Old-guard Conservative in Congress
In 1886, Sherman was elected U.S. Representative from New York's 23rd congressional district as a Republican, and he served twenty years in the House, with only a two-year interval.
At a time when the Republican party was divided over protective tariffs, Sherman sided with McKinley and the conservative branch, defending the gold standard against the potentially inflationary 'free silver'.
As Sherman had never held a party leadership post or chaired a major committee, he was considered sufficiently neutral to be appointed Chairman of the 'Committee of the Whole' - a crucial device for speeding-up the passage of bills by suspending certain rules at the discretion of the Chairman. Henry Cabot Lodge recognised this job as a major test of integrity and judgment, and declared that Sherman was supremely fitted for it.
Read more about this topic: James S. Sherman
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