Governor
In 1897, McMillin sought the U.S. Senate seat left vacant by the death of Isham G. Harris. Failing to garner any support, he then sought and successfully obtained the Democratic nomination for governor the following year in the race to succeed popular governor Robert Love Taylor. McMillin won by a large margin on election day, with 105,640 votes to 72,611 for the Republican candidate James Alexander Fowler, 2,428 for Populist candidate W.D. Turley, and 1,722 for Prohibition candidate R.N. Richardson.
By the time McMillin ran for reelection in 1900, the state's Republican Party had come under the control of Congressman Walter P. Brownlow. Seeking to unseat McMillin, Brownlow and his faction nominated Congressman John E. McCall as the party's candidate for governor. While the party ran a strong campaign, McMillin was easily reelected, winning 145,708 votes to 119,831 for McCall.
During his two terms, McMillin implemented a number of progressive measures. He signed legislation authorizing counties to establish high schools and school boards, and instituted a property tax to pay for school textbooks. In 1901, he signed legislation aimed at reducing child labor by increasing the state's mininum age for employment from 12 to 14. He also finalized the state's boundary with Virginia, and set up a sinking fund to reduce the state debt.
Read more about this topic: Benton McMillin
Famous quotes containing the word governor:
“[John] Brough’s majority is “glorious to behold.” It is worth a big victory in the field. It is decisive as to the disposition of the people to prosecute the war to the end. My regiment and brigade were both unanimous for Brough [the Union party candidate for governor of Ohio].”
—Rutherford Birchard Hayes (1822–1893)
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—For the State of Massachusetts, U.S. public relief program (1935-1943)
“I saw the man my friend ... wants pardoned, Thomas Flinton. He is a bright, good-looking fellow.... Of his innocence all are confident. The governor strikes me as a man seeking popularity, who lacks the independence and manhood to do right at the risk of losing popularity. Afraid of what will be said. He is prejudiced against the Irish and Democrats.”
—Rutherford Birchard Hayes (1822–1893)