Edward I. Edwards

Edward Irving Edwards ( born December 1, 1863 in Jersey City, New Jersey; † January 26, 1931 ) was an American politician and 1920-1923 Governor of the State of New Jersey. He also represented his state 1923-1929 in the U.S. Senate.

Early years and political rise

Edward Edwards attended the common schools and studied at New York University after that. This was followed by a law degree with an internship in the office of his brother. As a result, Edwards went on to become a successful businessman. He has been involved both in banking and in the railroad business. He was also involved in the construction industry. Later he became a board member and CEO of First National Bank of Jersey City.

Edwards was a member of the Democratic Party. Between 1911 and 1917 he was head of the Court of New Jersey ( Comptroller ). After that, he was from 1918 to 1920 member of the State Senate. On November 4, 1919, he was elected as a candidate of his party for governor of his state.

Policy

Governor of New Jersey

Edward Edwards began his three -year term on 20 January 1920. The provisions for compensation for loss of working have been improved for the benefit of workers in his tenure. Governor Edwards was also an opponent of Prohibition, had to fit in but in this case the federal legislation. Since the state constitution precluded a direct re-election of the governor, Edwards decided in November 1922 to apply for a seat in the U.S. Senate. With the help of the democratic party leaders in New Jersey, Frank Hague, he could beat the previous incumbent Joseph Sherman Frelinghuysen of the Republican Party.

Edwards in the U.S. Senate

On March 4, 1923 Edwards took up his mandate as a Class 1 senator in Washington. There he completed a six -year term, during which he played no conspicuous part. In 1928 he stood for re-election, but was defeated by Republican Hamilton Fish Kean, who then replaced him in the U.S. Congress on March 4, 1929.

Further CV

After his return to New Jersey began a difficult time for Edwards. His wife Julie Blanche Smith, with whom he had two children, had already died in 1928. Then he lost the support of party chief Hague, who turned his sympathies A. Harry Moore. The erupted in October 1929 global economic crisis brought Edwards to the brink of financial ruin. In addition, he has been involved in a fraud scandal. After then also found skin cancer in him, Edwards shot and killed on January 26, 1931 in his home in Jersey City.