W. C. Zumach
Encyclopedia
William C. Zumach was an American
Socialist from Milwaukee who served one term (1917–1921) as a member of the Wisconsin State Senate
representing the Milwaukee-based 6th Senate district.
but moved with his parents to Milwaukee three years later and attended Milwaukee Public Schools
. At the age of 16 he ran away from home and traveled all over the United States
and Mexico
for three years, working at railroad construction, railroad bridge building, railroad freight transfers, on dredge boats, in logging
and turpentine
camps; prospected
, drove
pack trains in mountains; and worked on fruit, grain and hop
ranch
es, and in hotels and factories. He returned to Milwaukee in 1910 and was employed in the engineering department for the City of Milwaukee
. In 1913 he was appointed an inspector for the Wisconsin Railroad Commission, and in 1914 was appointed special agent for the U. S. Commission on Industrial Relations
to investigate strikes
and strike-breaking agencies. After that he became a union organizer
, until he was elected to the Senate in 1916.
Zumach was a strong advocate of cooperation between the Socialist and the Non-Partisan League
, but was distressed by the failure of NPL congressmen to support Victor Berger when he was refused his seat in the House. He nonetheless became the manager of the Wisconsin branch of the League.
s of the City of Milwaukee) in 1916 to succeed Democrat
George Weissleder (who was not a candidate for re-election), receiving 4,147 votes to 4,006 for Republican
Charles Meising
, 1,744 for Democrat Charles Jungmann, and 73 for Prohibitionist
Henry W. Schmidt. He was assigned to the standing committee
on corporations. He did not run for re-election in 1920, but was succeed by fellow Socialist Joseph Joshua Hirsch
, who ran unopposed.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
Socialist from Milwaukee who served one term (1917–1921) as a member of 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...
representing the Milwaukee-based 6th Senate district.
Background
Zumach was born on a farm in Black Creek, WisconsinBlack Creek, Wisconsin
-Demographics:As of the census of 2010, there were 1,316 people, 540 households, and 513 families residing in the village. The population density was 1,097.6 people per square mile . There were 540 housing units at an average density of 450 per square mile...
but moved with his parents to Milwaukee three years later and attended 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...
. At the age of 16 he ran away from home and traveled all over the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
and Mexico
Mexico
The United Mexican States , commonly known as Mexico , is a federal constitutional republic in North America. It is bordered on the north by the United States; on the south and west by the Pacific Ocean; on the southeast by Guatemala, Belize, and the Caribbean Sea; and on the east by the Gulf of...
for three years, working at railroad construction, railroad bridge building, railroad freight transfers, on dredge boats, in logging
Logging
Logging is the cutting, skidding, on-site processing, and loading of trees or logs onto trucks.In forestry, the term logging is sometimes used in a narrow sense concerning the logistics of moving wood from the stump to somewhere outside the forest, usually a sawmill or a lumber yard...
and turpentine
Turpentine
Turpentine is a fluid obtained by the distillation of resin obtained from trees, mainly pine trees. It is composed of terpenes, mainly the monoterpenes alpha-pinene and beta-pinene...
camps; prospected
Prospecting
Prospecting is the physical search for minerals, fossils, precious metals or mineral specimens, and is also known as fossicking.Prospecting is a small-scale form of mineral exploration which is an organised, large scale effort undertaken by mineral resource companies to find commercially viable ore...
, drove
Droving
Droving is the practice of moving livestock over large distances by walking them "on the hoof".Droving stock to market, usually on foot and often with the aid of dogs, has a very long history in the old world...
pack trains in mountains; and worked on fruit, grain and hop
Hops
Hops are the female flower clusters , of a hop species, Humulus lupulus. They are used primarily as a flavoring and stability agent in beer, to which they impart a bitter, tangy flavor, though hops are also used for various purposes in other beverages and herbal medicine...
ranch
Ranch
A ranch is an area of landscape, including various structures, given primarily to the practice of ranching, the practice of raising grazing livestock such as cattle or sheep for meat or wool. The word most often applies to livestock-raising operations in the western United States and Canada, though...
es, and in hotels and factories. He returned to Milwaukee in 1910 and was employed in the engineering department for the City of 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...
. In 1913 he was appointed an inspector for the Wisconsin Railroad Commission, and in 1914 was appointed special agent for the U. S. Commission on Industrial Relations
Commission on Industrial Relations
The Commission on Industrial Relations was a commission created by the U.S. Congress on August 23, 1912. The commission studied work conditions throughout the industrial United States between 1913 and 1915...
to investigate strikes
Strike action
Strike action, also called labour strike, on strike, greve , or simply strike, is a work stoppage caused by the mass refusal of employees to work. A strike usually takes place in response to employee grievances. Strikes became important during the industrial revolution, when mass labour became...
and strike-breaking agencies. After that he became a 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....
, until he was elected to the Senate in 1916.
Zumach was a strong advocate of cooperation between the Socialist and the Non-Partisan League
Non-Partisan League
The Nonpartisan League was a political organization founded in 1915 in the United States by former Socialist Party organizer A. C. Townley. The Nonpartisan League advocated state control of mills, grain elevators, banks and other farm-related industries in order to reduce the power of corporate...
, but was distressed by the failure of NPL congressmen to support Victor Berger when he was refused his seat in the House. He nonetheless became the manager of the Wisconsin branch of the League.
Service in the Senate
Zumach was elected to the Senate for the 6th District (6th, 7th, 9th and 10th wardWard
Ward may refer to:* A Watchman as in Watch and Ward* Ward , someone placed under the protection of a legal guardian* USS Aaron Ward, a series of U.S...
s of the City of Milwaukee) in 1916 to succeed 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...
George Weissleder (who was not a candidate for re-election), receiving 4,147 votes to 4,006 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...
Charles Meising
Charles Meising
Charles Meising was a salesman from Milwaukee, Wisconsin, who served one term as a Republican member of the Wisconsin State Assembly, and conducted several less successful campaigns.- Background :...
, 1,744 for Democrat Charles Jungmann, and 73 for Prohibitionist
Prohibition Party
The Prohibition Party is a political party in the United States best known for its historic opposition to the sale or consumption of alcoholic beverages. It is the oldest existing third party in the US. The party was an integral part of the temperance movement...
Henry W. Schmidt. He 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 corporations. He did not run for re-election in 1920, but was succeed by fellow Socialist Joseph Joshua Hirsch
Joseph J. Hirsch
Joseph Joshua Hirsch was an American furniture salesman from Milwaukee who served one term as a Socialist member of the Wisconsin State Senate.- Background :...
, who ran unopposed.