hollis Horton

Henry Hollis Horton ( born February 17, 1866 in Princeton, Jackson County, Alabama; † July 2, 1934 in Chapel Hill, Tennessee ) was an American politician and the 40th Governor of the State of Tennessee.

Early years and political rise

Horton graduated 1888, Winchester College and then studied until 1892 at the University of the South in Sewanee Jura, like most other subsequent governors of Tennessee. He settled in Marshall County as a lawyer down and began at the same time a political career when he was director of the school district. From 1907 to 1909 he completed for the Democratic Party a term in the House of Representatives from Tennessee. In addition, he was a town councilor in Winchester. In the following years until 1926, he was back working as a lawyer and farmer in Marshall County. From his farm was the present-day Henry Horton State Park. 1926 Horton was elected to the Senate from Tennessee. There he was equal Chairman ( Speaker). This office was synonymous with the duties of a lieutenant governor. As the incumbent Governor Austin Peay in 1927, died in office, he automatically fell to the items.

Governor of Tennessee

Horton's task was to finish the started his predecessor's term. At this time, the Democratic party in the country was split into two factions. One stood behind the late Governor Peay, the other was from the former, but still-powerful mayor of Memphis, Edward Crump, dominates. Since Horton did not have enough personal experience to exercise the office of governor, he sought help from Luke Lea, a former U.S. senator. Lea was the owner of several newspapers and in the banking and real estate business. In addition, he was involved in various other companies. Lea, as Horton a supporter of Prohibition, had supported the policy of Governor Peay and was a rival of Crump. It soon turned out that Lea used his consultancy work for their own purposes. He took advantage of the created under Peay strong position of the governor and dominated by Horton the government. Lea could appoint or dismiss members of the government as they see fit. He used the same means as his rival Crump in Memphis. Governor Horton became more and more of a straw man by Lea. This in turn had close business relationship with a banker named Roger Caldwell. Lea forgave road works in public tenders to companies that belonged to Caldwell, and also invested public money in the companies and banks.

In 1928, when the next elections queuing it fell Lea not difficult with the help of his own media to achieve the re-election of Horton. Meanwhile, the State had also had not taken too much damage due to the ongoing economic recovery. Tennessee still benefited from the policy of Peay. Leas rival Crump saw this development reluctantly. He concluded a compromise with Leah, who promised to stay out of affairs in Memphis Crump; this had intended to support Horton in the re-election in 1930. So Horton was re-elected easily.

Since the New York stock market crash of October 1929 dark clouds were also over Tennessee. One day after the election of 1930 broke the Caldwell empire together. This disappeared from one day to the other nearly seven million dollars from the state budget of Tennessee, the Lea had invested in Caldwell. The Parliament of Tennessee now appointed a committee of inquiry, as a result, Lea and Caldwell were indicted. Horton was accused of complicity and one was considering impeachment proceedings. Crump was one of the most ardent advocates of impeachment. Ironically, it has saved the office of the governor, because many Members was a vote for the impeachment Hortons as a voice for Crump. But Crump and his political machinations were considered by many to be better than that of Lea. The parliament voted against impeachment 58:41.

End of life and death

However, Horton could not run again after these events in 1932. He resigned from office and retired to his home in Chapel Hill, where he died in 1934 of a stroke. Due to the events of his tenure, he was ingloriously into the history Tennesses.