Samuel M. Ralston
American politician / From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
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Samuel Moffett Ralston (December 1, 1857 – October 14, 1925) was an American politician of the Democratic Party who served as the 28th governor of the U.S. state of Indiana and a United States senator from Indiana.
Samuel Moffett Ralston | |
|---|---|
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| United States Senator from Indiana | |
| In office March 4, 1923 – October 14, 1925 | |
| Preceded by | Harry Stewart New |
| Succeeded by | Arthur Raymond Robinson |
| 28th Governor of Indiana | |
| In office January 13, 1913 – January 8, 1917 | |
| Lieutenant | William P. O'Neill |
| Preceded by | Thomas R. Marshall |
| Succeeded by | James P. Goodrich |
| Personal details | |
| Born | December 1, 1857 New Cumberland, Ohio, U.S. |
| Died | October 14, 1925(1925-10-14) (aged 67) Indianapolis, Indiana, U.S. |
| Political party | Democratic |
| Spouse(s) | Mary Josephine Backous (1881–1882) Jennie Craven (1889–1925) |
| Children | Emmet Gratan Julian Craven Ruth |
| Alma mater | Central Indiana Normal College |
| Profession | Coal miner Teacher Lawyer |
Born into a large impoverished family, he took many jobs as a child including working in a coal mine. He taught school and studied law, becoming a prominent state lawyer before becoming active in his local politics. Because he served during the state's 100th anniversary he is sometimes called the Indiana's "Centennial Governor". During his tenure as governor, he was responsible for implementing many progressive era reforms in the state and put down the Indianapolis streetcar strike of 1913. He gained the support of the Indiana Ku Klux Klan for his anti-Catholic political positions, and with their support was elected to the U.S. Senate in 1922. Ralston had become popular among the national Democratic Party as an early front-runner for the presidential nomination in 1924, but he dropped out of the race because of his failing health, and died the next year.