James W. Latta

James William Latta (April 19, 1839 – March 26, 1922) was an American military officer and politician who was the Adjutant General of Pennsylvania from 1873 to 1883 and the Secretary of Internal Affairs of Pennsylvania from 1895 to 1903.

Early life Latta was born on April 19, 1839 in Philadelphia. He graduated from Central High School in 1856 and after a brief stint as a clerk for the Western Insurance Company, studied law under his father, John E. Latta, who was then associated with William L. Pierce. Latta was admitted to the bar on his 21st birthday.

During the Pittsburgh railroad strike of 1877, Latta was given the authority to act on behalf of the Governor John F. Hartranft, who was out of state. Local militia commander Alfred L. Pearson informed Latta that many of his men had sided with the strikers, so Latta ordered 600 guardsmen from Philadelphia under the command of Robert M. Brinton. On July 21, 1877, Latta ordered Briton's men to disperse a crowd gathered at the 28th Street crossing. The militia was stoned and taunted by the mob, then fired upon. Returning fire, they killed an estimated 20 men, women and children, and wounded another 29. This led to a riot that saw strikers burn 39 buildings, 104 locomotives, 46–66 passenger cars, and 1,200–1,383 freight cars., 53 rioters and eight soldiers were killed in the violence.

Latta was retained by Hartranft's successor, Henry M. Hoyt,

Politics Latta was the first secretary of the Philadelphia Civil Service Board. In 1889, he was elected clerk of the quarter sessions of Philadelphia County. He was reelected in 1892. In 1894, he was elected Secretary of Internal Affairs of Pennsylvania. He was elected to a second term in 1898 and left office in 1903.