John Dalzell | |
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| Dean of the United States House of Representatives | |
| In office March 22, 1912 – March 3, 1913 | |
| Preceded by | Henry H. Bingham |
| Succeeded by | Sereno E. Payne |
| Chairman of theHouse Rules Committee | |
| In office March 1910 – March 4, 1911 | |
| Speaker | Joseph G. Cannon |
| Preceded by | Joseph G. Cannon |
| Succeeded by | Robert Lee Henry |
| Member of the U.S. House of Representatives fromPennsylvania | |
| In office March 4, 1887 – March 3, 1913 | |
| Preceded by | James S. Negley |
| Succeeded by | M. Clyde Kelly |
| Constituency | 22nd district (1887-1903) 30th district (1903-1913) |
| Personal details | |
| Born | (1845-04-19)April 19, 1845 |
| Died | October 2, 1927(1927-10-02) (aged 82) |
| Political party | Republican |
| Alma mater | Yale University |
John Dalzell (April 19, 1845 – October 2, 1927) was an American attorney andRepublican politician who represented his hometown ofPittsburgh, Pennsylvania in the U.S. House of Representatives from 1887 to 1913. During thepresidency of Theodore Roosevelt, Dalzell acted as an envoy between Roosevelt and Congress, bridging an otherwise combative relationship. He was a constant critic ofmachine politics, challenging bothMatthew Quay andJoseph Gurney Cannon within his party.
John Dalzell was born inNew York City. He moved with his parents, Samuel Dalzell and Mary McDonnell Dalzell toPittsburgh, Pennsylvania in 1847.
He attended the common schools and theWestern University of Pennsylvania in Pittsburgh. He graduated fromYale College, where he was a member ofScroll and Key, with the class of 1865. He studied law, was admitted to the bar in 1867 and commenced practice in Pittsburgh.
Dalzell was elected as a Republican to theFiftieth Congress in 1886 and to the twelve succeeding Congresses. He served as chairman of the United States House Committee on Pacific Railroads during theFifty-first Congress, and theUnited States House Committee on Rules during theSixty-first Congress. Dalzell was also a member of theHouse Committee on Ways and Means from 1891 to 1913.[1]
He ran for the U.S. Senate in1898 and1900 but was defeated both times byMatthew S. Quay.
In 1902 he lost his bid for theSpeakership of the House of Representatives toJoseph G. Cannon.
Dalzell was a delegate to theRepublican National Conventions in1904 and1908, and served as a Regent of theSmithsonian Institution from 1906 to 1913. After the death of Pennsylvania representativeHenry H. Bingham in March 1912, Dalzell became the longest continuously-serving member of the House of Representatives, or the "Father of the House." He was defeated for renomination later in1912 and left Congress in March 1913.[2]
As cited in "The Congressional Career of John Dalzell with Special Emphasis Upon His Tariff Views" by Kathryn E. Beazell, A.B.," John Dalzell worked closely with President Theodore Roosevelt. "It was said that because of President Roosevelt's outspoken manner, scores of Congressmen stayed away from the White House. But during the seven years that Mr. Roosevelt occupied the White House, he had no more frequent or welcome visitor than Mr. Dalzell. Oftentimes, when someone wanted favor from Mr. Roosevelt, Mr. Dalzell was asked to intercede. It was also said that with Presidents Harrison and McKinley, Mr. Dalzell was in close and constant touch, and that many of their ideas were brought before the House by Mr. Dalzell." At one point, President Theodore Roosevelt was asked about one particular matter, and responded: "Is Mr. Dalzell in favor of this improvement?" "He is, Mr. President," replied the spokesman. "Gentlemen," said the President, "I'll say this to you. I would do more for John Dalzell than I would for any other man on the floor of the House."
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He married Mary Louise Duff, September 26, 1867. She was the daughter of Peter Duff (February 16, 1802 – September 13, 1869), the founder of Duff's Business Institute in Pittsburgh, (now Everest Institute).
John and Mary Dalzell had five children: William Sage Dalzell (August 17, 1868 – September 27, 1934), Elizabeth Marter Dalzell (March 4, 1870 – 1961), Samuel Dalzell (April 22, 1873 – 1958), John Dalzell Jr (August 1, 1875 – May 6, 1877) and Robert Duff Dalzell (August 27, 1882 – November 30, 1967).[3]
Elizabeth Marter Dalzell married Col. George M. Dunn, one of Teddy Roosevelt's Rough Riders.[4]
During John Dalzell's political career, his wife Mary Louise was a prominent hostess active in the Washington political scene. Although women did not have the vote at that time, still she was politically influential. To briefly quote a passage describing this from vol 2, p 25 of Kitzmiller'sThe Family Encyclopedia:
"... his friends persuaded him, somewhat against his will, to go to Congress. In this project they were aided and abetted by his wife .... (who) was exceptionally well-fitted to be the helpmate of a congressman. Relieving her husband of many of the burdens which constituents place upon the representative, she also unobtrusively engineered campaign contracts, quietly supervising that meticulous reelection detail which is the bane of a congressman's existence.... The death of Mrs Dalzell in 1909 broke the mainspring of his political existence."
He retired inWashington, D.C., following the death of his wife in 1909. In 1925, he moved to live in the home of his youngest son, Samuel Dalzell, inAltadena, California. He died in California at the age of 82. He is buried in Pittsburgh'sAllegheny Cemetery.
| U.S. House of Representatives | ||
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| Preceded by | Member of the U.S. House of Representatives fromPennsylvania's 22nd congressional district 1887–1903 | Succeeded by |
| Preceded by | Member of the U.S. House of Representatives fromPennsylvania's 30th congressional district 1903–1913 | Succeeded by |
Chairs of theU.S. House Committee on Rules (1880–present) | ||
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