John Lewis Bates | |
|---|---|
 | |
| 41st Governor of Massachusetts | |
| In office January 8, 1903 – January 5, 1905 | |
| Lieutenant | Curtis Guild Jr. |
| Preceded by | Winthrop M. Crane |
| Succeeded by | William Lewis Douglas |
| 38thLieutenant Governor of Massachusetts | |
| In office January 4, 1900 – January 8, 1903 | |
| Governor | Winthrop M. Crane |
| Preceded by | Winthrop M. Crane |
| Succeeded by | Curtis Guild Jr. |
| Member of theMassachusetts House of Representatives | |
| In office 1894-1899 | |
| Personal details | |
| Born | (1859-09-18)September 18, 1859 Easton, Massachusetts, U.S. |
| Died | June 8, 1946(1946-06-08) (aged 86) Boston, Massachusetts, U.S. |
| Party | Republican |
| Spouse | Clara Elizabeth Smith |
| Profession | Lawyer |
John Lewis Bates (September 18, 1859 – June 8, 1946) was an American lawyer and Republican politician fromMassachusetts.
Bates worked to promoteEast Boston, securing legislative approval of the first tunnel underBoston Harbor, joining the neighborhood to the rest of the city. From 1903 to 1905, he served as the 41stgovernor of Massachusetts, upsetting the Republican establishment with his organizing tactics and alienating his own supporters with some of his conservative executive actions and proposals.
Later in life, he served as chair of the Massachusetts Constitutional Convention of 1917–1918.
John Bates was born in NorthEaston, Massachusetts to Rev. Lewis Benton Bates, an itinerantMethodist minister, and Louisa D. (Field) Bates. He attended public school inNew Bedford,Chelsea,Taunton, and eventually theBoston Latin School.
He earned an A.B. from the Methodist-affiliatedBoston University in 1882 and a J.D. in 1885. Over the next decade Bates practiced law inBoston, residing in itsEast Boston neighborhood.
Bates, aRepublican, first served on Boston's Common Council representing. During this period, Bates built a ward-based political machine largely independent of the existing party infrastructure.[1]
Beginning in 1891, Bates began promoting connections between East Boston and the rest of the city (separated by the innerBoston Harbor). Early proposals for a bridge went nowhere, and Bates instead began working on a tunnel proposal. The proposal met opposition from Boston's leadership over its construction costs. Bates convinced MayorJosiah Quincy to accept a toll of one cent per rider, securing agreement for its construction.
Bates won election to represent East Boston in theMassachusetts House of Representatives in 1893 and served until 1899.
From 1897 to 1899, Bates was Speaker of the House. He was elected Speaker with the support of his independent machine, without party support.[1]
In 1899, Bates again bucked the Republican party establishment by defeating the expected nominee,Curtis Guild Jr., for the party nomination forLieutenant Governor of Massachusetts.[1] Bates was not highly thought of by the moreBrahmin elements of the party establishment, but it ultimately supported his runs for lieutenant governor and governor. SenatorHenry Cabot Lodge, who supported Bates in 1902, believed that some of the opposition to Bates was based "on the profound idea of a certain element... 'that he was not our kind'."[2]
In 1902, Bates was elected the41stGovernor, despite a significant crossover of Republicans to his Democratic opponent,William A. Gaston.[2]
During his first term, Bates stepped up enforcement of strict liquor control laws. He also generated controversy by disregarding supporters' requests and catering to the more exclusive elements of the party establishment. However, these elements only supported Bates out of party duty and were also upset by the appointment of one of his East Boston cronies as Boston police commissioner.[3]
Despite losing support from factions in his own party, Bates won reelection in 1903. His second term deepened these divisions. He proposed further amendments to Sunday entertainment laws and angered agricultural interests with a proposal for reorganizing grading and inspection of farms. He vetoed a Republican bill limiting the working hours of women and children, earning him the opposition of labor interests. He also angered veterans groups by vetoing a bill granting a gratuity to the state's survivingAmerican Civil War veterans, which the legislature successfully overrode.[4]
In 1904, the long-planned tunnel to East Harbor was opened. It now carries theMBTA Blue Line.
In the 1904 election, Democrats nominatedBrockton businessmanWilliam L. Douglas, who had nationwide name and facial recognition because his image was stamped on the shoes he sold. Douglas, who was on good terms with labor interests, financed the Democratic campaign and won a landslide victory over Bates.[5]
Bates then retired to his private law practice in Boston, largely withdrawing from political life.
He was offered the possibility of standing forVice President of the United States in 1912, but refused.
From 1917 to 1919, he presided over the Massachusetts Constitutional Convention, which enacted a number of changes to thestate constitution. DuringWorld War II, he served on the state's Public Safety Commission.
Bates married Clara Elizabeth Smith on July 12, 1887.
Bates was an active member of theFreemasons and theInternational Order of Odd Fellows. He was awarded an honorary law degree byWesleyan University in 1903.[6]
He retired from his law practice in 1931, and died at his home inAllston in 1946. He was interred atWoodlawn Cemetery inEverett.[6]
| Party political offices | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by | Republican nominee forGovernor of Massachusetts 1902,1903,1904 | Succeeded by |
| Massachusetts House of Representatives | ||
| Preceded by | Speaker of the Massachusetts House of Representatives 1897 — 1899 | Succeeded by |
| Political offices | ||
| Preceded by Winthrop M. Crane | Lieutenant Governor of Massachusetts 1900–1903 | Succeeded by |
| Preceded by | Governor of Massachusetts 1903–1905 | Succeeded by |
| International | |
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| National | |
| Other | |
