Foss, Eugene N. (Eugene Noble), 1858-1939.

Eugene N. Foss, active in manufacturing and Democratic politics during the Progressive Era, was governor of Massachusetts, 1911-1914.

From the description of Correspondence of the New England Reciprocity League, 1902-1904. (Unknown). WorldCat record id: 122609771

From the description of Business and personal records, 1938-1942. (Unknown). WorldCat record id: 86144205

From the description of Petitions favoring national prohibition, 1917. (Commonwealth of Massachusetts State Archives). WorldCat record id: 86144200

From the description of Biographical materials, 1879-1928 (bulk 1909-1913). (Unknown). WorldCat record id: 122560391

Eugene Noble Foss (1858-1939) was born in West Berkshire, Vermont, the son of George E. and Marcia Noble Foss. When he was nine his parents moved to St. Albans, Vermont, where he attended St. Albans Academy. In 1877 he entered the University of Vermont, but left two years later to read law with his uncle. Dissatisfied with law, he became a traveling salesmen for the St. Albans Manufacturing Company, of which his father was general manager. Later he began to selling the products of B.F. Sturtevant, a Boston manufacturer of mill machinery. By 1882 he had risen to head of the manufacturing department. Two years later he married Lilla Sturtevant, the daughter of his employer. Following the death of B.F. Sturtevant in 1890, he became treasurer and general manager of the company. In 1901 he merged several independent manufacturing firms into the Beck-Brainerd Milling Machine Company, of which he became president. Later he founded Maverick Cotton Mills of East Boston, which had a workforce of 5,000. Among the other business enterprises in which he played a major role were the East Boston Land Company, Bridgewater Water Company, Brooklyn Rapid Transit Company, and Mead Morrison Manufacturing Company.

Foss's political career in Massachusetts began in part as an outgrowth of his interest in tariff reciprocity, which became his primary political concern. In 1902 he won nomination as a Republican candidate to Congress, competing successfully on a tariff reciprocity platform against the party's handpicked candidate, although he did not win election. His opposition to the Payne-Aldrich Tariff led him to switch his allegiance to the Democratic Party in 1909, running unsuccessfully later that year for lieutenant governor. The following year, however, he first won a special congressional election, and then was elected governor by a plurality of 36,000 votes. He was re-elected in 1911 and 1912 and was considered a possible Democratic candidate for president or vice-president. In 1913 he was denied the Democratic nomination, but ran as an independent, being defeated by Democrat David J. Walsh. In 1915 he again failed to gain a gubernatorial nomination, this time as a Republican on a prohibition platform. This was followed by two abortive attempts to win the Democratic nomination for governor in 1919 and 1922. In 1922 he has defeated as the Democratic candidate for Congress in a special election.

On the basis of his legislative accomplishments, Foss may be characterized as a Progressive Era reformer. During his tenure as governor, he put through legislation providing for a presidential primary, popular election of U.S. senators, limitations on campaign expenses, a minimum wage, workers' compensation, restrictions on work hours of women and children, and pensions for state employees. In addition to his political and business activities, Foss had active involvement in religious, educational, and charitable affairs. He served at various times as trustee of the University of Vermont, Newton Theological Institute, Colby College, Hebron Academy, Vermont Academy, Boston Baptist Hospital, and Brigham Hospital, among others. Further information on Foss may be found in the following: Richard M. Abrams. Conservatism in a progressive era : Massachusetts politics, 1900-1912 (Cambridge, Mass. : Harvard University Press, 1964); Encyclopedia of Massachusetts (New York : Somerset, 1985).

From the description of Agency history record. (Unknown). WorldCat record id: 86123224