Thaddeus C. Sweet

Thaddeus Campbell Sweet (November 16, 1872 - May 1, 1928) was an American manufacturer and politician from New York. He represented New York's 32nd congressional district from 1923 to 1928.

Biography

He was born on November 16, 1872 in Phoenix, New York to Anthony Wayne Sweet and Sarah Elizabeth Campbell. He attended the public schools, and graduated from Phoenix Academy and High School. Then he entered business and for two years served as a traveling salesman. In 1895, he began the manufacture of paper and was President of the Sweet Paper Manufacturing Co. He also engaged in banking. He was town clerk of Phoenix from 1896 to 1899.

He was a member of the New York State Assembly (Oswego Co.) in 1910, 1911, 1912, 1913, 1914, 1915, 1916, 1917, 1918, 1919 and 1920; and was Speaker from 1914 to 1920. As Speaker, Sweet opposed legislation promoted by New York women suffragists, refusing to allow bills such as those accepting federal funding to promote maternal and infant health (Sheppard-Towner) and protective labor legislation for women and children get to the Assembly floor. Suffragists believed that his opposition to such bills in 1919 quashed his gubernatorial ambitions.