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Arthur J. Bidwill

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Arthur J. Bidwill
Member of the Illinois Senate (2nd District)
In office
1966–1972
Member of the Illinois Senate (1st District)
In office
1956–1966
Member of the Illinois Senate (7th District)
In office
1938–1956
Preceded byCharles F. Baumrucker
Member of the Illinois Senate (7th District)
In office
1934–1935
Succeeded byCharles F. Baumrucker
Personal details
BornChicago, Illinois
Political partyRepublican

Arthur J. Bidwill (June 24, 1903 – October 4, 1985) was an American politician and lawyer.

Born in Chicago, Illinois, Bidwill received his law degree from Notre Dame Law School and lived in River Forest, Illinois. He was a Republican. Bidwell was elected to the Illinois Senate in 1934, defeating Democrat Charles F. Baumrucker by a margin of 60 votes but was ousted four and one half months later by the Democrat-controlled Senate on a vote of 28 to 14 citing voting irregularities.[1] A Senate committee had found that Baumrucker had actually won the vote by a majority of 149 votes.[1] His removal was widely seen by Republicans as political[2] as Bidwill had campaigned on challenging the Cook County "Democratic machine."[1] Only one Democratic senator voted against the resolution, T. V. Smith, alleging that the Democrats were acting with "brute power" and "stupidity".[1] The same committee recommended Baumrucker as his replacement.[1]

Bidwill ran for the seat in 1938 and defeated Baumrucker. Bidwill went on to serve in the Illinois Senate until 1972 and was president pro tempore of the senate. His nephews Richard A. Walsh and William D. Walsh also served in the Illinois General Assembly. Bidwill died in Lake Geneva, Wisconsin.[3][4][5]

He was the Republican nominee for Illinois Auditor of Public Accounts in 1936.

He ran unsuccessfully for the Republican nomination for Illinois Secretary of State in 1940.

Notes

[edit]
  1. ^ a b c d e "Demo Whiplash Felt In Ouster Of G.O.P Solon". Urbana Daily Courier. May 16, 1935 – via NewspaperArchive.com.
  2. ^ "Out Without A Count". Edwardsville Intelligencer. October 26, 1936 – via NewspaperArchive.com.
  3. ^ 'Illinois Blue Book 1971-1972,' Biographical Sketch of Arthur J. Bidwill,' pg. 136
  4. ^ 'A. Bidwill, Former Illinois Senator,' Chicago Tribune, October 5, 1985
  5. ^ 'Richard A. Walsh, 74,' Chicago Tribune, Rex W. Huppke, January 28, 2005
Party political offices
Preceded by
Harry G. Wright
Republican nominee for Illinois Auditor of Public Accounts
1936
Succeeded by