Samuel M. Ralston

Samuel Moffett Ralston
United States Senator from Indiana
In office March 4, 1923 – October 14, 1925
Preceded by	Harry Stewart New
Succeeded by	Arthur Raymond Robinson
28th Governor of Indiana
In office January 13, 1913 – January 8, 1917
Lieutenant	William P. O'Neill
Preceded by	Thomas R. Marshall
Succeeded by	James P. Goodrich
Personal details
Born	December 1, 1857 New Cumberland, Ohio, U.S.
Died	October 14, 1925(1925-10-14) (aged 67) Indianapolis, Indiana, U.S.
Political party	Democratic
Spouse(s)	Mary Josephine Backous (1881–1882) Jennie Craven (1889–1925)
Children	Emmet Gratan Julian Craven Ruth
Alma mater	Central Indiana Normal College
Profession	Coal miner Teacher Lawyer

Samuel Moffett Ralston (December 1, 1857 – October 14, 1925) was an American politician of the Democratic Party who served as the 28th governor of the U.S. state of Indiana and a United States senator from Indiana.

Born into a large impoverished family, he took many jobs as a child including working in a coal mine. He taught school and studied law, becoming a prominent state lawyer before becoming active in his local politics. Because he served during the state's 100th anniversary he is sometimes called the Indiana's "Centennial Governor". During his tenure as governor, he was responsible for implementing many progressive era reforms in the state and put down the Indianapolis streetcar strike of 1913. He gained the support of the Indiana Ku Klux Klan for his anti-Catholic political positions, and with their support was elected to the U.S. Senate in 1922. Ralston had become popular among the national Democratic Party as an early front-runner for the presidential nomination in 1924, but he dropped out of the race because of his failing health, and died the next year.