Madden was born inWolviston,County Durham,England. In 1869 he immigrated to theUnited States with his parents, who settled nearLemont, Illinois. He attended school in England and later studied inChicago, graduating from Bryant and Stratton Business College in 1873; he also completed training at an engineering trade school.[2] Madden worked in the stone and quarrying industry and became prominent in related trade organizations. He served as president of the Quarry Owners' Association of the United States (1885–1889) and as vice president and director of the Builders and Traders' Exchange of Chicago (1886–1887). He later became president of the Western Stone Company.[2]
Madden served on theChicago City Council from 1889 to 1897. During that period he served as the council's presiding officer (1891–1893) and chaired the finance committee for seven years. He also chaired the Republican committee of Chicago (1890–1896).[2] In the Chicago City Council, Madden's career was described as conservative and judicious. Contemporary commentary praised him as "Never in the history of Chicago has a chairman of the Finance Committee of the Common Council been so conservative, so judicious, and so economically watchful over the city expenditures as Martin Madden. His worst enemy will say yes to that." It further asserted that, "If Martin B. Madden did nothing else, if Martin B. Madden passed away tomorrow, the citizens of Chicago would say, a monument will be erected to Martin B. Madden."[4] Madden also played a role in promoting the construction ofLake Front Park, which has been described by some commentators as one of Chicago's most beautiful parks.[4] During his tenure as analderman, Martin advanced several measures, including a civil service bill and an amendment favorable tocontractors. The civil service bill would not take effect as law unless it was approved by voters on 2 April; if adopted, it would apply from 1 July onward only to government positions that became vacant after that date, with such vacancies to be filled under the new rules.[5] The amendment replaced the requirement that contractors obtain sworn statements from each material supplier before receiving final payment with a system under which contractors filed their own sworn statements subject to municipal verification, thereby reducing administrative burdens and the risk of delayed or withheld payments.[6]
Madden also ran for theUnited States Senate in 1897. As early as October of the previous year, Madden had already attracted notable attention and was frequently introduced as "Senator Madden".[7] Owing to his business career and financial acumen, he attracted considerable support.[8] Madden was also at one point backed by the newly elected GovernorJohn Riley Tanner[9], and the election ofEdward C. Curtis as Speaker of theIllinois House of Representatives was regarded as favorable to his candidacy.[10] However, Madden also faced substantial opposition.[11] His opponent,William E. Mason, also alleged that Madden had sought to secure votes by offering public offices in return.[12]In addition, the newly elected PresidentWilliam McKinley opposed Madden's election, viewing it as "a slap" at his incoming national administration.[13] Even more extreme, some people are willing to spend large sums of money to oppose Madden's election campaign.[14] Unable to secure sufficient support, Madden was compelled to withdraw from the race. He subsequently endorsed Mason and served as Mason's campaign manager.[15] Some analysts have suggested that Governor Tanner withdrew his support for Madden in response to widespread protests, a development they argue prompted Madden to withdraw from the race.[16]
As early as 1902, Madden ran for election to theU.S. House of Representatives, but was defeated. Madden was elected to Congress in 1904 and was subsequently reelected, serving from March 4, 1905, until his death in 1928.[2] He developed a reputation as a powerful appropriator and ultimately chaired the House Committee on Appropriations (including the70th Congress).[3][17] In 1919, Madden introduced a House bill to regulate interstate commerce by guaranteeing "equal and identical" rights and accommodations in interstate transportation and prohibiting discrimination on the basis of race, color, or prior condition of servitude; contemporary coverage described it as an effort to abolish "Jim Crow" passenger cars, backed by a committee ofAfrican-American civic leaders.[18] Madden was a supporter of PresidentCalvin Coolidge. Shortly before his death, he was working to advance aMississippi River flood-control bill, a measure aligned with Coolidge's legislative priorities.[19]
Madden died suddenly at the U.S. Capitol on April 27, 1928, while serving as chair of the Appropriations Committee. Funeral services were held in the House Chamber on April 29, 1928.[20] Contemporary congressional remarks described him as having been conducting appropriations hearings earlier that day before collapsing at his desk following a recess.[21] he collapsed around noon while talking withElliott W. Sproul, suffered an acuteheart attack, and died within minutes despite physicians' efforts. The House adjourned in his honor.[19] After Madden's death, Chicago Republicans selected Oscar Stanton De Priest to replace him on the ballot in Illinois's 1st district; De Priest went on to win the seat later in 1928.[22]
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This article incorporatespublic domain material fromBiographical Directory of the United States Congress.Federal government of the United States.
