J. Frank Colbert

Jefferson Franklin Colbert, known as J. Frank Colbert (May 28, 1882 – May 20, 1949), was a Democratic politician and Georgist based in Webster Parish, Louisiana. He served in the Louisiana House of Representatives from 1920 to 1925.[1] he had previously and later again served on the Webster Parish Police Jury. During the Great Depression, he became involved in the Georgist movement and published an article about its single tax proposal.

J. Frank Colbert
Mayor of Minden, Webster Parish Louisiana, USA
In office July 3, 1944 – July 1, 1946
Preceded by	John Calhoun Brown, mayor pro-tem
Succeeded by	John T. David
Member of Webster Parish Police Jury
In office 1912–1920
Preceded by	J. D. Taylor
Succeeded by	At large: J. H. Nelson M. D. Wren H. J. Heflin
In office 1936–1940
Preceded by	Walton Fort
Succeeded by	W. Matt Lowe
Louisiana State Representative from Webster Parish
In office 1920–1925
Preceded by	James Peter Kent
Succeeded by	J. S. Bacon
Personal details
Born	May 28, 1882 Webster Parish, Louisiana
Died	May 20, 1949 (aged 66) Minden, Louisiana
Nationality	American
Political party	Democratic Party
Spouse(s)	Never married
Occupation	Politician; newspaperman; businessman

Faded Colbert family tombstone at Minden Cemetery in Minden, Louisiana

Colbert also served from 1944 to 1946 as the mayor of the small city of Minden, the seat of government of Webster Parish in northwestern Louisiana. He later worked in real estate.

Background

Colbert was born in Webster Parish in 1882 to John A. Colbert and his third wife, the former Sarah Eliza Taylor. The senior Colbert was from 1892 to 1896 the Webster Parish clerk of court, an elected position.[2] Colbert attended local schools. For higher education, he attended Louisiana Tech University in Ruston.[3]

He was editor of the defunct The Minden Democrat newspaper and another former publication, The Signal-Tribune, considered the forerunner of the current Minden Press-Herald.

Political career

In 1908, Colbert and city council member Connell Fort co-managed the successful gubernatorial campaign in Webster Parish of Jared Y. Sanders Sr.. The candidate was from Franklin in St. Mary Parish in south Louisiana. After Sanders was elected, he appointed Fort as the conservation agent for northwestern Louisiana. Later Fort was elected and served as mayor of Minden, the parish seat of Webster.[4]

From 1912 to 1920 and 1936 to 1940, Colbert was elected from former Ward 4 as a member of the elected Webster Parish Police Jury. This governing body is similar to a county commission in other states.[2]

Colbert was elected to the state legislature in 1920 and 1924. He resigned during his second term when Governor Henry Fuqua appointed him to the Louisiana Tax Commission, a position that he continued under governors Oramel H. Simpson and Huey P. Long Jr. Colbert served as chairman of the Minden Democratic Executive Committee, the panel that handled the filings of candidacy. For a time, he was the chief aide to U.S. Representative John N. Sandlin of Minden, who represented Louisiana's 4th congressional district.[5]

In 1940, Colbert, and freshman state Representative Wellborn Jack of Shreveport, were among unsuccessful candidates to represent the 4th congressional district. He was eliminated from the runoff election, with victory claimed by the three-term Democratic Party incumbent Overton Brooks, also of Shreveport.[6]

Henry Georg movement

In 1927, Colbert joined the Henry George Utopian movement, which advocated a "single tax" on land, as outlined in George's Progress and Poverty. In 1932, during the Great Depression, Colbert delivered an address at the Henry George Congress in Memphis, Tennessee.[7]

In the March–April 1930 edition of the Georgist Land and Freedom magazine, Colbert defended the "single tax" in a column:

The usual comment of those in comfortable conditions, when speaking of the less fortunate class, is that if the masses were more industrious, frugal and intelligent, their lot in life would be vastly improved; would in fact, be quite equal to their own; that they are the makers of their own condition.

This attitude on the part of the more fortunate dulls the sense of responsibility they might otherwise feel did they understand better the real cause producing so much of the poverty to be found everywhere. Also, it is flattering to the well-to-do to imagine that, in a country like ours, where all are politically equal and the humblest rise to high places in government and business, that they forged ahead of their fellows by sheer force of merit; for all of which they have only themselves to praise. ...

The Single Tax means Justice in action; it means equality and freedom for all, oppression of none. It is so simple, we hesitate to believe it can be so potent. We are baffled by its very simplicity, but shall we turn away from it for that reason? Where shall we look?[8]

Mayoral service

In November 1942, Minden Mayor Floyd D. Culbertson Jr., resigned to enter the United States Army during World War II. The position was filled by a mayor pro tem from the city council, John Calhoun Brown, until the next regular municipal election held on April 11, 1944. Colbert, well known from his police jury, legislative, and civic leadership, entered the Democratic primary. Also running was James Harvey "J. H." Nelson (1880-1970), the president of the former People's Bank and Trust Company in Minden, who had also been the president of the Minden Chamber of Commerce, and of the Webster Parish Police Jury from 1920 to 1929. Nelson was elected to the police jury in 1920, as Colbert stepped down.[2]

Colbert won the primary for the mayor's office by 26 votes, 731 votes (50.9 percent) to 705 (49.1 percent).[9] Given Democratic dominance of the state, and disenfranchisement of most African Americans, who had supported Republicans, Colbert won the general election and served for two years. He did not seek a second two-year term as mayor in 1946.[10]

Death

After serving as mayor, Colbert was engaged in the real estate business.[3] He died on May 20, 1949, of an illness eight days before what would have been his 67th birthday. Both Methodist and Presbyterian ministers officiated at his funeral. Colbert is interred at Minden Cemetery near the graves of two other mayors: a predecessor, David William Thomas, and Colbert's successor, John David. Colbert never married.

References

1. "Membership in the Louisiana House of Representatives, 1812-2016: Webster Parish" (PDF). house.louisiana.gov. Archived from the original (PDF) on October 6, 2014. Retrieved October 25, 2014.
2. Respect for the Past; Confidence in the Future: Webster Parish Centennial, 1871-1971, Webster Parish Police Jury, pp. 14-16
3. The Webster Tribune, March 22, 1949, p. 1
4. "Connell Fort Dies Saturday Night at His Residence Here: Was Great Civic Worker and Builder of This City," Webster Signal-Tribune, March 5, 1937, pp. 1, 6
5. Minden Herald, January 15, 1944
6. "Kennon Will Meet Judge Drew in Runoff; Overton Brooks Leads Race", Minden Herald, September 13, 1940, p. 1
7. "Biographical History of the Georgist Movement". Cooperativeindividualism.org/georgists. Archived from the original on July 15, 2009. Retrieved June 6, 2009.
8. "J. Frank Colbert, "Taxation and Prosperity"". Cooperativeindividualism.org. Archived from the original on June 20, 2010. Retrieved June 7, 2009.
9. "Official Returns Given for Minden Primary Election", Minden Herald, April 14, 1944, p. 1
10. The Minden Herald, February 22, 1946, p. 1