Emil Seidel
Encyclopedia
Emil Seidel was the mayor of Milwaukee from 1910 to 1912. He was the first Socialist
mayor of a major city in the United States
, and ran as the Vice Presidential
candidate for the Socialist Party of America
in the 1912 presidential election.
in Schuylkill County, Pennsylvania
of ethnic German immigrants to America. His family moved to Wisconsin
when he was a small child.
At the age of 22, Seidel went abroad to refine his skills as a wood-carver. He lived for six years in Berlin
working at his trade during the day and attending school at night. It was in this period that Seidel became an active socialist. Upon his return to Milwaukee
, Seidel joined the Pattern Makers Union.
In 1895, Seidel married the former Lucy Greissel.
. Seidel was a charter member of the first SLP branch in Milwaukee.
Seidel later joined the Social Democracy of America
(established 1897), the Social Democratic Party of America (established 1898), and the Socialist Party of America
(established 1901) in turn.
In 1904 Seidel was one of nine Socialists to win electoral victory as Milwaukee city aldermen, elected in the city's 20th ward. He served two terms in that position before being elected as an Alderman-at-Large in 1909.
In 1910, Seidel was elected mayor of Milwaukee, becoming the first Socialist mayor of a major city in the United States. During his administration the first public works department was established, the first fire and police commission was organized, and a city park system came into being. Seidel cleaned the town up with strict regulation of bars and the closing of brothels
and sporting parlors (modern-day casino
s). It was also during his administration that he employed the noted American poet and author Carl Sandburg
for a brief time. It was Seidel's socialist inclinations that attracted Sandburg to Milwaukee.
In the 1912 mayoral election, the Democratic and Republican parties joined forces to defeat Seidel, resulting in his loss to Gerhard Bading
. Seidel then chose to run for Vice President of the United States
on the Socialist ticket with Eugene V. Debs
, and the pair won a respectable 901,551 votes in the 1912 presidential election (6% of the total). Most of his remaining political involvement was in local Milwaukee politics, but in 1932 he ran for a seat in the United States Senate in Wisconsin, winning 6% of the vote, the best showing for a Socialist candidate running for the United States Senate. Seidel served two more terms as alderman in Milwaukee, in 1916–20 and 1932–36, before his death.
Socialism
Socialism is an economic system characterized by social ownership of the means of production and cooperative management of the economy; or a political philosophy advocating such a system. "Social ownership" may refer to any one of, or a combination of, the following: cooperative enterprises,...
mayor of a major city in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
, and ran as the Vice Presidential
Vice President of the United States
The Vice President of the United States is the holder of a public office created by the United States Constitution. The Vice President, together with the President of the United States, is indirectly elected by the people, through the Electoral College, to a four-year term...
candidate for the Socialist Party of America
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...
in the 1912 presidential election.
Early years
Seidel was born December 13, 1864 in the town of AshlandAshland, Pennsylvania
Ashland is a borough in Schuylkill county in the U.S. state of Pennsylvania, 12 miles northwest of Pottsville. The Borough lies in the anthracite coal region of eastern Pennsylvania. Settled in 1850, Ashland was incorporated in 1857, and was named for Henry Clay's estate near Lexington, Kentucky....
in Schuylkill County, Pennsylvania
Schuylkill County, Pennsylvania
-Notable people:*Boxing heavyweight great Muhammad Ali had his training camp in Deer Lake.*Charles Justin Bailey, commanding general of the 81st Division in World War I, was born in Tamaqua on June 21, 1859....
of ethnic German immigrants to America. His family moved to Wisconsin
Wisconsin
Wisconsin is a U.S. state located in the north-central United States and is part of the Midwest. It is bordered by Minnesota to the west, Iowa to the southwest, Illinois to the south, Lake Michigan to the east, Michigan to the northeast, and Lake Superior to the north. Wisconsin's capital is...
when he was a small child.
At the age of 22, Seidel went abroad to refine his skills as a wood-carver. He lived for six years in Berlin
Berlin
Berlin is the capital city of Germany and is one of the 16 states of Germany. With a population of 3.45 million people, Berlin is Germany's largest city. It is the second most populous city proper and the seventh most populous urban area in the European Union...
working at his trade during the day and attending school at night. It was in this period that Seidel became an active socialist. Upon his return to Milwaukee
Milwaukee, Wisconsin
Milwaukee is the largest city in the U.S. state of Wisconsin, the 28th most populous city in the United States and 39th most populous region in the United States. It is the county seat of Milwaukee County and is located on the southwestern shore of Lake Michigan. According to 2010 census data, the...
, Seidel joined the Pattern Makers Union.
In 1895, Seidel married the former Lucy Greissel.
Political career
When Seidel returned to the United States he joined the Socialist Labor Party of AmericaSocialist Labor Party of America
The Socialist Labor Party of America , established in 1876 as the Workingmen's Party, is the oldest socialist political party in the United States and the second oldest socialist party in the world. Originally known as the Workingmen's Party of America, the party changed its name in 1877 and has...
. Seidel was a charter member of the first SLP branch in Milwaukee.
Seidel later joined the Social Democracy of America
Social Democracy of America
The Social Democracy of America , later known as the Co-operative Brotherhood, was a short lived party in the United States that sought to combine the planting of an intentional community with political action in order to create a socialist society...
(established 1897), the Social Democratic Party of America (established 1898), and the Socialist Party of America
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...
(established 1901) in turn.
In 1904 Seidel was one of nine Socialists to win electoral victory as Milwaukee city aldermen, elected in the city's 20th ward. He served two terms in that position before being elected as an Alderman-at-Large in 1909.
Prostitution
Prostitution is the act or practice of providing sexual services to another person in return for payment. The person who receives payment for sexual services is called a prostitute and the person who receives such services is known by a multitude of terms, including a "john". Prostitution is one of...
and sporting parlors (modern-day casino
Casino
In modern English, a casino is a facility which houses and accommodates certain types of gambling activities. Casinos are most commonly built near or combined with hotels, restaurants, retail shopping, cruise ships or other tourist attractions...
s). It was also during his administration that he employed the noted American poet and author Carl Sandburg
Carl Sandburg
Carl Sandburg was an American writer and editor, best known for his poetry. He won three Pulitzer Prizes, two for his poetry and another for a biography of Abraham Lincoln. H. L. Mencken called Carl Sandburg "indubitably an American in every pulse-beat."-Biography:Sandburg was born in Galesburg,...
for a brief time. It was Seidel's socialist inclinations that attracted Sandburg to Milwaukee.
In the 1912 mayoral election, the Democratic and Republican parties joined forces to defeat Seidel, resulting in his loss to Gerhard Bading
Gerhard A. Bading
Gerhard Adolph Bading, M.D. was an American physician, and politician who served as mayor of Milwaukee, Wisconsin, from 1912 to 1916. he was the U.S. Envoy to Ecuador from 1922 to 1929.-Biography:...
. Seidel then chose to run for Vice President of the United States
Vice President of the United States
The Vice President of the United States is the holder of a public office created by the United States Constitution. The Vice President, together with the President of the United States, is indirectly elected by the people, through the Electoral College, to a four-year term...
on the Socialist ticket with Eugene V. Debs
Eugene V. Debs
Eugene Victor Debs was an American union leader, one of the founding members of the International Labor Union and the Industrial Workers of the World , and several times the candidate of the Socialist Party of America for President of the United States...
, and the pair won a respectable 901,551 votes in the 1912 presidential election (6% of the total). Most of his remaining political involvement was in local Milwaukee politics, but in 1932 he ran for a seat in the United States Senate in Wisconsin, winning 6% of the vote, the best showing for a Socialist candidate running for the United States Senate. Seidel served two more terms as alderman in Milwaukee, in 1916–20 and 1932–36, before his death.
Works
- What We Have Done in Milwaukee. Chicago, IL: National Office of the Socialist Party, 1911.
- Which Must Go? America or Private Ownership of Railroads? Milwaukee: Socialist Party of Wisconsin, 1923.
See also
- Daniel HoanDaniel HoanDaniel Webster "Dan" Hoan was a United States lawyer and politician. He became the second Socialist mayor of Milwaukee, Wisconsin, and his tenure is generally considered to be the longest continuous socialist administration in U.S. history...
- Frank P. ZeidlerFrank P. ZeidlerFrank Paul Zeidler was an American Socialist politician and Mayor of Milwaukee, Wisconsin, serving three terms from April 20, 1948 to April 18, 1960. He was the most recent Socialist mayor of any major American city, although U.S. Senator Bernie Sanders was the mayor of Burlington, the largest...