John F. Shafroth

John Franklin Shafroth ( born June 9, 1854 in Fayette, Howard County, Missouri, † February 20, 1922 in Denver, Colorado ) was an American politician who represented the state of Colorado in both chambers of Congress. Moreover, he was from 1909 to 1913 the 17th Governor of that State.

Early years

After primary school Shafroth attended the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor until 1875. After a subsequent law degree, he was admitted to the bar in 1876. After that he began in Fayette to work in his new profession. In 1879 he moved to Denver, Colorado, where he also worked as a lawyer. Between 1887 and 1891 he was attorney for the city of Denver.

Political career

From 1895 to 1904 was Shafroth deputy in the U.S. House of Representatives in Washington. During this time he came over from the Republican Party to the Democrats. After his last election was challenged in Congress, he took in 1904 from his position.

In 1908, Shafroth was elected governor of his state. He took office on January 12, 1909. After a re-election in November 1910, he could remain in office until January 14, 1913. In these four years, an Environmental Committee was established. For hazardous occupations in the eight-hour day was introduced. The laws regarding women and child labor were reformed and introduced the direct election of U.S. senators according to an addition to the U.S. Constitution. Another law provided for safety inspections in factories. Also the prefix principle was applied in those years in Colorado for the first time.

After the end of his governorship, he was elected to the Democratic Party in the U.S. Senate. This mandate he held 1913-1919. In the Senate he was chairman of a committee which dealt with the American islands in the Pacific and Puerto Rico. After his unsuccessful re-election campaign, he was a member of a Government Commission of the German Federal Government (War Minerals Relief Commission) until 1921. John Shafroth died in February 1922. He was married to Virginia Morrision, with whom he had five children.

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