Harry Stewart New

Harry Stewart New
48th United States Postmaster General
In office
March 4, 1923 – March 4, 1929
Preceded by Hubert Work
Succeeded by Walter F. Brown
United States Senator
In office
March 4, 1917 – March 3, 1923
Preceded by John W. Kern
Succeeded by Samuel M. Ralston
Personal details
Born December 31, 1858(1858-12-31)
Indianapolis, Indiana, U.S.
Died May 9, 1937(1937-05-09) (aged 78)
Baltimore, Maryland, U.S.
Political party Republican
Alma mater Butler University
Profession Politician, Journalist
Religion Disciples of Christ
Military service
Service/branch United States Army
Rank Captain
Battles/wars Spanish-American War

Harry Stewart New (December 31, 1858 – May 9, 1937) was a U.S. politician, journalist, and Spanish-American War veteran.

Biography

Harry Stewart New was born in Indianapolis, Indiana on December 31, 1858, the son of John C. New and his wife, Melissa (Beeler) New. He attended Butler University before going to work with the Indianapolis Journal where he was a reporter, editor, part owner, and publisher from 1878 to 1903. He served in the Indiana State Senate from 1896 to 1900 and served in the Spanish-American War as captain and assistant adjutant general of the 7th Army Corps. He was a member of the Republican National Committee from 1900 to 1912, serving as chairman from 1907 to 1908, and later engaged in the stone quarrying and construction business.

New got back into politics when he was elected to the United States Senate in 1916, defeating incumbent John W. Kern. In the Senate, he served as chairman of the Committee on Territories and the Committee on Territories and Insular Possessions. He was also a "wet" or an anti-prohibitionist, and in August 1919 introduced early legislation proposing an independent United States Air Force.

In late March 1922, New became one of the first senators to use radio in his campaign—at that time, broadcasting a political speech was not widely done by candidates. (“Will Campaign by Radio." Lexington KY Herald, 30 March 1922, p. 1) New was defeated by Albert J. Beveridge for renomination in 1922 who lost the general election to Samuel M. Ralston. He was then appointed Postmaster General in the cabinet of President Warren G. Harding in 1923 and was reappointed by Calvin Coolidge in 1925.

After the end of the Coolidge Administration, New retired from active business pursuits and resided in Washington, D.C.. In 1933, he was appointed a United States Commissioner to the Century of Progress Exposition in Chicago, Illinois. He died in Baltimore, Maryland, on May 9, 1937, and was interred in Crown Hill Cemetery in Indianapolis.

External links

Political offices
Preceded by
Hubert Work
United States Postmaster General
Served under: Warren G. Harding, Calvin Coolidge

March 4, 1923 – March 4, 1929
Succeeded by
Walter F. Brown
United States Senate
Preceded by
John W. Kern
United States Senator (Class 1) from Indiana
March 4, 1917 – March 3, 1923
Served alongside: James Eli Watson
Succeeded by
Samuel M. Ralston
Party political offices
Preceded by
George B. Cortelyou
Chairman of the Republican National Committee
1907 – 1908
Succeeded by
Frank H. Hitchcock
Awards and achievements
Preceded by
William Mackenzie King
Cover of Time Magazine
16 February 1925
Succeeded by
Owen D. Young