Frank J. Weber
Encyclopedia
Frank J. Weber was a seaman
, carpenter
and union organizer
from Milwaukee who between 1907 and 1926 served five (non-continuous) terms as a Socialist
member of the Wisconsin State Assembly
.
in Ozaukee County, and he attended public school in Ulao
. After completing apprenticeship
, Weber became an able seaman
and sailed on Great Lakes
and Atlantic Ocean
merchant ships (according to his 1906 official biography, "in which capacity he visited all the most important seaports of the world").
in 1868, and was active in the Knights of Labor
after 1869. In 1887 he helped organize the Milwaukee Federated Trades Council, becoming its secretary in 1902: an office he would hold until his retirement in January 1934. In 1888 Weber organized ship cargo handlers into what became the International Longshoremen's Association
, and in the same year organized a Carpenters' Union in Milwaukee. In 1893 Weber was chosen the first president of the Wisconsin State Federation of Labor. As of 1894 he refused the title of President, preferring to be General Organizer; he was to hold that office until 1917. Weber fought to align the State Federation of Labor with the goals and principles of the Social Democratic Party
(as it was long known in Wisconsin).
As of 1906 he boasted that he had been a member of a labor organization
for 40 years, and was also one of the General Organizers of the American Federation of Labor
.
In 1906 he was elected to the Assembly from the 16th Milwaukee County district (the 20th ward of the City of Milwaukee), succeeding fellow Socialist August W. Strehlow. Weber won with 1,580 votes to 1,080 for Republican
Edward Groeling. In 1908 he was re-elected, with 1,799 votes against to 1,380 for Republican Louis Goulki and 825 for Democrat
Charles Newser. Weber was assigned to the standing committee
on Manufactures and Labor.
In the Assembly Weber worked for the passage of laws establishing the Wisconsin Industrial Commission (with Charles H. Crownhart
and John R. Commons
he wrote the industrial commission law in 1911), workmen's compensation, the state system
of technical education
, and other statutes favorable to the interests of the working class
.
In 1926 (at which time he was State Chairman of the Socialist Party of Wisconsin
), rather than run for re-election to the Assembly, he opted to challenge incumbent State Senator
Bernhard Gettleman. He lost the election to Gettleman, with 8,074 votes to 10,589 for the incumbent.
for labor. Weber died in Milwaukee in 1943, known as "the grand old man of Wisconsin labor."
Seaman
Seaman is one of the lowest ranks in a Navy. In the Commonwealth it is the lowest rank in the Navy, followed by Able Seaman and Leading Seaman, and followed by the Petty Officer ranks....
, carpenter
Carpenter
A carpenter is a skilled craftsperson who works with timber to construct, install and maintain buildings, furniture, and other objects. The work, known as carpentry, may involve manual labor and work outdoors....
and union organizer
Union organizer
A union organizer is a specific type of trade union member or an appointed union official. A majority of unions appoint rather than elect their organizers....
from Milwaukee who between 1907 and 1926 served five (non-continuous) terms as a 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...
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....
.
Background
Weber was born in the city of Milwaukee on August 7, 1849. In 1852 his family moved to GraftonGrafton, Wisconsin
Grafton is a village in Ozaukee County, Wisconsin, United States. The population was 10,312 at the 2000 census. The village is adjacent to the Town of Grafton and the City of Cedarburg.-History:...
in Ozaukee County, and he attended public school in Ulao
Ulao, Wisconsin
Ulao, Wisconsin, is an unincorporated community in the Town of Grafton in Ozaukee County, Wisconsin. It is located at the intersection of Ulao Road and the old Chicago and Northwestern railroad running from Milwaukee to Green Bay. Today, I-43 runs a few hundred feet to the west of the town...
. After completing apprenticeship
Apprenticeship
Apprenticeship is a system of training a new generation of practitioners of a skill. Apprentices or protégés build their careers from apprenticeships...
, Weber became an able seaman
Able seaman
An able seaman is an unlicensed member of the deck department of a merchant ship. An AB may work as a watchstander, a day worker, or a combination of these roles.-Watchstander:...
and sailed on Great Lakes
Great Lakes
The Great Lakes are a collection of freshwater lakes located in northeastern North America, on the Canada – United States border. Consisting of Lakes Superior, Michigan, Huron, Erie, and Ontario, they form the largest group of freshwater lakes on Earth by total surface, coming in second by volume...
and Atlantic Ocean
Atlantic Ocean
The Atlantic Ocean is the second-largest of the world's oceanic divisions. With a total area of about , it covers approximately 20% of the Earth's surface and about 26% of its water surface area...
merchant ships (according to his 1906 official biography, "in which capacity he visited all the most important seaports of the world").
Labor movement
He joined the Lake Seamen's UnionInternational Seamen's Union
The International Seamen's Union was an American maritime trade union which operated from 1892 until 1937. In its last few years, the union effectively split into the National Maritime Union and Seafarer's International Union.-The early years:...
in 1868, and was active in the Knights of Labor
Knights of Labor
The Knights of Labor was the largest and one of the most important American labor organizations of the 1880s. Its most important leader was Terence Powderly...
after 1869. In 1887 he helped organize the Milwaukee Federated Trades Council, becoming its secretary in 1902: an office he would hold until his retirement in January 1934. In 1888 Weber organized ship cargo handlers into what became the International Longshoremen's Association
International Longshoremen's Association
The International Longshoremen's Association is a labor union representing longshore workers along the East Coast of the United States and Canada, the Gulf Coast, the Great Lakes, Puerto Rico, and inland waterways...
, and in the same year organized a Carpenters' Union in Milwaukee. In 1893 Weber was chosen the first president of the Wisconsin State Federation of Labor. As of 1894 he refused the title of President, preferring to be General Organizer; he was to hold that office until 1917. Weber fought to align the State Federation of Labor with the goals and principles of the Social Democratic Party
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...
(as it was long known in Wisconsin).
As of 1906 he boasted that he had been a member of a labor organization
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...
for 40 years, and was also one of the General Organizers of the American Federation of Labor
American Federation of Labor
The American Federation of Labor was one of the first federations of labor unions in the United States. It was founded in 1886 by an alliance of craft unions disaffected from the Knights of Labor, a national labor association. Samuel Gompers was elected president of the Federation at its...
.
Political office and service
In 1904 Weber was a Socialist candidate for Presidential elector from Milwaukee.In 1906 he was elected to the Assembly from the 16th Milwaukee County district (the 20th ward of the City of Milwaukee), succeeding fellow Socialist August W. Strehlow. Weber won with 1,580 votes to 1,080 for Republican
Republican Party (United States)
The Republican Party is one of the two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Democratic Party. Founded by anti-slavery expansion activists in 1854, it is often called the GOP . The party's platform generally reflects American conservatism in the U.S...
Edward Groeling. In 1908 he was re-elected, with 1,799 votes against to 1,380 for Republican Louis Goulki and 825 for Democrat
Democratic Party (United States)
The Democratic Party is one of two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Republican Party. The party's socially liberal and progressive platform is largely considered center-left in the U.S. political spectrum. The party has the lengthiest record of continuous...
Charles Newser. Weber was assigned to the standing committee
Standing Committee
In the United States Congress, standing committees are permanent legislative panels established by the United States House of Representatives and United States Senate rules. . Because they have legislative jurisdiction, standing committees consider bills and issues and recommend measures for...
on Manufactures and Labor.
In the Assembly Weber worked for the passage of laws establishing the Wisconsin Industrial Commission (with Charles H. Crownhart
Charles H. Crownhart
-Biography:Crownhart was born in Fond du Lac County, Wisconsin in 1863. He was raised in Pierce County, Wisconsin. Crownhart graduated from the University of Wisconsin Law School in 1889. He passed away in 1930.-Career:...
and John R. Commons
John R. Commons
John Rogers Commons was an American institutional economist and labor historian at the University of Wisconsin–Madison.-Biography:Born in Hollansburg, Ohio, John R. Commons had a religious upbringing which led him to be an advocate for social justice early in life...
he wrote the industrial commission law in 1911), workmen's compensation, the state system
Wisconsin Technical College System
Wisconsin Technical College System is a group of 16 technical colleges in Wisconsin.-History:The Wisconsin Legislature passed laws in 1911 requiring cities with a population of 5000 or more to set up trade schools, and a school board to control them...
of technical education
Vocational education in the United States
In the United States, vocational education varies from state to state. The majority of postsecondary technical and vocational training is provided by proprietary career schools...
, and other statutes favorable to the interests of the working class
Working class
Working class is a term used in the social sciences and in ordinary conversation to describe those employed in lower tier jobs , often extending to those in unemployment or otherwise possessing below-average incomes...
.
In 1926 (at which time he was State Chairman of the Socialist Party of Wisconsin
Socialist Party of Wisconsin
The Socialist Party of Wisconsin is the state chapter of the Socialist Party USA in the U.S. state of Wisconsin. It currently has 2 locals; the Milwaukee County Local and the South Central Wisconsin Local....
), rather than run for re-election to the Assembly, he opted to challenge incumbent State Senator
Wisconsin 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...
Bernhard Gettleman. He lost the election to Gettleman, with 8,074 votes to 10,589 for the incumbent.
After the Assembly
As he had always done when not in the legislature himself, he continued to spend time during the session at Madison lobbyingLobbying
Lobbying is the act of attempting to influence decisions made by officials in the government, most often legislators or members of regulatory agencies. Lobbying is done by various people or groups, from private-sector individuals or corporations, fellow legislators or government officials, or...
for labor. Weber died in Milwaukee in 1943, known as "the grand old man of Wisconsin labor."