George Hampel (legislator)
Encyclopedia
George Hampel was an American
politician, accountant
and bookseller from Milwaukee who served one term in the Wisconsin State Assembly
as a Socialist (1931–1932) and two terms in the Wisconsin State Senate
as a Progressive (1937–1944). Hampel at various times identified himself as a Social Democrat
/Socialist
, and Progressive
; and joined the Republicans
when the Progressives rejoined the latter party.
, part of the Milwaukee Public Schools
, and also took classes at the International Correspondence Schools
and Hesse's Art School. Hampel was an accountant and president of Hampel's Book Shop, Inc.
's 232,171. In 1916 he was appointed to the Milwaukee Motion Picture Commission, a film censorship body; he would remain on the Commission until 1940. Hampel was soon elected as county clerk of Milwaukee County, serving from 1919 to 1920 While serving as clerk, Hampel testified and wrote an affidavit in support of fellow Wisconsin socialist Victor Berger for the Congressman's House hearings regarding whether he should be seated. In 1920, he was a delegate to the Convention of the Socialist Party of America.
After ten years away from elected office, Hampel won election as a Socialist to the Wisconsin State Assembly representing Milwaukee County's third Assembly district in 1930, winning 2994 votes versus 545 and 2058 for other candidates. Two years later he ran for the Wisconsin State Senate, but lost to Republican Charles H. Phillips. Hampel was successful when he ran again for the seat in 1936, this time running as a Progressive. He was reelected as a Progressive in 1940. Although Hampel had been a member of both the Socialist Party of America
and the Wisconsin Progressive Party
, he left the Socialists in 1941 after that party ordered its members to quit the Progressive Party. He served as a vice chairman and Milwaukee County chairman of the state Progressive Party in the early 1940s. He failed to keep his state senate seat when he ran without any party affiliation in 1944, losing to Democrat Edward W. Reuther
.
When the Wisconsin Progressive Party no longer remained a viable third party after the 1944 elections, Hampel and his son argued against joining the Democrats and instead favored rejoining the Republican Party of Wisconsin
. Hampel then helped to lead the Progressives back into the Republican Party fold after the declining party voted in favor of such a merger on March 17, 1946.
Hampel was married to Louise Hampel. They had three children: Rachel, Gordon and George Jr., the latter of whom served as a member of the Milwaukee County Board of Trustee
s. He died in Milwaukee in 1954, and was buried in Wanderer's Rest Cemetery.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
politician, accountant
Accountant
An accountant is a practitioner of accountancy or accounting , which is the measurement, disclosure or provision of assurance about financial information that helps managers, investors, tax authorities and others make decisions about allocating resources.The Big Four auditors are the largest...
and bookseller from Milwaukee who served one term in 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....
as a Socialist (1931–1932) and two terms in the Wisconsin State Senate
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...
as a Progressive (1937–1944). Hampel at various times identified himself as a Social Democrat
Social Democratic Party (United States)
The Social Democratic Party of America was a short-lived political party in the United States, established in 1898. The group was formed out of elements of the Social Democracy of America , and was a predecessor to the Socialist Party of America, established in 1901.-Forerunners:Following the...
/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...
, and 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....
; and joined the Republicans
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...
when the Progressives rejoined the latter party.
Background
Hampel was born in Milwaukee in 1885. He was educated at West Division High SchoolMilwaukee High School of the Arts
Established in 1984, Milwaukee High School of the Arts , formerly West Division Sr. High School, is a high school in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, USA. It is a part of the Milwaukee Public Schools system. It specializes in preparation for a profession in the arts.Students receive a minimum of two hours in...
, part of the Milwaukee Public Schools
Milwaukee Public Schools
Milwaukee Public Schools is the largest school district in Wisconsin. As of 2007, it had an enrollment of 87,360 students, and as of 2006 employed 6,100 full-time and substitute teachers in 223 schools. The Milwaukee Public Schools system is the 33rd largest in the United States by enrollment...
, and also took classes at the International Correspondence Schools
International Correspondence Schools
International Correspondence Schools, also known as ICS Learn and ICS, is an educational institute established in 1890 that provides correspondence and distance learning courses...
and Hesse's Art School. Hampel was an accountant and president of Hampel's Book Shop, Inc.
Political career
He began his political career in 1916 by running unsuccessfully for State Treasurer of Wisconsin as a Social Democrat, as they were called in Wisconsin, receiving only 31,329 votes to Republican Merlin HullMerlin Hull
Merlin Hull was a Wisconsin lawyer, a newspaper publisher, and a member of the United States House of Representatives....
's 232,171. In 1916 he was appointed to the Milwaukee Motion Picture Commission, a film censorship body; he would remain on the Commission until 1940. Hampel was soon elected as county clerk of Milwaukee County, serving from 1919 to 1920 While serving as clerk, Hampel testified and wrote an affidavit in support of fellow Wisconsin socialist Victor Berger for the Congressman's House hearings regarding whether he should be seated. In 1920, he was a delegate to the Convention of the Socialist Party of America.
After ten years away from elected office, Hampel won election as a Socialist to the Wisconsin State Assembly representing Milwaukee County's third Assembly district in 1930, winning 2994 votes versus 545 and 2058 for other candidates. Two years later he ran for the Wisconsin State Senate, but lost to Republican Charles H. Phillips. Hampel was successful when he ran again for the seat in 1936, this time running as a Progressive. He was reelected as a Progressive in 1940. Although Hampel had been a member of both 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...
and 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....
, he left the Socialists in 1941 after that party ordered its members to quit the Progressive Party. He served as a vice chairman and Milwaukee County chairman of the state Progressive Party in the early 1940s. He failed to keep his state senate seat when he ran without any party affiliation in 1944, losing to Democrat Edward W. Reuther
Edward W. Reuther
-Biography:Reuther was born on March 30, 1915 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. He would go on to be employed by the Milwaukee Braves. In 1953, he married Madeline Glodowski. They would have a daughter. Reuther passed away on April 30, 2002.-Political career:...
.
When the Wisconsin Progressive Party no longer remained a viable third party after the 1944 elections, Hampel and his son argued against joining the Democrats and instead favored rejoining the Republican Party of Wisconsin
Republican Party of Wisconsin
The Republican Party of Wisconsin is the Wisconsin affiliate of the United States Republican Party . The state party chair is Brad Courtney...
. Hampel then helped to lead the Progressives back into the Republican Party fold after the declining party voted in favor of such a merger on March 17, 1946.
Personal life
In later years, Hampel worked as manager of the Cedar Creek Distillery in Cedarburg, Wisconsin.Hampel was married to Louise Hampel. They had three children: Rachel, Gordon and George Jr., the latter of whom served as a member of the Milwaukee County Board of Trustee
Trustee
Trustee is a legal term which, in its broadest sense, can refer to any person who holds property, authority, or a position of trust or responsibility for the benefit of another...
s. He died in Milwaukee in 1954, and was buried in Wanderer's Rest Cemetery.