William Julius HARRIS

(1868-1932)

Senate Years of Service:

1919-1932

Party:

Democrat

HARRIS, William Julius, (great-grandson of Charles Hooks), a Senator from Georgia; born in Cedartown, Polk County, Ga., February 3, 1868; attended the common schools and graduated from the University of Georgia at Athens in 1890; engaged in the general insurance business and banking at Cedartown; served as private secretary to United States Senator Alexander S. Clay 1904-1909; member, State senate 1911-1912; Director of the United States Census Bureau 1913-1915, when he resigned to become a member of the Federal Trade Commission; Acting Secretary of the Department of Commerce 1913-1915; member of the Federal Trade Commission 1915-1918, when he resigned to become a candidate for United States Senator; chairman of the commission 1917-1918; elected as a Democrat to the United States Senate in 1918; reelected in 1924 and in 1930 and served from March 4, 1919, until his death; member of the National Forest Reservation Commission 1929-1932; died in Washington, D.C., April 18, 1932; funeral services were held in the Chamber of the United States Senate; interment in Greenwood Cemetery, Cedartown, Ga.

Bibliography

Mellichamp, Josephine. “William J. Harris.” In Senators From Georgia. pp. 215-17. Huntsville, Ala.: Strode Publishers, 1976; U.S. Congress. House. Memorial Services. 72nd Cong., 1st sess., 1931-1932. Washington, D.C.: Government Printing Office, 1932.

Source: Biographical Directory of the United States Congress, 1771-Present