Joseph Weldon Bailey

Joseph Weldon Bailey ( * October 6, 1862 in Crystal Springs, Copiah County, Mississippi, † April 13, 1929 in Sherman, Texas ) was an American politician (Democratic Party), who represented the state of Texas in both chambers of Congress.

After schooling Joseph Bailey studied law. He was admitted to the Bar Association of the State of Mississippi in 1883 and commenced practice in Hazlehurst; then he moved in 1885 to Gainesville, Texas, where he also worked as a lawyer.

Bailey had been politically active already in Mississippi. As a representative of the State of Texas in 1890, he was then elected to the U.S. House of Representatives, where he served from March 4, 1891 until March 3, 1901; while he was leader of the opposition from 1897 to 1899 (minority leader) of the Democrats. In 1901 he moved within the Congress in the Senate. There he was seen as hope of his party; However, a first shadow fell over his career, when in 1902 the Senate gave a palpable conflict with the Republican Albert J. Beveridge of Indiana.

1906 finally first allegations against Bailey were raised that he exploiting his position as a Senator, to gain private benefits at the expense of the public. Although he was re-elected, but was still subject to investigations, the dubious practices brought to light during his time as a corporate lawyer. So that his political career was virtually ended; he resigned his Senate mandate on January 3, 1913. A candidacy as governor of Texas was in 1920 without success.

Bailey then worked again as a lawyer in Dallas. He died during a court hearing in Sherman. His son Joseph was from 1933 to 1935 also a congressman for Texas.