Evening star., 1939-11-14
J. Will Taylor, So,
House Member, Dies
OF Heart Ai|ment
Tennessee Republican
As Committeeman Won
Sobriquet Boss

BY the Associated Press
LA TOILETTE, Tenn, Nov. IA
Representative j. Will Taylor, Re.
publican, of Tennessee, died of
heart ailment at his home here early
today. He was SO years old.
DR.. r. j. Buckman said Mr.. Tay-
lor was found dead in bed by his
wife, who was attending him. He
had suffered a heart attack at 1890
o'clock last night.
For many years Mr.. Taylor was
recognized as the Republican boss"
in Tennessee.
Starting to earn his living as a
country school teacher at the age of
IA. he entered politics about a de-
cade later and made his way to Con-
gress and the powerful post of Re-
publican National Committeeman
from his home State.
1t was the latter position to which
he first was chosen in 1922, that
earned for him the sobriquet boss"
for the post enabled him to dispense
Federal patronage in Tennessee un-
der Republican administrations at
Washington. The Second District,
which he represented for number
of years beginning in 1919, received
abundant recognition during Repub-
lican eraS, sometimes more than en-
tire States.
In 1926 group of Republicans
sought to WreSt Mr.. Taylor's power
from him. They made complaint to
William Butler, chairman of the Re-
publican National Committee, that
Mr.. Taylor as national committee
man and ex-officio patronage referee
for Tennessee hao collected tribute
to finance what they called his "po-
htical machine"
Il don't deny" Mr.. Taylor said at
the hearing before Mr. Butler, that
friends of mine in Office and out of
Office have helped defray the ex-
penses of my political battles. con-
tend that it is entirely commendable
and is common practice in every
State in the Union"
Attempts were made to have Mr..
| Taylor indicted by Federal grand
juries in connection with patronage
matters, but these also failed and
Mr.. Taylor went smilingly on his
way. His supporters said he always
was ready to forget feuds and renew
friendships and that this principle
aided materially in his repeated re-
elections to Congress.
Born in Mountain Cabin.
Mr.. Taylor was sent to Congress
in 1918, defeating Dick" Austin
who had been Representative from
the End district for number OF
years. Prior to this election Mr.
Taylor served as postmaster and
Mayor of La Toilette. In 1913 he
was appointed State insurance COM
missioner by Gov. Ben Hooper and
served one term. He was chairman
of the State Republican Executive
Committee in 1916.
Mr.. Taylor, familiarly known as
-. WILL" was born August %, 1880
In a tWo-room cabin in the noun
tains of Union County. His father
James Willis Taylor, was a country
storekeeper, justice of the peace and
for two terms member of the Ten
nessee Legislature.
He was graduated in law from
Cumberland University at Lebanon
Tenn. in 1902 and returned to La
Toilette. where he maintained his
residence throughout his career.
In Congress he supported all legis-
lation designed for the benefit of ex-
service men and succeeded in having
passed more private pension bills
than any other Representative. He
was one Of the first members of Con-
gress to advocate cash payment OF
the soldiers bonus. At one time he
retained secretary who did nothing
else but look after veterans claims
He spent two days week in Knox
vile, and these came to be known as
soldier days"
On entering Congress he was
named to the Committees on Immi-
grafton and on Public Buildings and
Grounds and became the ranking
member of each. He helped to write
the first restricted immigration law
Mr.. Taylor married Miss Mossie
Kincaid of Union County October 4
1905. They had two daughters.