William Leighton Carss | |
|---|---|
 Carss in 1920 | |
| Member of theU.S. House of Representatives from Minnesota's8th district | |
| In office March 4, 1925 – March 3, 1929 | |
| Preceded by | Oscar Larson |
| Succeeded by | William Alvin Pittenger |
| In office March 4, 1919 – March 3, 1921 | |
| Preceded by | Clarence B. Miller |
| Succeeded by | Oscar Larson |
| Personal details | |
| Born | (1865-02-15)February 15, 1865 Pella, Iowa, U.S. |
| Died | May 31, 1931(1931-05-31) (aged 66) Duluth, Minnesota, U.S. |
| Party | Farmer–Labor Democratic |
| Occupation | Locomotive engineer |
William Leighton Carss (February 15, 1865 – May 31, 1931) was an Americanlocomotive engineer and politician who served as aU.S. Representative fromMinnesota's 8th congressional district from 1919 to 1921 and again from 1925 to 1929. He was the first member of theMinnesota Farmer–Labor Party elected toCongress.
Carss born inPella,Marion County,Iowa and subsequently moved with his parents toDes Moines, Iowa, in 1867. There he attended the public schools, studied civil andmechanical engineering and followed that profession for a number of years. He moved toSt. Louis County, Minnesota in 1893 and settled inProctor where he found work as a locomotive engineer and became a member of theBrotherhood of Locomotive Engineers. Carss was elected as aFarmer-Labor candidate to the66th congress (March 4, 1919 – March 3, 1921) fromMinnesota's 8th congressional district.
Carss was fond of British literature, reciting selections fromShakespeare,Carlyle andBurns by heart. He sponsored pro-labor legislation during his first term, supportingold age pensions (anticipating theSocial Security system),women's rights and (to the dismay of some of his supporters) theProhibition Amendment.[1]
Carss was an unsuccessful candidate for reelection as aDemocrat in 1920 to the67th congress and for election in 1922 to the68th congress. He was elected on theFarmer-Labor ticket to the69th and70th congresses (March 4, 1925 – March 3, 1929); but was defeated for reelection in 1928 to the71st congress. Carss moved toDuluth in 1929 where he resumed his position as a locomotive engineer at Proctor. He was unsuccessful in his 1930 bid for election to the72nd congress. He died in Duluth on May 31, 1931, and was interred in Oneota Cemetery.
| U.S. House of Representatives | ||
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| Preceded by | U.S. Representative fromMinnesota's 8th congressional district 1919 – 1921 | Succeeded by |
| Preceded by | U.S. Representative fromMinnesota's 8th congressional district 1925 – 1929 | Succeeded by |
| International | |
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| National | |
| People | |
| Other | |
