Arthur Stewart

January 11, 1892 (age 80)

After admission to the bar in 1913, he practiced law in Birmingham, Alabama. He became attorney general of Tennessee's Eighteenth Circuit in 1923. In that capacity he was the lead prosecutor in the Scopes "Monkey Trial". Stewart based his prosecution on the simple grounds that the law existed, and that Scopes had broken it. The affair had assumed a circus atmosphere, however, and Stewart worked doggedly to keep the trial orderly. Some Dayton citizens proposed building a new auditorium to hold overflow crowds and possibly be the courtroom. The plan was endorsed by Judge John Tate Raulston but vetoed by Stewart. The trial began on Friday, July 10, 1925, a sweltering day. Stewart also resisted attempts by the defense (led by Clarence Darrow) to admit scientific evidence as to the validity of evolution. He went so far as to have Judge Raulston dismiss the jury while the defense was pleading its motion to quash the Scopes indictment; the defense was discussing scientific and religious views of the Butler Act and in a sense presenting its case before the trial began. In the end, the defense was allowed only to submit eight affidavits from scientists, some of which were read aloud in court. Although overshadowed by William Jennings Bryan, who made several long speeches and garnered much publicity, Stewart won the case on its merits. On July 21, 1925, Scopes was convicted and fined $100. As attorney general, Stewart became allied with Edward H. Crump of Memphis, whose political organization controlled Democratic western Tennessee. Allied with Republicans in eastern Tennessee, Boss Crump traded patronage for votes and created a machine that lasted two decades. In 1938, Boss Crump decided to back Tom Stewart to serve four years in the Senate seat left vacant by the death of Nathan L. Bachman. The Senate later investigated Crump's fund-raising tactics, finding "a vigorous effort throughout the State to raise campaign funds by contributions from federal employees. " While in the Senate, Stewart was the chairman of the Committee on Interoceanic Canals during the Seventy-ninth Congress. He also alienated Boss Crump, whose Tennessee machine backed President Roosevelt's New Deal measures. This did not please Crump. Moreover, when Stewart ran for reelection in 1942, he carried only Shelby County outright, and that was because of the machine's exertions on his behalf. It was enough to win, but it showed that Stewart was vulnerable. In 1948, then, Crump backed Judge John Mitchell of Cookeville in the Democratic primary. Stewart, however, refused to withdraw, causing a threeway race. Stewart came in second, and Estes Kefauver won both the primary and general election. Stewart left the Senate January 3, 1949. After his return to Tennessee, Stewart practiced law in Nashville, where he died on October 11, 1972.

Arthur Thomas Stewart

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also known as Tom Stewart

attorney politician statesman

Background

Arthur was born on January 11, 1892 in Dunlap, Tennessee, United States. Stewart also had a sister called Lydia.

Education

He was educated in local public high schools and at the Pryor Institute in Jasper, Tennessee, where he was known for his orations. Stewart graduated from Emory College (now University) in Oxford, Georgia, and received a law degree from Cumberland University in Lebanon, Tennessee.

Career

After admission to the bar in 1913, he practiced law in Birmingham, Alabama. He became attorney general of Tennessee's Eighteenth Circuit in 1923. In that capacity he was the lead prosecutor in the Scopes "Monkey Trial". Stewart based his prosecution on the simple grounds that the law existed, and that Scopes had broken it. The affair had assumed a circus atmosphere, however, and Stewart worked doggedly to keep the trial orderly. Some Dayton citizens proposed building a new auditorium to hold overflow crowds and possibly be the courtroom. The plan was endorsed by Judge John Tate Raulston but vetoed by Stewart.

The trial began on Friday, July 10, 1925, a sweltering day. Stewart also resisted attempts by the defense (led by Clarence Darrow) to admit scientific evidence as to the validity of evolution. He went so far as to have Judge Raulston dismiss the jury while the defense was pleading its motion to quash the Scopes indictment; the defense was discussing scientific and religious views of the Butler Act and in a sense presenting its case before the trial began. In the end, the defense was allowed only to submit eight affidavits from scientists, some of which were read aloud in court.

Although overshadowed by William Jennings Bryan, who made several long speeches and garnered much publicity, Stewart won the case on its merits.

On July 21, 1925, Scopes was convicted and fined $100.

As attorney general, Stewart became allied with Edward H. Crump of Memphis, whose political organization controlled Democratic western Tennessee. Allied with Republicans in eastern Tennessee, Boss Crump traded patronage for votes and created a machine that lasted two decades. In 1938, Boss Crump decided to back Tom Stewart to serve four years in the Senate seat left vacant by the death of Nathan L. Bachman. The Senate later investigated Crump's fund-raising tactics, finding "a vigorous effort throughout the State to raise campaign funds by contributions from federal employees. " While in the Senate, Stewart was the chairman of the Committee on Interoceanic Canals during the Seventy-ninth Congress. He also alienated Boss Crump, whose Tennessee machine backed President Roosevelt's New Deal measures. This did not please Crump. Moreover, when Stewart ran for reelection in 1942, he carried only Shelby County outright, and that was because of the machine's exertions on his behalf. It was enough to win, but it showed that Stewart was vulnerable.

In 1948, then, Crump backed Judge John Mitchell of Cookeville in the Democratic primary. Stewart, however, refused to withdraw, causing a threeway race. Stewart came in second, and Estes Kefauver won both the primary and general election. Stewart left the Senate January 3, 1949.

After his return to Tennessee, Stewart practiced law in Nashville, where he died on October 11, 1972.

Achievements

As the Democratic United States Senator Arthur Thomas Stewart introduced a bill in the Senate to revoke citizenship from all American-born Japanese. He was somewhat typical of the Democratic Party's Southern wing of that era. Besides, he authored several bills against the Tennessee Valley Authority.

Politics

He has been considered to be at least somewhat an ally of Memphis political boss E. H. Crump. Stewart was also a staunch pro-Roosevelt New Dealer.

Personality

Stewart, in his mid-thirties, was slim and looked younger than his years, with curly dark blond hair that fell over his face. He was known as a clever lawyer, especially in court, where he made intense and compelling speeches.

Connections

He married Helen Turner on December 19, 1914; they had five children.

Sister:: Lydia Stewart
Wife:: Helen Turner
colleague:: Herbert Hicks
colleague:: William Jennings Bryan
colleague:: Wallace C. Haggard
colleague:: Ben G. McKenzie
colleague:: J. Gordon McKenzie

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Arthur Thomas Stewart

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