Washington Cook

Washington Cook (February 22, 1873 – October 12, 1955) was an American politician who served one term on the Massachusetts Governor's Council. He was the brother of Massachusetts State Auditor Alonzo B. Cook.

Washington Cook
Member of the Massachusetts Governor's Council from the 2nd District
In office
1925–1927
Preceded byWilliam W. Ollendorff
Succeeded byChester I. Campbell
Personal details
BornFebruary 22, 1873
Boston
DiedOctober 12, 1955 (aged 82)
Haverhill, Massachusetts
NationalityAmerican
Political partyRepublican / Independent
Spouse(s)Bertha Hodgdon (?–1943; her death)[1]

Early life

Cook was born on February 22, 1873 in Boston. He attended public school in Boston and Somerville, Massachusetts.[2] Cook later moved to Sharon, Massachusetts, where he served on the town's school committee.[3]

Political career

On March 9, 1922, Cook announced that he would challenge Henry Cabot Lodge for his United States Senate seat. He ran on a platform that supported the League of Nations, women's suffrage, enforcement of the 18th Amendment, measures to stop the lynching of African-Americans in the south, creation of a national divorce law, and adequate compensation for soldiers.[4] He finished fifth out of six candidates with 0.9%.[5]

In 1924, Cook upset incumbent Executive Councilor William W. Ollendorff in the 2nd District Republican primary.[6]

In 1926, Cook ran for reelection to his council seat and also ran as an independent for the office of United States Senator.[7] In his second run for the U.S. Senate, Cook supported modification of the Volstead Act, old age pensions, public ownership of coal mines, railroads, oil fields, and hydroelectric power, and elimination of the Electoral College.[8] Cook finished a distant third in the 2nd District Republican primary behind Chester I. Campbell and William W. Ollendorff and received 0.47% of the vote in the U.S. Senate election.[9][10]

In 1930, Cook challenged his brother, Alonzo, for his office of Massachusetts State Auditor. It was reported that the Cooks "[had] not been friendly for some time" and their disagreements once led to a physical altercation.[11] Washington Cook later withdrew from the race, but not after he launched what the Boston Daily Globe described as "a vigorous attack" on his brother.[12]

In 1933, Cook ran for Mayor of Boston on a platform supporting censorship of motion pictures, abolishment of the civil service, creation of a traffic signal system, and fiscal conservatism. Alonzo Cook was also a candidate, although Washington Cook said that he was not aware of his brother's candidacy at the time he entered the race.[12] Washington Cook was not considered to be a strong contender and withdrew from the race in September.[13]

In 1944, Cook, now a resident of Haverhill, Massachusetts, won the Republican nomination for the Massachusetts Governor's Council seat in District 5.[14] He lost the general election to Democrat Robert V. O'Sullivan.[15] He ran again in 1948, but lost in the Republican primary.[16]

Business career

Cook dropped out of Somerville High School to work for the Gutta Percha Rubber Company. After 17 years with the company he was promoted to manager. He retired from the company after 48 years of service.[3]

Cook was also involved in real estate.[3]

In December 1923, Cook declared voluntary bankruptcy. During the proceedings it was revealed that he had pawned $10,000 worth of goods that he had purchased on credit and on one occasion had even sold the pawn ticket.[20][21]

Later life

On December 26, 1949, Cook was seriously injured when he was struck by a car. His injuries included a fractured right hip and severe lacerations to the face. It was the second time in three months that Cook had been struck by a car.[22]

On December 12, 1954, the boarding house where Cook was residing was set on fire. Cook escaped, but four others died.[23]

Cook died on October 12, 1955 in Haverhill.[3]

References
  1. "Bertha Cook". The Boston Daily Globe. October 14, 1943.
  2. Public Officers of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts 1925-26.
  3. "Washington Cook 82, Former Member of Executive Council". The Boston Daily Globe. October 13, 1955.
  4. "Washington Cook Out For Lodge's Seat". The Boston Daily Globe. March 10, 1922.
  5. Office of the Secretary of Commonwealth of Massachusetts (1922). Number of assessed polls, registered voters and persons who voted in each voting precinct in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts at the state, city and town elections. p. 320.
  6. "Auditor Cook's Brother Chosen". The Boston Daily Globe. September 11, 1924.
  7. "Washington Cook Out for Senator". The Boston Daily Globe. July 29, 1926.
  8. "Cook Files Papers to Run for Senate". The Boston Daily Globe. September 3, 1926.
  9. Office of the Secretary of Commonwealth of Massachusetts (1926). Number of assessed polls, registered voters and persons who voted in each voting precinct in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts at the state, city and town elections. p. 28.
  10. Office of the Secretary of Commonwealth of Massachusetts (1926). Number of assessed polls, registered voters and persons who voted in each voting precinct in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts at the state, city and town elections. p. 175.
  11. "Brother's Attack on Cook a Surprise". The Boston Daily Globe. July 12, 1930.
  12. "Cook Brothers Will Tilt Again". The Boston Daily Globe. August 16, 1933.
  13. "12 Fail to File for Mayorality". The Boston Daily Globe. September 27, 1933.
  14. Cutler, Samuel B. (July 13, 1944). "State Treasurer Hurley May Resign". The Boston Daily Globe.
  15. Office of the Secretary of Commonwealth of Massachusetts (1944). Election Statistics. p. 304.
  16. Office of the Secretary of Commonwealth of Massachusetts (1948). Election Statistics. p. 170.
  17. Office of the Secretary of Commonwealth of Massachusetts (1924). Number of assessed polls, registered voters and persons who voted in each voting precinct in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts at the state, city and town elections. p. 83.
  18. Office of the Secretary of Commonwealth of Massachusetts (1924). Number of assessed polls, registered voters and persons who voted in each voting precinct in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts at the state, city and town elections. p. 334.
  19. Office of the Secretary of Commonwealth of Massachusetts (1944). Election Statistics. p. 137.
  20. "Cook Tells of His Bankruptcy". The Boston Daily Globe. May 5, 1925.
  21. "Pawned Goods Bought Upon Credit". The Boston Daily Globe. May 6, 1925.
  22. "Washington Cook Seriously Hurt by Car at 73". The Boston Daily Globe. December 27, 1949.
  23. "Boy, 16, Held After Fire Kills Parents; Girl, 8, Assaulted By Teen-Age Gang". The Boston Daily Globe. December 13, 1954.
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