Esch, John Jacob [key], 1861–1941, U.S. Congressman and federal administrator, b. Norwalk, Wis. A lawyer in La Crosse, he became a member of the House of Representatives in 1899 and served until 1921, distinguishing himself as coauthor of the Transportation Act (Esch-Cummins Act) of 1920. He was a member of the Interstate Commerce Commission from 1921 to 1928, when his renomination was rejected by the Senate because he allegedly was responsible for rates favoring Pennsylvania coal mines and discriminating against Southern mines. Esch was president of the American Peace Society from 1930 to 1938.
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