Harry Clay Smith
Harry Clay Smith was born in Clarksburg, West Virginia, United States on January 28th, 1863 and is the African American Newspaper Editor And Politician. At the age of 78, Harry Clay Smith biography, profession, age, height, weight, eye color, hair color, build, measurements, education, career, dating/affair, family, news updates, and networth are available.
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Smith's career in state politics began with support from his mentor Marcus A. Hanna, who also graduated from Central High School. Hanna, a Republican and one of Ohio's US State Senators in the 1890s convinced Smith to pursue a political career in order to promote change along with his paper. Taking Hanna's advice Smith took his first government job as an oil inspector from 1885 to 1889. In 1893 Smith was elected in a Cleveland district to serve on the State Assembly. Smith served three terms in the Ohio General Assembly as a Republican representative from 1893 to 1899. During his three terms as a rep Smith played key roles in the passing of the Ohio Civil Rights Act of 1894 which levied heavy penalties against businesses that exercised certain discriminatory practices. Smith was also part of the writing and passing of the Smith Act of 1896. This law was the most severe anti-lynching laws of its kind in that time period. During his political career Smith almost successfully fought off the showing of the racist film The Birth of a Nation in Cleveland but after years of litigation the movie was shown.
In 1920 Smith fought for a nomination of Ohio Secretary of State but was dropped from consideration due to his race. However, in 1926 Smith re-entered politics and was a candidate in the Republican Primary for Governor of Ohio. Although he lost the nomination, many remember his candidacy as a ground-breaking triumph for African Americans in Ohio politics. After this attempt Smith then focused on The Cleveland Gazette, of which he continued to be the head editor for another 15 years until his death.