November 15, 1869 . . . Birth date of Harry Bartow Hawes

Harry Bartow Hawes, United States senator from Missouri, was born in Covington, Kentucky, November 15, 1869. He moved to St. Louis in 1887 and was graduated from Washington University Law School nine years later. Immediately starting law practice in St. Louis, Hawes soon became a prominent Democrat. In 1898 he represented the Republic of Hawaii in its fight for annexation to the United States, and the same year he was appointed a member of the St. Louis Board of Police Commissioners. He served four years as president of the board and resigned in 1903 to seek the Democratic nomination for governor, but Joseph W. Folk defeated him. Hawes then began to agitate for good roads and after a period of law practice he served in the state legislature, 1916-17. He was author of the state highway law, known as the “Hawes” law.

When the World War broke out in 1914, Hawes was visiting in Ireland. He went to London where he stayed for two months, studying the development of the war. On coming back to this country, he lectured on international law in answer to German propaganda that was being spread throughout the United States. Hawes again went to Europe in November 1917 and spent seven months in France, England, Switzerland and Spain. When he returned to the United States, he was assigned to the psychologic section of the military intelligence department and sent to Madrid. After the war, during which Hawes became a major, he wrote about his war experiences and, also, his research on the works of Cervantes.

Hawes was elected to Congress from the eleventh district in 1920 and served in the House for three terms. He resigned to become a candidate for the United States Senate after he had been appointed to fill the vacancy caused by the death of Selden P. Spencer. Hawes was also elected for a full term but resigned, February 3, 1933, one month before his term expired. In both the House and Senate Hawes served on the interstate commerce committees and used his influence to promote Mississippi River improvement. He was joint author of the Hawes-Cutting Act, which gave independence to the Philippines at the end of a certain period of time.

Hawes also authored several books on outdoor sports and the Philippine Islands. He practiced law in St. Louis and Washington, D.C., until his death on July 31, 1947.

For primary source material on Harry Hawes see: