William Leighton Carss

William Leighton Carss, (February 15, 1865 May 31, 1931) was a U.S. Representative from Minnesota; born in Pella, Marion County, Iowa and subsequently moved with his parents to Des Moines, Iowa, in 1867. There he attended the public schools, studied civil and mechanical engineering and followed that profession for a number of years. He moved to St. Louis County, Minnesota in 1893 and settled in Proctor where he found work as a locomotive engineer and became a member of the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers. Carss was elected as a Farmer-Labor candidate to the 66th congress (March 4, 1919 March 3, 1921) from Minnesota's 8th congressional district.

William L. Carss, c. 1920

Carss was fond of British literature, reciting selections from Shakespeare, Carlyle and Burns by heart. He sponsored pro-labor legislation during his first term, supporting old age pensions (anticipating the Social Security system), women's rights and (to the dismay of some of his supporters) the Prohibition Amendment.[1]

Carss was an unsuccessful candidate for reelection as a Democrat in 1920 to the 67th congress and for election in 1922 to the 68th congress. He was elected on the Farmer-Labor ticket to the 69th and 70th congresses (March 4, 1925 March 3, 1929); but was defeated for reelection in 1928 to the 71st congress. Carss moved to Duluth in 1929 where he resumed his position as a locomotive engineer at Proctor. He was unsuccessful in his 1930 bid for election to the 72nd congress. He died in Duluth on May 31, 1931, and was interred in Oneota Cemetery.

References

  1. Hudelson, Richard & Ross, Carl. By the ore docks : a working people's history of Duluth Minneapolis : University of Minnesota Press, 2006. ISBN 0-8166-4636-8, ISBN 978-0-8166-4636-4, ISBN 0-8166-4637-6, pp. 146-147.
U.S. House of Representatives
Preceded by
Clarence B. Miller
U.S. Representative from Minnesota's 8th congressional district
1919 1921
Succeeded by
Oscar Larson
Preceded by
Oscar Larson
U.S. Representative from Minnesota's 8th congressional district
1925 1929
Succeeded by
William Pittenger
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