Thomas W. Wallace

Thomas W. Wallace ( * January 24, 1900, † June 17, 1943 in Schenectady, New York) was an American lawyer and politician ( Republican).

Career

Thomas W. Wallace worked as a management consultant in Schenectady. Then he was District Attorney of Schenectady County. He was then elected to the Senate from New York. During this time, he ran unsuccessfully for the Republican nomination in 1942 for the New York Attorney General, was instead nominated for the office of lieutenant governor. He defeated the Democratic incumbent Charles Poletti, who was regarded as the successor of Governor Dewey, if he had won the presidential election of 1944. Wallace took office on 1 January 1943. In July of the same year he fell ill with the chicken pox, which he sustained in his two children. Two days later, he suffered from pneumonia, so he was taken to Ellis Hospital in Schenectady, where he was in an oxygen tent. His health deteriorated rapidly, so that he died the following week. He was buried at the Holy Redeemer Cemetery in Niskayuna (New York).

Political consequences

With the death of Thomas W. Wallace, the question was raised as to whether the revised state constitution, which was adopted in 1938, a by-election to fill the vacancy prescribed. The Court of Appeals of New York decided ( Affirmative Action ), which led to harsh criticism of Governor Dewey. An additional articles to the State Constitution of 1937 has increased the term of office of deputies in the New York State Assembly for two years. The Senators have been elected since 1898 in each even-numbered year for a two year term. The Amendment had the effect that there was no election in each odd-numbered year. Despite Dewey's objections a statewide election was held in November 1943. On his recommendation, the legislature passed a constitutional amendment, which was approved by the voters, which barred any election for the office of Lieutenant Governor, except for the election of the governor of New York.