City: Nashville
GAINES, John Wesley, lawyer, ex-congressman; born Davidson Co., Tenn., Aug. 24, 1861; son of Dr. John Wesley and Maria (Wair) GAINES; educated in the country schools; graduated University of Nashville, Vanderbilt University, M. D., 1882, but instead of practicing medicine turned his attention to law, and became a member of the Nashville Bar, in 1884; was presidential elector on the Cleveland ticket in 1892; in 1896 was elected to the 55th congress of the U. S., and was a member of congress from 1897 to March, 1909; during his term in Congress he was active in Democratic leadership; he was the first to propose by resolution a new plan or line of procedure to secure reforms in the Reed-Cannon rules, by appealing direct to the voters, by a plank in the National Democratic platform, which was done at Denver, in 1908; a Democratic House is the result of this plank and campaign; he was first to suggest, and was active in the passage of the Federal law against the issuance of free passes (amendment to Hepburn Law); was first to suggest repeal of six cent tax on leaf tobacco, and the law providing for this tax was repealed; he began the movement to secure legal proceedings against the tobacco trust; upon the refusal of the attorney-general to proceed against the trust without evidence of guilt, he proceeded to collect evidence, and appointed an “Evidence Committee,” which committee devised and organized the Dark Tobacco Growers Assn. of Tenn. Ky., and Va.; he made an active fight to maintain the circulation of “Clean Money; he revived the old law docking absent members (Congress) by an amendment thereto requiring members to file written excuse for absence; was open in support of amendment increasing the salaries of members of future congresses; has vigorously demanded the enforcement of State and National Anti-trust laws, both by injunction and criminal prosecution; engaged in the practice of law at Nashville, Tenn.
Source: Who’s Who in Tennessee: A Biographical Reference Book of Notable Tennesseans of To-Day. Memphis: Paul & Douglas Co, 1911.
