24 Facts About Claude Matthews

Claude Matthews was an American politician who served as the 23rd governor of the US state of Indiana from 1893 to 1897.

Claude Matthews's mother died when he was four months old, and his father sent him to be raised by an aunt in Kentucky.

Claude Matthews's father remarried in 1858, and he returned to live with them near Danville, Kentucky.

Claude Matthews worked on the family's farm and attended Centre College and graduated in 1867.

Claude Matthews became prominent in the area because of his breeding program and the qualify cattle and horses he produced.

In 1890, Democratic party leaders approached Claude Matthews and encouraged him to run for Indiana Secretary of State.

Claude Matthews was one of several men the party was grooming as a potential candidate for governor in the upcoming election.

Claude Matthews campaigned against Republican John B Stoll and won the election by 20,000 votes.

Claude Matthews continued in that office for two years before resigning to run for governor.

Claude Matthews used his position to become a well-known advocate of the unlimited coinage of silver.

Claude Matthews was nominated to run as the Democratic candidate for governor in 1892 and ran in the fall election against incumbent Republican governor Ira Joy Chase and Populist candidate Leroy Templeton.

Shortly before Claude Matthews took office, the national economy was struck by the Panic of 1893, caused in part by the inflationary acts of the government, which Claude Matthews supported in the campaign.

Claude Matthews came into office with projected budget shortfalls and threats of worker strikes across the state.

Claude Matthews called out nine companies of militia and sent them to forcibly break up the strikers and protect coal shipments.

Claude Matthews called up additional militia and dispatched them to break up the second strike.

The legislature was not in session when Claude Matthews ordered the militia to duty, but they approved of his actions when they gathered later in the year.

Claude Matthews had advocated in the campaign the banning of horse racing and prize fighting in the state.

Claude Matthews successfully pressed the General Assembly to pass legislation banning the enterprises.

Claude Matthews then dispatched the militia and state police to seize the horse tracks and fighting arenas in the state.

Claude Matthews found the doors locked and called for help from fellow Democrats to beat down the door to the House of Representatives.

Claude Matthews took the issue to the Indiana Supreme Court, who ruled in favor of the Assembly, effectively rolling back a decade of Democratic legislation.

Claude Matthews was a leading candidate until the sixth ballot when his supporters switched to William Jennings Bryan after Bryan delivered an impassioned speech.

Claude Matthews continued making occasional public appearances and delivering speeches.

Claude Matthews's body was returned to his home town and buried in a Clinton cemetery.