Hatton W. Sumners
Encyclopedia
Hatton William Sumners was a Congressman from Texas from 1913—1947 and served as Chairman of the House Judiciary Committee.
on May 30, 1875. He moved to Garland, Texas
, near Dallas
in 1893. In 1895, as a 20-year-old newcomer to Dallas County, Sumners persuaded the Dallas City Attorney to let him "read law" in his office, an alternative to law school. Sumners was admitted to the bar in 1897 and commenced practice in Dallas, where he was elected prosecuting attorney of Dallas County
in 1900, serving two non-consecutive terms. As prosecutor
, he brought charges against gamblers in an attempt to clean up Dallas. As a result of his investigations and his campaign against drinking and vice, Sumners was not re-elected in 1902 He continued his campaign against gambling and voting irregularaties in Dallas, ultimately influencing state legislation enacted to reform
the system, after which, Sumners was elected Dallas County proscutor again. Instead of continuing in that position, he instead was elected president of the district and county attorney’s association of Texas in 1906 and 1907 where he campaigned against betting interests.
as a Democrat
to the Sixty-third Congress, taking office on March 4, 1913. He was the first of the 132 freshmen congressmen in the that Congress to get a bill through the House; the bill made Dallas a port of entry for customs. In 1914, he ran for the 5th District congressional seat
which included Dallas, Ellis, Rockwall, Hill, and Bosque counties and he was elected.
Early in his career, he spoke out against the Dyer Anti-Lynching Bill
, claiming that the bill's sponsors did not have adequate statistics to prove their case, that the bill would increase racial mob violence, and that the bill ultimately impinged on states' rights
.
Sumners served on the Judiciary Committee of the House of Representatives and was appointed regularly to investigate allegations of corruption among federal judge
s, serving on the impeachment committees for three federal judges. Sumners became Chairman of the Judiciary Committee in 1932, and as a loyal Democrat supported much of President Franklin Roosevelt's New Deal
legislation. However, when the Supreme Court began invalidating key parts of the New Deal, Roosevelt proposed a plan to expand the Court, his so-called Court-packing plan
was announced in 1936. As Chairman of the Judiciary Committee, Sumners discreetly worked in opposition, but as the plan was clearly in trouble, Sumners reportedly said, "Boys, here's where I cash in my chips," referring to his waning support for the President. Ultimately, Chairman Sumners came out formally against the Court-packing plan. As a consequence of this, he faced two serious opponents in the 1938 election, but Sumners was re-elected and was not seriously challenged again. In 1946, Sumners announced he would not seek re-election.
Project Vote Smart.
Sumners received an honorary doctor of laws from Southern Methodist University
and the American Bar Association
Gold Medal. He died on April 19, 1962, and after services in the Highland Park Methodist Church in Dallas was interred at in the Knights of Pythias
Cemetery in Garland
, Texas.
County district attorneys in Texas
Texas's At-large congressional district
Texas's 5th congressional district
Early life and career
Sumners was born near Fayetteville, TennesseeFayetteville, Tennessee
Fayetteville is a city in Lincoln County, Tennessee, United States. The population was 6,994 at the 2000 census. It is the county seat of Lincoln County.-History:...
on May 30, 1875. He moved to Garland, Texas
Garland, Texas
-Climate:* The average warmest month is July.* The highest recorded temperature was in 2000.* On average, the coolest month is January.* The lowest recorded temperature was in 1989.* The maximum average precipitation occurs in May....
, near Dallas
Dallas, Texas
Dallas is the third-largest city in Texas and the ninth-largest in the United States. The Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex is the largest metropolitan area in the South and fourth-largest metropolitan area in the United States...
in 1893. In 1895, as a 20-year-old newcomer to Dallas County, Sumners persuaded the Dallas City Attorney to let him "read law" in his office, an alternative to law school. Sumners was admitted to the bar in 1897 and commenced practice in Dallas, where he was elected prosecuting attorney of Dallas County
Dallas County, Texas
As of the census of 2000, there were 2,218,899 people, 807,621 households, and 533,837 families residing in the county. The population density was 2,523 people per square mile . There were 854,119 housing units at an average density of 971/sq mi...
in 1900, serving two non-consecutive terms. As prosecutor
Prosecutor
The prosecutor is the chief legal representative of the prosecution in countries with either the common law adversarial system, or the civil law inquisitorial system...
, he brought charges against gamblers in an attempt to clean up Dallas. As a result of his investigations and his campaign against drinking and vice, Sumners was not re-elected in 1902 He continued his campaign against gambling and voting irregularaties in Dallas, ultimately influencing state legislation enacted to reform
the system, after which, Sumners was elected Dallas County proscutor again. Instead of continuing in that position, he instead was elected president of the district and county attorney’s association of Texas in 1906 and 1907 where he campaigned against betting interests.
Service in Congress
Sumners ran for and was elected to an at-large seatTexas'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...
as a Democrat
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...
to the Sixty-third Congress, taking office on March 4, 1913. He was the first of the 132 freshmen congressmen in the that Congress to get a bill through the House; the bill made Dallas a port of entry for customs. In 1914, he ran for the 5th District congressional seat
Texas's 5th congressional district
-References:*...
which included Dallas, Ellis, Rockwall, Hill, and Bosque counties and he was elected.
Early in his career, he spoke out against the Dyer Anti-Lynching Bill
Dyer Anti-Lynching Bill
The Dyer Anti-Lynching Bill, introduced by Representative Leonidas C. Dyer, a Republican from Saint Louis, Missouri, in the US House of Representatives in 1918, was directed at punishing lynchings and mob violence....
, claiming that the bill's sponsors did not have adequate statistics to prove their case, that the bill would increase racial mob violence, and that the bill ultimately impinged on states' rights
States' rights
States' rights in U.S. politics refers to political powers reserved for the U.S. state governments rather than the federal government. It is often considered a loaded term because of its use in opposition to federally mandated racial desegregation...
.
Sumners served on the Judiciary Committee of the House of Representatives and was appointed regularly to investigate allegations of corruption among federal judge
Federal judge
Federal judges are judges appointed by a federal level of government as opposed to the state / provincial / local level.-Brazil:In Brazil, federal judges of first instance are chosen exclusively by public contest...
s, serving on the impeachment committees for three federal judges. Sumners became Chairman of the Judiciary Committee in 1932, and as a loyal Democrat supported much of President Franklin Roosevelt's New Deal
New Deal
The New Deal was a series of economic programs implemented in the United States between 1933 and 1936. They were passed by the U.S. Congress during the first term of President Franklin D. Roosevelt. The programs were Roosevelt's responses to the Great Depression, and focused on what historians call...
legislation. However, when the Supreme Court began invalidating key parts of the New Deal, Roosevelt proposed a plan to expand the Court, his so-called Court-packing plan
Judiciary Reorganization Bill of 1937
The Judicial Procedures Reform Bill of 1937, frequently called the court-packing plan, was a legislative initiative proposed by U.S. President Franklin Roosevelt to add more justices to the U.S. Supreme Court. Roosevelt's purpose was to obtain favorable rulings regarding New Deal legislation that...
was announced in 1936. As Chairman of the Judiciary Committee, Sumners discreetly worked in opposition, but as the plan was clearly in trouble, Sumners reportedly said, "Boys, here's where I cash in my chips," referring to his waning support for the President. Ultimately, Chairman Sumners came out formally against the Court-packing plan. As a consequence of this, he faced two serious opponents in the 1938 election, but Sumners was re-elected and was not seriously challenged again. In 1946, Sumners announced he would not seek re-election.
Final years
After leaving Congress, Sumners was the Director of Research for the Southwestern Legal Foundation. Having never married, Sumners formed the Hatton W. Sumners Foundation in 1949, which still awards loans, and scholarships to worthy students. The foundation is also a sponsor of the InternetInternet
The Internet is a global system of interconnected computer networks that use the standard Internet protocol suite to serve billions of users worldwide...
Project Vote Smart.
Sumners received an honorary doctor of laws from Southern Methodist University
Southern Methodist University
Southern Methodist University is a private university in Dallas, Texas, United States. Founded in 1911 by the Methodist Episcopal Church, South, SMU operates campuses in Dallas, Plano, and Taos, New Mexico. SMU is owned by the South Central Jurisdiction of the United Methodist Church...
and the American Bar Association
American Bar Association
The American Bar Association , founded August 21, 1878, is a voluntary bar association of lawyers and law students, which is not specific to any jurisdiction in the United States. The ABA's most important stated activities are the setting of academic standards for law schools, and the formulation...
Gold Medal. He died on April 19, 1962, and after services in the Highland Park Methodist Church in Dallas was interred at in the Knights of Pythias
Knights of Pythias
The Knights of Pythias is a fraternal organization and secret society founded at Washington, DC, on 19 February 1864.The Knights of Pythias was the first fraternal organization to receive a charter under an act of the United States Congress. It was founded by Justus H. Rathbone, who had been...
Cemetery in Garland
Garland, Texas
-Climate:* The average warmest month is July.* The highest recorded temperature was in 2000.* On average, the coolest month is January.* The lowest recorded temperature was in 1989.* The maximum average precipitation occurs in May....
, Texas.
Sources
- Old Red Museum, Dallas County Historical Society
- Handbook of Texas Online - SUMNERS, HATTON WILLIAM
- Hatton W. Sumners Foundation Home
County district attorneys in Texas
Texas's At-large congressional district
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...
Texas's 5th congressional district
Texas's 5th congressional district
-References:*...