 In 1955-1956, he was 53% pro-Eisenhower in his votes and 28% against, with his attendance falling to 73% of all recorded votes.By the 1957-1958 term, his attendance had fallen to only 52%, as illness began overtaking him.In the primary of 1948, James was backed by the political machine lead by John J. McClure and the Delaware County Board of Republican Supervisors, known as the "War Board", to unseat the independent incumbent E. Wallace Chadwick.