Wesley Livsey Jones
Encyclopedia
Wesley Livsey Jones was an American politician. Jones was born near Bethany, Illinois
, and attended Southern Illinois College. Jones started a law practice in Decatur, Illinois
, and later relocated to North Yakima
, Washington
.
Jones served in the House of Representatives
from 1899 to 1909 and as a Republican United States Senator from Washington from 1909 until his death in 1932. He served as the Senate majority whip between 1924 and 1929. He was a successful advocate for federal investment in Pacific Northwest, securing funding for several irrigation projects and funding for the Puget Sound Navy Yard in Bremerton, Washington. In 1920 he sponsored and secured passage of the Jones Merchant Marine Act, which stipulated that only American ships could carry cargo between American ports, thereby making Alaska
dependent on Seattle-based shipping. Jones was a vocal proponent of prohibition
throughout his political career, a stance that initially aided his popularity but eventually contributed to his electoral defeat in 1932.
Bethany, Illinois
Bethany is a village in Moultrie County, Illinois, United States. The population was 1,287 at the 2000 census, and 1,225 at a 2009 estimate.-Geography:Bethany is located at ....
, and attended Southern Illinois College. Jones started a law practice in Decatur, Illinois
Decatur, Illinois
Decatur is the largest city and the county seat of Macon County in the U.S. state of Illinois. The city, sometimes called "the Soybean Capital of the World", was founded in 1823 and is located along the Sangamon River and Lake Decatur in Central Illinois. In 2000 the city population was 81,500,...
, and later relocated to North Yakima
Yakima, Washington
Yakima is an American city southeast of Mount Rainier National Park and the county seat of Yakima County, Washington, United States, and the eighth largest city by population in the state itself. As of the 2010 census, the city had a total population of 91,196 and a metropolitan population of...
, Washington
Washington State
Washington State may refer to:* Washington , often referred to as "Washington state" to differentiate it from Washington, D.C., the capital of the United States* Washington State University, a land-grant college in that state- See also :...
.
Jones served in the House of Representatives
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 1899 to 1909 and as a Republican United States Senator from Washington from 1909 until his death in 1932. He served as the Senate majority whip between 1924 and 1929. He was a successful advocate for federal investment in Pacific Northwest, securing funding for several irrigation projects and funding for the Puget Sound Navy Yard in Bremerton, Washington. In 1920 he sponsored and secured passage of the Jones Merchant Marine Act, which stipulated that only American ships could carry cargo between American ports, thereby making Alaska
Alaska
Alaska is the largest state in the United States by area. It is situated in the northwest extremity of the North American continent, with Canada to the east, the Arctic Ocean to the north, and the Pacific Ocean to the west and south, with Russia further west across the Bering Strait...
dependent on Seattle-based shipping. Jones was a vocal proponent of prohibition
Prohibition
Prohibition of alcohol, often referred to simply as prohibition, is the practice of prohibiting the manufacture, transportation, import, export, sale, and consumption of alcohol and alcoholic beverages. The term can also apply to the periods in the histories of the countries during which the...
throughout his political career, a stance that initially aided his popularity but eventually contributed to his electoral defeat in 1932.