HUMPHREY, William E. - Montgomery InGenWeb Project

Washington, DC Feb 15 – William E. Humphrey, 71, of Seattle, deposed as federal trade commissioner late last year died suddenly last night.  Although he had been in poor health all winter, Humphrey’s condition had not been considered alarming.  He was stricken with a cerebral hemorrhage.  Born in Indiana, Humphrey was educated at Wabash College and practiced law at Crawfordsville before moving to Seattle when later he became corporation counsel.  20 years ago he was elected to Congress and served two terms as representative at large from Washington.  In 1925 he was appointed to the Federal Trade Commission by President Coolidge.  After a six-year term he was reappointed by President Hoover.  Note: Photo from Bill McKern on facebook.com  - William Ewart Humphrey 31 March 1862 Alamo, Montgomery County, Indiana – died 14 Feb 1934 in Washington, District of Columbia.  Buried Oak Hill Cemetery, Crawfordsville, Montgomery County, Indiana.  

He served in the United States House of Representatives from 1903 to 1917 as a representative from Washington state. He received his formal education in the field of law from Wabash College in Crawfordsville, Indiana. He was admitted to the Indiana State Bar in 1887 and began his practice in Crawfordsville. He moved to Seattle in 1893, serving as a city attorney from 1898 to 1902. In February 1925 he was appointed to the Federal Trade Commission by President Calvin Coolidge, where he served as a member until 1933. Bio by: Nils M. Solsvik Jr.    ~~~transcribed by kbz

Washington Feb 14 – William E. Humphrey, former federal trade commissioner who was removed by President Roosevelt, died suddenly tonight as the result of a stroke.  He was 71 years old.  He had been in frail health for several months but at no time had his condition been considered alarming.  The President’s action in removing Humphrey as a member of the trade commission stirred a controversy which still is rumbling in congress and forms the basis of a suit filed by Humphrey in the Court of Claims here to contest Mr. Roosevelt’s authority and to collect back salary.  Humphrey, who was born near Alamo, Ind was a member of congress from Washington from 1902 until 1917.  In the latter year he sought the Republican nomination for senator from Washington and was defeated.  After his service in congress Humphrey  practice law here and in Seattle until 1925, when he was appointed to the trade commission by President Coolidge for a six-year term.  He was named again in 1931 by President Hoover for another six-year-term.  Last September, however, he was asked to resign by President Roosevelt who expressed the desire to name in his place a man whose ideas were more in keeping with Mr. Roosevelt’s. There was a considerable exchange of correspondence between them which culminated his removal by the chief executive.  Humphrey in contesting the removal asserted that Mr. Roosevelt was acting contrary to law in that no charges of malfeasance or wrong doing in office were made.  The senate recently confirmed Humphrey’s successor, George Mathews of Wisconsin.  Humphrey was graduated from Wabash College and began the practice of law in Crawfordsville, Ind.  In 1893 he moved to Seattle and served as corporation counsel for that city from 1898 to 1902.  While in congress he was particularly interested in the merchant marine and shipping matters.  He leaves the widow and one sister, Miss Edna Humphrey of Crawfordsville, Ind.     ~~~transcribed by kbz