Vahey represented Massachusetts 's 12th congressional district as a delegate to the 1904 Democratic National Convention . He was pledged to Richard Olney , whose law office had been on the same floor as Allen and Howland when Vahey worked there . He defeated former Congressman George F. Williams , who was a backer of William Randolph Hearst . Vahey was also a delegate to the 1924 Democratic National Convention , where he backed Al Smith . In 1906 , Vahey was elected to the Massachusetts Senate seat in the 1st Middlesex District . During his tenure in the Senate , Vahey led the fight for abolition for capital punishment , citing his experience with Charles L. Tucker , whom he believed to be innocent , as influencing his position . He also wrote legislation to prevent the proposed merger of the Boston & Maine and New York , New Haven , & Hartford railroads
1924 Democratic National Convention
1924 Democratic National Convention
James H. Vahey