Willis J. Bailey

Willis Joshua Bailey ( born October 12, 1854 Carroll County, Illinois, † May 19, 1932 in Mission Hills, Kansas ) was an American politician ( Republican) and from 1903 to 1905 the 16th Governor of the state of Kansas.

Early years and political rise

Willis Bailey visited the Mount Carroll High School and studied until 1879 at the University of Illinois in Urbana. Then he moved with his father to Kansas, where the two settled in Nemaha County as a farmer and rancher. Bailey was involved in the founding of the city Baileyville and the same Bank, whose president he would later become. His political career began in 1889 when he was elected for two years in the House of Representatives of Kansas. In 1893 he was chairman of the Republican Party of Kansas. Between 1895 and 1899 he was a member of the Agriculture Committee of Kansas ( State Board of Agriculture). Between 1899 and 1901 he was a delegate in the U.S. House of Representatives in Washington. In 1902 he was set up by his party as a candidate for the gubernatorial elections.

Governor of Kansas

After the successful election Bailey could begin his two-year term on 12 January 1903. During this time the Capitol in the capital Topeka has been completed. The members of the Railway Board and the Head of State will no longer be printing were appointed, but chosen. Under Governor Bailey to ban slot machines in Kansas was adopted. In order to support the producers of sugar beet was subsidized. In the years 1903 and 1904 there was severe flooding in Kansas, in which many lives were lost. The government launched a relief, but could not afford direct financial help, because not let the politically prevail. Instead, a fundraiser was launched at the gathered $ 33,000 for the victims. During his tenure, the 50th anniversary of the founding of the Kansas Territory was celebrated in style in 1904. Also at the Louisiana Purchase Exposition, the World's Fair in St. Louis, the appearance of the State Kansas was a great success.

Further CV

After the end of his term in January 1905, Bailey devoted to his private interests. He was still president of the Bailey State Bank. In 1914 he became director of the Federal Reserve Bank of Kansas City. From 1922 until his death in 1932 he was chairman of this bank. Willis Bailey was married to Wida Weede. He had two stepchildren.