Thomas Kane (California politician)
Thomas Kane | |
|---|---|
| Member of the California Senate from the 11th district | |
| In office January 5, 1880 – January 8, 1883 | |
| Preceded by | John S. Boyston |
| Succeeded by | Multi-member district |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 1832 or 1835 County Donegal, Ireland |
| Died | November 6, 1905 (aged 70) Los Angeles, California, U.S. |
| Party | Workingmen's (before 1881) Republican (after 1881) |
| Children | 3 |
| Occupation | Coal miner, politician |
Thomas Kane[1] (1832 or 1835 – November 6, 1905)[2] was an Irish American coal miner and politician who served in the California State Senate from 1880 to 1883.[3] Elected as a member of the Workingmen's Party of California,[4] he remained active in the anti-Chinese movement even after leaving office and joining the Republican Party.[5]
On April 6, 1880, Kane charged that a lobbyist attempted to bribe him to vote for an upcoming bill. The Senate opened an investigation the next day, but during testimony Kane "absolutely refuse[d]" to name the party responsible.[6][7] He was found in contempt of the Senate and was threatened with expulsion,[8] but was instead jailed for a single night.[9]
References
- ^ Mohan, Hugh J.; Clough, E. H.; Cosgrave, John P. (1880). Pen Pictures of Our Representative Men. Sacramento: H. A. Weaver's Valley Press. pp. 12–13. Retrieved November 18, 2025.
- ^ "DEATHS". Los Angeles Herald. Los Angeles. November 9, 1905. Retrieved November 18, 2025.
- ^ "Thomas Kane". JoinCalifornia. Retrieved November 18, 2025.
- ^ "AT SACRAMENTO". Oakland Daily Evening Tribune. Oakland. January 27, 1880. Retrieved November 18, 2025.
- ^ "A MACHINIST'S OPINION". The Morning Call. San Francisco. September 26, 1888. Retrieved November 18, 2025.
- ^ "Report of Committee Appointed to Investigate the Charges Made by Senator Thomas Kane of an Attempt at Bribery". Appendix to the Journals of the Senate and Assembly of the Twenty-third Session Session of the Legislature of the State of California. VI. Sacramento: California State Printing Office: 3. April 7, 1880. Retrieved November 18, 2025.
- ^ "KANE'S CONSCIENCE". San Francisco Chronicle. San Francisco. April 9, 1880. Retrieved November 18, 2025.
- ^ "KANE'S CONTEMPT". San Francisco Chronicle. San Francisco. April 10, 1880. Retrieved November 18, 2025.
- ^ "CALIFORNIA LEGISLATURE". Sacramento Daily Record-Union. Sacramento. April 12, 1880. Retrieved November 18, 2025.
External links