Thomas L. Woolwine
Thomas L. Woolwine | |
---|---|
27th Los Angeles County District Attorney | |
In office January 4, 1915 – June 6, 1923 | |
Preceded by | John D. Fredericks |
Succeeded by | Asa Keyes |
Personal details | |
Born | Nashville, Tennessee | October 31, 1874
Died | July 8, 1925 Los Angeles, California | (aged 50)
Political party | Democratic |
Spouse |
Alma Foy Woolwine (m. 1900) |
Thomas Lee Woolwine (October 31, 1874 – July 8, 1925) was an American lawyer and politician who served as the 27th
Early life
Woolwine was born on October 31, 1874, in
Career
Early career
In 1907, Woolwine was appointed as Deputy City Attorney of Los Angeles under
In 1909, with the recall proceedings against Mayor Harper by the Municipal League, Woolwine was suggested to run in the election, but both Woolwine and the Municipal League supported
District Attorney
In 1914, he again ran for District Attorney against W. Joseph Ford, to which he won in the general election by a large majority.
In 1916, he launched his re-election campaign and was opposed by four candidates, including former deputy W. T. Helms, and won against Helms in the general election. In his second term, he went after wholesale bakers who conspired to raise bread prices during World War I, with his efforts lauded by the United States Department of Justice. He later made the Food and Drug Administration and Senate investigate a price dispute between sugar refineries and sugar beet growers. In 1917, he charged three city councilmen and two county supervisors for funding mismanagement.[4]
Runs for governor
In 1918, he ran for governor on the Democratic ticket but lost the primary to Francis J. Heney and Republican James Rolph, who cross-filed but was unable to participate in the election due to not winning his own party's nomination.[11] After his loss, he ran again for District Attorney, with attacks coming from John D. Fredericks, accusing him of being soft on crime. The attacks backfired, and Woolwine was re-elected over opponent Charles W. Lyon, a State Senator.[12]
In 1922, he announced that he was running in the 1922 California gubernatorial election and won the Democrat primary, being supported by Charlie Chaplin, Tom Mix, and Thomas H. Ince as well as some Republican organizations. He was opposed by the Ku Klux Klan since Woolwine had denounced the Klan and called for an investigation against them.[13][14] He lost in the general election against Republican Friend Richardson.[15]
Some voters in Los Angeles County wanted to recall him because he wanted the legal sale of lighter wines and beer, saying that he would be lax in enforcing the law.[16] In 1923, he resigned due to health problems by the recommendation of his doctor, and his deputy Asa Keyes being appointed.[17]
Personal life
In 1900, he married Alma Foy, and they had a son together. After his resignation, he and Alma sailed to Europe with their son, but his medical problems became worse. In August 1924, they returned to Los Angeles and had to be carried on the ship on a stretcher, with a doctor and nurse accompanying him. He died on July 8, 1925, in Los Angeles.[18]
References
- ^ Grace, Roger M. (May 2, 2007). "Thomas Lee Woolwine—Hero to Some, Scoundrel to Others—Becomes DA". Metropolitan News-Enterprise.
- ^ "Woolwine Wants Leave of Absence". San Pedro News Pilot. March 10, 1923.
- JSTOR 41168373.
- ^ JSTOR 41172284.
- Homestead Museum. April 10, 2022.
- ^ "Thomas Lee Woolwine, Good Gov't Nominee for District Attorney". Los Angeles Herald. November 8, 1910.
- ^ "Help Defeat Fredericks". Los Angeles Herald. October 21, 1910.
- ^ "G.O.P. SWEEP IN COUNTY COMPLETE". Los Angeles Herald. November 11, 1910.
- ^ "WOOLINE INCREASES LEAD OVER FORD". Los Angeles Herald. November 4, 1914.
- ^ "WOOLWINE THANKS FRIENDS FOR VOTE; OUTLINES POLICY". Los Angeles Herald. November 4, 1914.
- JSTOR 3474372.
- ^ "WOOLWINE AND LYON ENLIVEN CAMPAIGN". Los Angeles Herald. August 25, 1920.
- ISBN 0-8223-0772-3.
- ^ "KD KLUX KLAN IS "AFTERNOON TEA"". The Press-Enterprise. December 4, 1922.
- ^ "FINAL VOTE COUNT SHOWSLARGELEAD GIVEN RICHARDSON". The Sacramento Union. December 16, 1922.
- ^ "WOOLWINE CHANGES MIND, WON'T QUIT Recall Rumor Leads L. A. District Attorney to Renounce Resignation". The Sacramento Union. November 15, 1922.
- ^ "WOOLWINE WOULD NAME SUCCESSOR". San Pedro News Pilot. March 9, 1923.
- ^ "THOMAS L. WOOLWINE DIES IN L. A. HOME FORMER DISTRICT SUCCUMBS AFTER LONG ILLNESS". San Pedro News Pilot. July 8, 1925.