Joseph Mason (Illinois politician) explained

Joseph M. Mason (born June 24, 1871) was an American politician who served as a Socialist member of the Illinois House of Representatives.^[1]

Biographical sketch

Mason was born June 24, 1871, in Liverpool, England. He moved to Ottawa, Canada in 1887 and in 1894 he moved to Chicago. He was an iron moulder and served as the President of the Iron Moulder's Union.^[2]

In the 1912 general election for the Illinois House of Representatives, four socialists were elected and three were seated. The other seated socialists were Christian M. Madsen and Seymour Stedman.^[3] In 1914, Mason was reelected to a second and final term.^[4]

Notes and References

1. News: L. V. L. CONDEMNS 72 LEGISLATORS: Annual Report Asks Defeat of 62 Representatives and 10 Senators. IDLE 5 MONTHS: ACTIVE 1. Good Proposed Legislation Killed; Lee, O'Neil Browne Held to Blame. Chicago Daily Tribune. May 25, 1914. 4.
2. Book: Illinois Blue Book 1913-1914. 288. April 10, 2022.
3. Illinois Socialists and Progressive Reform. John D.. Buenker. 63. 4. 1970. 368–386. University of Illinois Press. Journal of the Illinois State Historical Society.
4. Book: Illinois Blue Book 1915-1916. 716. April 10, 2022.