Representative Harry Howard Dale

Harry Howard Dale (December 3, 1868 – November 17, 1935) was an American lawyer and politician who served three terms as a U.S. Representative from New York from 1913 to 1919. A member of the Democratic Party, he represented his constituents in the United States House of Representatives during a period of significant political and social change in the early twentieth century.

Details of Dale’s early life, including his place of birth, family background, and formative years, are not extensively documented in the available sources. Born in the late Reconstruction era, he came of age as the United States was undergoing rapid industrialization and urbanization, developments that would shape the political and legal environment in which he later worked. His decision to pursue the law as a profession placed him within a growing class of attorneys who were increasingly influential in municipal and national affairs.

Dale trained for and entered the legal profession, establishing himself as an American lawyer before embarking on a broader political career. His legal background provided the foundation for his later public service, equipping him with familiarity in statutory interpretation, legislative drafting, and the procedural aspects of governance. As was common for many lawyers of his generation who entered politics, his practice likely brought him into contact with local civic leaders, party organizations, and the concerns of urban constituents in New York.

Building on his legal career, Dale became active in Democratic Party politics in New York. His affiliation with the Democratic Party placed him within one of the dominant political organizations of the state, which at the time was deeply engaged in debates over economic regulation, labor issues, immigration, and the role of the federal government. Through this involvement, he advanced to national office and secured election to the United States House of Representatives, where he would serve three consecutive terms.

Harry Howard Dale served as a Representative from New York in the United States Congress from 1913 to 1919. During these three terms in office, he contributed to the legislative process as a member of the House of Representatives and participated in the democratic process at the federal level. His tenure coincided with the administrations of Presidents Woodrow Wilson and the enactment of major reforms, including progressive-era legislation and measures related to the First World War. As a Democratic member of Congress, Dale represented the interests of his New York constituents while the nation confronted issues such as financial regulation, tariff policy, and the mobilization of resources for the war effort.

Dale’s service in Congress occurred during a significant period in American history, marked by the lead-up to U.S. involvement in World War I in 1917 and the subsequent transformation of the federal government’s role in economic and foreign affairs. Within this context, he took part in debates and votes that helped shape national policy. Although specific committee assignments and sponsored measures are not detailed in the surviving record here, his role as a voting member of the House placed him within the broader legislative response to wartime needs, domestic reform, and postwar adjustment.

After leaving Congress in 1919, Dale returned to private life and to the legal profession that had anchored his career. In the years following his congressional service, he remained part of the generation of former lawmakers who had participated in guiding the United States through the challenges of war and reform. Harry Howard Dale died on November 17, 1935, closing a career that combined law and public office during a transformative era in both New York and national politics.