Edward H. Kiefer
Encyclopedia
Edward H. Kiefer was an American
house painter who served seven terms (1911–1914 and 1931–40) as a member of the Wisconsin State Assembly
representing Milwaukee. He ran initially as a Social Democrat/Socialist
, then became a Progressive
.
s of the city for three years. At age 9 he moved with his family to Morrison, Wisconsin
, where he continued school. At 13 he returned to Milwaukee and attended school until age 15, when he became an apprentice painter, and practiced that trade for most of his life. He was active in the Brotherhood of Painters, Decorators and Paperhangers
and served a leader of that trade union
in various capacities for decades, eventually becoming the business agent
for his local union
(Local 781).
, but lost to Democrat David V. Jennings; his house seat was picked up by fellow Socialist Frank J. Weber
.
Eighteen years later, Kiefer ran again for the Assembly under the banner of what was now the Socialist Party. He won that 1930 election, and was re-elected in 1932 and 1934.
In 1935, Kiefer introduced a resolution in the Assembly that the state call a new constitutional convention so that the Wisconsin Constitution
could be revised "to meet present day social needs." Kiefer and other socialist legislators wished to have increased state involvement in private industry, public ownership of utilities, confiscation of individual income over $10,000, and establishment of a state bank.
In 1936 he successfully ran for re-election as a Progressive, and won again with that party in 1938. Kiefer did not seek reelection to the Assembly in 1940, as he had already won a seat on the Milwaukee Common Council in 1939. His simultaneous holding of both posts came under fire from Gov. Heil
.
Kiefer was twice elected as chairman of the Wisconsin central committee for the Wisconsin Progressive Party
in 1940 and 1942.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
house painter who served seven terms (1911–1914 and 1931–40) as a member of the Wisconsin State Assembly
Wisconsin State Assembly
The Wisconsin State Assembly is the lower house of the Wisconsin Legislature. Together with the smaller Wisconsin Senate, the two constitute the legislative branch of the U.S. state of Wisconsin....
representing Milwaukee. He ran initially as a Social Democrat/Socialist
Socialist Party of America
The Socialist Party of America was a multi-tendency democratic-socialist political party in the United States, formed in 1901 by a merger between the three-year-old Social Democratic Party of America and disaffected elements of the Socialist Labor Party which had split from the main organization...
, then became a Progressive
Wisconsin Progressive Party
The Wisconsin Progressive Party , was a third party which briefly held a dominant role in Wisconsin politics. The Party was the brainchild of Philip La Follette and Robert M. La Follette, Jr., the sons of the famous Wisconsin Governor and Senator Robert M. La Follette, Sr....
.
Early life
Kiefer was born in Milwaukee in 1874 and was educated in the public and parochial schoolParochial school
A parochial school is a school that provides religious education in addition to conventional education. In a narrower sense, a parochial school is a Christian grammar school or high school which is part of, and run by, a parish.-United Kingdom:...
s of the city for three years. At age 9 he moved with his family to Morrison, Wisconsin
Morrison, Wisconsin
Morrison is a town in Brown County in the U.S. state of Wisconsin. The population was 1,651 at the 2000 census. The unincorporated communities of Lark, Morrison, and Wayside are located in the town.-Geography:...
, where he continued school. At 13 he returned to Milwaukee and attended school until age 15, when he became an apprentice painter, and practiced that trade for most of his life. He was active in the Brotherhood of Painters, Decorators and Paperhangers
International Union of Painters and Allied Trades
The International Union of Painters and Allied Trades is a union representing about 140,000 painters, glaziers, wall coverers, flooring installers, convention and trade show decorators, glassworkers, sign and display workers, and drywall finishers in the United States and Canada...
and served a leader of that trade union
Trade union
A trade union, trades union or labor union is an organization of workers that have banded together to achieve common goals such as better working conditions. The trade union, through its leadership, bargains with the employer on behalf of union members and negotiates labour contracts with...
in various capacities for decades, eventually becoming the business agent
Business manager
In a general context, a business manager is a person who manages the work of others in order to run a business efficiently and make a large profit...
for his local union
Local union
A local union, often shortened to local, in North America, or a union branch in the United Kingdom and other countries is a locally-based trade union organization which forms part of a larger, usually national, union.Local branches are organized to represent the union's members from a particular...
(Local 781).
Political career
Kiefer was first elected to the Wisconsin State Assembly in 1910 as a Social Democrat (the Socialist Party of Wisconsin preserved the old term for some years); and was re-elected in 1912. In 1914, he ran for the Wisconsin State SenateWisconsin State Senate
The Wisconsin Senate, the powers of which are modeled after those of the U.S. Senate, is the upper house of the Wisconsin State Legislature, smaller than the Wisconsin State Assembly...
, but lost to Democrat David V. Jennings; his house seat was picked up by fellow Socialist Frank J. Weber
Frank J. Weber
Frank J. Weber was a seaman, carpenter and union organizer from Milwaukee who between 1907 and 1926 served five terms as a Socialist member of the Wisconsin State Assembly.- Background :...
.
Eighteen years later, Kiefer ran again for the Assembly under the banner of what was now the Socialist Party. He won that 1930 election, and was re-elected in 1932 and 1934.
In 1935, Kiefer introduced a resolution in the Assembly that the state call a new constitutional convention so that the Wisconsin Constitution
Wisconsin Constitution
The Constitution of the State of Wisconsin is the governing document of the U.S. State of Wisconsin. It establishes the structure and function of state government, describes the state boundaries, and declares the rights of state citizens...
could be revised "to meet present day social needs." Kiefer and other socialist legislators wished to have increased state involvement in private industry, public ownership of utilities, confiscation of individual income over $10,000, and establishment of a state bank.
In 1936 he successfully ran for re-election as a Progressive, and won again with that party in 1938. Kiefer did not seek reelection to the Assembly in 1940, as he had already won a seat on the Milwaukee Common Council in 1939. His simultaneous holding of both posts came under fire from Gov. Heil
Julius P. Heil
Julius Peter Heil was the 30th Governor of Wisconsin from 1939 to 1943. A Republican, he was born in Düssmund an der Mosel, Germany, and immigrated to the United States in 1881. In 1901, he founded the Heil Company in Milwaukee, which fabricated steel tank cars. He served two two-year terms as...
.
Kiefer was twice elected as chairman of the Wisconsin central committee for the Wisconsin Progressive Party
Wisconsin Progressive Party
The Wisconsin Progressive Party , was a third party which briefly held a dominant role in Wisconsin politics. The Party was the brainchild of Philip La Follette and Robert M. La Follette, Jr., the sons of the famous Wisconsin Governor and Senator Robert M. La Follette, Sr....
in 1940 and 1942.