Albert B. Cummins

Albert Baird Cummins (* February 15, 1850 in Carmichaels, Greene County, Pennsylvania, † 30 July 1926 in Des Moines, Iowa ) was an American politician ( Republican) of the State of Iowa in 1908-1926 in the U.S. Senate represented. He was also from 1902 to 1908 its 18th governor.

Early years

His Avter was the farmer and carpenter Thomas L. Cummins, his mother Sarah Baird Flenniken. Cummins attended the local schools of his home and then to 1869 the Waynesburg College. He then worked for a short time as a carpenter. In addition, he was employed by the management of the Clayton County as well as in Allen County, Indiana, and worked at the railway construction. After studying law in Chicago, he was admitted in 1875 as a lawyer. Then he ran with his brother, a law firm in Des Moines.

Political career

Between 1887 and 1889, Cummins was a deputy in the House of Representatives from Iowa. In the years 1894 and 1900, he competed unsuccessfully for a seat each in the U.S. Senate. Between 1896 and 1900 he was a member of the Republican National Committee. At that time he supported the presidential campaigns of William McKinley.

In 1901 he was elected governor of his state. Cummins took up his new post on January 16, 1902. During his tenure laws were enacted to control the railroad and insurance companies. The penal system was reformed and improved the laws on child labor. At that time the prefix principle was introduced at public elections in Iowa. On November 24, 1908 Cummins resigned from his post to go to the U.S. Senate.

He joined the Congress was preceded by the death of Senator William B. Allison, whose term of office Unopened Cummins had to end. In the years 1909, 1914 and 1920, he was then re-elected each. He was since 24 November 1908 until his death on July 30, 1926 U.S. Senator (Class 3). Between 1919 and 1925 he was president pro tempore of the Senate. Cummins was also a member of several committees such as the Committee on the Public Service ( Committee on Public Service and Retrenchment ), which he chaired. Other committees on which Cummins was represented: the Committee on the navigation on the Mississippi River and its tributaries, the Committee on the domestic trade of the United States ( Committee on Interstate Commerce ) and the Legal Committee ( Committee on Judicary ).

Albert Cummins was buried in Des Moines. He was married to Ida Lucette Gallery since 1874. Together the couple had a daughter.