A. Jeff McLemore
Encyclopedia
Atkins Jefferson McLemore (March 13, 1857 - March 4, 1929) was an American
newspaper publisher, State Representative and United States Representative
from Texas
.
on March 13, 1857. He was educated in local schools and by private tutors. McLemore moved to Texas in 1878 and was employed as a cowboy, printer, and newspaper reporter, and later as a miner in Colorado
and Mexico
. He returned to Texas and settled in San Antonio
working primarily in the newspaper business in Kyle, Texas
.
in 1889 and established the Gulf News and was elected to the Texas House of Representatives
, serving from 1892-1896. He later moved to Austin
where he was elected to the Board of Aldermen for one term. McLemore was elected Secretary of the Democratic
State executive committee from 1900-1904. In 1903, he founded a weekly magazine entitled State Topics, which eventually became Texas Monthly Review and State Topics. McLemore relocated once again, this time to Houston
in 1911 where he again engaged in the newspaper publishing business. In 1915, he was elected as a Democrat to Congress representing one of the state's two At-Large districts
serving two terms from March 4, 1915 to March 3, 1919. McLemore was an ardent opponent of America's entry into World War I
, a position he believed he held in common with President Woodrow Wilson
who campaigned for reelection on the slogan "He kept us out of war". Less than 90 days after his election
to a second term in 1916, President Wilson called on Congress
to declare war on Germany
. When McLemore became a strident opponent of the president, the Democrat-dominated Texas legislature redrew
the state's congressional districts to eliminate McLemore's statewide at-large district, and drew 18 districts, forcing McLemore into the same district with fellow Houston incumbents Joe H. Eagle
and Daniel E. Garrett
in the 8th District. Garrett bowed out of the contest, and Eagle defeated McLemore.
, and he resumed the newspaper publishing business in south Texas, eventually residing in Laredo
. In 1928, McLemore made one more run for public office for an open U.S. Senate
seat, but was defeated by Thomas T. Connally. McLemore died in Laredo on March 4, 1929 (the day after he would have taken office if he had won the Senate race). He is interred in Oakwood Cemetery in Austin.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
newspaper publisher, State Representative and United States Representative
United States House of Representatives
The United States House of Representatives is one of the two Houses of the United States Congress, the bicameral legislature which also includes the Senate.The composition and powers of the House are established in Article One of the Constitution...
from Texas
Texas
Texas is the second largest U.S. state by both area and population, and the largest state by area in the contiguous United States.The name, based on the Caddo word "Tejas" meaning "friends" or "allies", was applied by the Spanish to the Caddo themselves and to the region of their settlement in...
.
Early life
McLemore was born on a farm near Spring Hill, TennesseeSpring Hill, Tennessee
Spring Hill is a city in Maury and Williamson counties in the U.S. state of Tennessee, located approximately south of Nashville. The population was 7,715 at the 2000 census...
on March 13, 1857. He was educated in local schools and by private tutors. McLemore moved to Texas in 1878 and was employed as a cowboy, printer, and newspaper reporter, and later as a miner in Colorado
Colorado
Colorado is a U.S. state that encompasses much of the Rocky Mountains as well as the northeastern portion of the Colorado Plateau and the western edge of the Great Plains...
and Mexico
Mexico
The United Mexican States , commonly known as Mexico , is a federal constitutional republic in North America. It is bordered on the north by the United States; on the south and west by the Pacific Ocean; on the southeast by Guatemala, Belize, and the Caribbean Sea; and on the east by the Gulf of...
. He returned to Texas and settled in San Antonio
San Antonio, Texas
San Antonio is the seventh-largest city in the United States of America and the second-largest city within the state of Texas, with a population of 1.33 million. Located in the American Southwest and the south–central part of Texas, the city serves as the seat of Bexar County. In 2011,...
working primarily in the newspaper business in Kyle, Texas
Kyle, Texas
Kyle is a town in Hays County, Texas, United States. The population was 5,314 at the 2000 census; it was 26,103 in the 2008 census estimate, making Kyle one of the fastest growing cities in Texas.-Geography:...
.
Political career
McLemore moved to Corpus ChristiCorpus Christi, Texas
Corpus Christi is a coastal city in the South Texas region of the U.S. state of Texas. The county seat of Nueces County, it also extends into Aransas, Kleberg, and San Patricio counties. The MSA population in 2008 was 416,376. The population was 305,215 at the 2010 census making it the...
in 1889 and established the Gulf News and was elected to the Texas House of Representatives
Texas House of Representatives
The Texas House of Representatives is the lower house of the Texas Legislature. The House is composed of 150 members elected from single-member districts across the state. The average district has about 150,000 people. Representatives are elected to two-year terms with no term limits...
, serving from 1892-1896. He later moved to Austin
Austin, Texas
Austin is the capital city of the U.S. state of :Texas and the seat of Travis County. Located in Central Texas on the eastern edge of the American Southwest, it is the fourth-largest city in Texas and the 14th most populous city in the United States. It was the third-fastest-growing large city in...
where he was elected to the Board of Aldermen for one term. McLemore was elected Secretary of the Democratic
Democratic Party (United States)
The Democratic Party is one of two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Republican Party. The party's socially liberal and progressive platform is largely considered center-left in the U.S. political spectrum. The party has the lengthiest record of continuous...
State executive committee from 1900-1904. In 1903, he founded a weekly magazine entitled State Topics, which eventually became Texas Monthly Review and State Topics. McLemore relocated once again, this time to Houston
Houston, Texas
Houston is the fourth-largest city in the United States, and the largest city in the state of Texas. According to the 2010 U.S. Census, the city had a population of 2.1 million people within an area of . Houston is the seat of Harris County and the economic center of , which is the ...
in 1911 where he again engaged in the newspaper publishing business. In 1915, he was elected as a Democrat to Congress representing one of the state's two At-Large districts
Texas's At-large congressional district
Texas has had At-Large Congressional Seats at various times in its history. It was often the case when the state received new congressional seats as a result of reapportionment that instead of immediately redistricting the state's congressional districts, a new at-large seat would be elected by...
serving two terms from March 4, 1915 to March 3, 1919. McLemore was an ardent opponent of America's entry into World War I
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
, a position he believed he held in common with President Woodrow Wilson
Woodrow Wilson
Thomas Woodrow Wilson was the 28th President of the United States, from 1913 to 1921. A leader of the Progressive Movement, he served as President of Princeton University from 1902 to 1910, and then as the Governor of New Jersey from 1911 to 1913...
who campaigned for reelection on the slogan "He kept us out of war". Less than 90 days after his election
United States presidential election, 1916
The United States presidential election of 1916 took place while Europe was embroiled in World War I. Public sentiment in the still neutral United States leaned towards the British and French forces, due to the harsh treatment of civilians by the German Army, which had invaded and occupied large...
to a second term in 1916, President Wilson called on Congress
United States Congress
The United States Congress is the bicameral legislature of the federal government of the United States, consisting of the Senate and the House of Representatives. The Congress meets in the United States Capitol in Washington, D.C....
to declare war on Germany
German Empire
The German Empire refers to Germany during the "Second Reich" period from the unification of Germany and proclamation of Wilhelm I as German Emperor on 18 January 1871, to 1918, when it became a federal republic after defeat in World War I and the abdication of the Emperor, Wilhelm II.The German...
. When McLemore became a strident opponent of the president, the Democrat-dominated Texas legislature redrew
Redistricting
Redistricting is the process of drawing United States electoral district boundaries, often in response to population changes determined by the results of the decennial census. In 36 states, the state legislature has primary responsibility for creating a redistricting plan, in many cases subject to...
the state's congressional districts to eliminate McLemore's statewide at-large district, and drew 18 districts, forcing McLemore into the same district with fellow Houston incumbents Joe H. Eagle
Joe H. Eagle
Joe Henry Eagle was a U.S. Representative from Texas.Born in Tompkinsville, Kentucky, Eagle was graduated from the local high school in 1883 and obtained a teacher's certificate in 1884....
and Daniel E. Garrett
Daniel E. Garrett
Daniel Edward Garrett was a Democratic U.S. Representative from Texas, elected at-large and later from the 8th District of Texas.-Early life and career in politics:...
in the 8th District. Garrett bowed out of the contest, and Eagle defeated McLemore.
Life after Congress
In 1919, McLemore moved from Houston to HebbronvilleHebbronville, Texas
Hebbronville is a census-designated place in and the county seat of Jim Hogg County, Texas, United States. The population was 4,558 at the 2010 census...
, and he resumed the newspaper publishing business in south Texas, eventually residing in Laredo
Laredo, Texas
Laredo is the county seat of Webb County, Texas, United States, located on the north bank of the Rio Grande in South Texas, across from Nuevo Laredo, Tamaulipas, Mexico. According to the 2010 census, the city population was 236,091 making it the 3rd largest on the United States-Mexican border,...
. In 1928, McLemore made one more run for public office for an open U.S. Senate
United States Senate
The United States Senate is the upper house of the bicameral legislature of the United States, and together with the United States House of Representatives comprises the United States Congress. The composition and powers of the Senate are established in Article One of the U.S. Constitution. Each...
seat, but was defeated by Thomas T. Connally. McLemore died in Laredo on March 4, 1929 (the day after he would have taken office if he had won the Senate race). He is interred in Oakwood Cemetery in Austin.