KAHN, JULIUS

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KAHN, JULIUS (1861–1924), U.S. congressman. Kahn, who was born in Kuppenheim, Germany, was taken to the U.S. in 1866. After following a career as an actor for ten years, Kahn became a lawyer (1894). He served one term in the California State Assembly. From 1899 to 1903 he was Republican congressman from California's Fourth District (representing part of San Francisco). Reelected in 1905, he served in the House until his death. Kahn, a strong advocate of universal military training and naval preparedness, was ranking Republican member of the House Military Affairs Committee during World War I. As such, he helped to steer through Congress President Wilson's World War program, particularly the administration's conscription bill which was opposed by the majority of Democratic committee members. In 1921 Kahn became chairman of the House Military Affairs Committee and took charge of legislation for reorganizing the army on a peacetime basis. He was the first member of Congress to advocate that candidates be obliged to publish their primary campaign expenses and contributions. He was an active opponent of Zionism. Kahn was one of the founders of the Jewish Educational Society in San Francisco (1897). His widow, FLORENCE PRAG KAHN (1868–1948), was appointed to his House seat on his death. She served in the House until 1937.

BIBLIOGRAPHY:

H. Schneiderman, in: AJYB, 27 (1925), 238–45.

[Robert E. Levinson]