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{{short description|American politician}}
[[File:ThomasMcEwingDuncan.jpeg|thumbnail|Thomas McEwing Duncan in 1932]]

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'''Thomas McEwing Duncan''' (March 5, 1893 &ndash; February 22, 1959) was an [[United States|American]] [[clerical worker]] from [[Milwaukee]] who served three terms as a [[Socialist Party of the United States|Socialist]] member of the [[Wisconsin State Assembly]] (1923–1928) and one term (1929–1932) as a member of the [[Wisconsin State Senate]] representing the Milwaukee-based [[Wisconsin Senate, District 6|6th Senate district]].<ref>[http://www.legis.state.wi.us/lrb/pubs/ib/99ib1.pdf ''Members of the Wisconsin Legislature, 1848-1999'' Madison: State of Wisconsin Legislative Reference Bureau, 1999]</ref>
{{Infobox officeholder
⚫
|name = Thomas Duncan
|image = ThomasMcEwingDuncan.jpeg
|imagesize =
|caption = Duncan in 1932
|state = Wisconsin
|state_senate = Wisconsin
|district = [[Wisconsin's 6th State Senate district|6th]]
|term_start = January 7, 1929
|term_end = January 2, 1933
|predecessor = [[Alex C. Ruffing]]
|successor = [[Charles H. Phillips]]
|state_assembly1 = Wisconsin
|district1 = Milwaukee 4th
|term_start1 = January 1, 1923
|term_end1 = January 7, 1929
|predecessor1 = [[Fred Hasley]]
|successor1 = [[Fred W. Springer]]
|party = [[Socialist Party of America|Socialist]] {{small|(before 1935)}}<br />[[Wisconsin Progressive Party|Progressive]] {{small|(1935–1946)}}<br />[[Democratic Party (United States)|Democratic]] {{small|(after 1946)}}
|birth_date = {{birth date|1893|3|5}}
|birth_place = [[Westboro, Wisconsin]], U.S.
|death_date = {{death date and age|1959|2|22|1893|3|5}}
|death_place = [[Washington, D.C.]], U.S.
|resting_place = [[Forest Home Cemetery]]
|alma_mater = [[Yale University]]
|profession = Clerk
|spouse = {{marriage|Catherine Cody|15 February 1915}}
|children = 2
⚫
}}
⚫
'''Thomas McEwing Duncan''' (March 5, 1893 &ndash; February 22, 1959) was an American [[clerical worker]] from [[Milwaukee]] who served three terms as a [[Socialist Party of America|Socialist]] member of the [[Wisconsin State Assembly]] (1923–1929) and one term as a member of the [[Wisconsin State Senate]] (1929–1933) representing the Milwaukee-based [[Wisconsin Senate, District 6|6th Senate district]].<ref>[http://lrbdigital.legis.wisconsin.gov/digital/collection/p16831coll2/id/1303/rec/45 Members of the Wisconsin State Legislature 1848-1999]</ref>


== Background ==
== Background ==
Duncan was born in Wisconsin on March 5, 1893 and was educated in the [[Milwaukee Public Schools]]. He graduated from [[Yale University]] in 1915. After graduation he was employed in the bond department of the First Wisconsin Trust Company, and later in the consolidated bond department of the First Wisconsin National Bank.<ref>{{cite book|last=Gregory|first=John Goadby|title=History of Milwaukee Wisconsin, Volume III|year=1930|publisher=The S. J. Clarke Publishing Company|location=Wisconsin Historical Society State Historical Library|pages=566–570}}</ref> He served as Secretary to Milwaukee Mayor [[Daniel Hoan]] from April 1920 to January 1, 1925, and as a member of the Milwaukee Firemen's and Policemen's [[Pension]] Commission.
Duncan was born in [[Westboro, Wisconsin]] on March 5, 1893 and was educated in the [[Milwaukee Public Schools]]. He graduated from [[Yale University]] in 1915. After graduation he was employed in the bond department of the First Wisconsin Trust Company, and later in the consolidated bond department of the First Wisconsin National Bank.<ref>{{cite book|last=Gregory|first=John Goadby|title=History of Milwaukee Wisconsin, Volume III|year=1930|publisher=The S. J. Clarke Publishing Company|location=Wisconsin Historical Society State Historical Library|pages=566–570}}</ref> He served as Secretary to [[Milwaukee Mayor]] [[Daniel Hoan]] from April 1920 to January 1, 1925, and as a member of the Milwaukee Firemen's and Policemen's [[Pension]] Commission.


== Legislative service ==
== Legislative service ==
He was first elected to the Assembly in November 1922 without opposition to succeed fellow Socialist [[Fred Hasley]].<ref>[http://digital.library.wisc.edu/1711.dl/WI.WIBlueBk1923 ''The Wisconsin blue book, 1923'' p. 629]</ref> to represent the Fourth [[Milwaukee County, Wisconsin|Milwaukee County]] Assembly district (the 21st [[Wards of the United States|ward]] of the City of Milwaukee).
He was first elected to the Assembly in November 1922 without opposition to succeed fellow Socialist [[Fred Hasley]]<ref>[http://digital.library.wisc.edu/1711.dl/WI.WIBlueBk1923 ''The Wisconsin Blue Book, 1923.'' p. 629]</ref> to represent the Fourth [[Milwaukee County, Wisconsin|Milwaukee County]] Assembly district (the 21st [[Wards of the United States|ward]] of the City of Milwaukee).


Duncan was responsible for the 1930 introduction and passage of the [[line-item veto|partial veto]] into the Wisconsin state constitution, considered "the most extensive" veto power that has been "given to any state executive."<ref>[http://www.wisbar.org/AM/Template.cfm?Section=Wisconsin_Lawyer&template=/CM/ContentDisplay.cfm&contentid=70436 Wade, Frederick B. "The Origin and Evolution of Partial Veto Power", ''Wisconsin Lawyer'' Vol. 81, No. 3 (March 2008)]</ref> He was considered less doctrinaire than Congressman [[Victor Berger]], and at one time was discussed as a potential progressive candidate for [[Governor of Wisconsin]] under some form of [[Wisconsin Progressive Party|Progressive]]/[[Sewer Socialism|Socialist]] [[fusion ticket]].<ref>Winter, Everett. "Berger's Passing To Alter Wisconsin Socialist Party: Duncan, New Leader, Differs In Political Philosophy, Action." ''[[Wisconsin State Journal]]'', August 11, 1929.</ref> He acted as [[executive secretary]] to Governor [[Philip La Follette]], and was asserted to have (unsuccessfully) led efforts to lure Socialists into the La Follette camp.<ref>Everett, Winter. "Blaming Each Other" ''[[Wisconsin State Journal]]'' n.d., reprinted in the ''[[Rhinelander Daily News]]'' September 28, 1932; p. 4, col. 2</ref> He did not seek re-election to the Senate in 1932; Socialist Assemblyman [[George Hampel (legislator)|George Hampel]] was nominated to succeed Duncan in the 6th District,<ref>"Senate Power Given Kohler If He Goes In", ''[[Manitowoc Herald-Times]]'' September 23, 1932; p. 6, col. 3</ref> but was defeated by a Democrat in the 1932 Democratic landslide.
Duncan became the most successful Socialist legislator in state history, authoring 83 successful bills over his decade-long career.<ref name=pragmatic>{{cite journal |last1=Kluever |first1=Joshua |last2= |first2= |date=April 2023 |title=The Golden Age of Pragmatic Socialism: Wisconsin Socialists at the State Level, 1919–37 |url=https://www.cambridge.org/core/journals/journal-of-the-gilded-age-and-progressive-era/article/golden-age-of-pragmatic-socialism-wisconsin-socialists-at-the-state-level-191937/6000E55DE5183AFFF56387803FE2EC3F |journal=The Journal of the Gilded Age and Progressive Era |volume=22 |issue=2 |pages=204–223 |doi=10.1017/S1537781422000603 |access-date=10 November 2024}}</ref> He was responsible for the 1930 introduction and passage of the [[line-item veto|partial veto]] into the Wisconsin state constitution, considered "the most extensive" veto power that has been "given to any state executive."<ref>[http://www.wisbar.org/AM/Template.cfm?Section=Wisconsin_Lawyer&template=/CM/ContentDisplay.cfm&contentid=70436 Wade, Frederick B. "The Origin and Evolution of Partial Veto Power", ''Wisconsin Lawyer'' Vol. 81, No. 3 (March 2008)] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100118204203/http://www.wisbar.org/AM/Template.cfm?Section=Wisconsin_Lawyer |date=2010-01-18 }}</ref>


After the death of Congressman [[Victor Berger]] in 1929, Duncan was considered his successor as leader of the [[Sewer socialism|Wisconsin socialists]],<ref name=berger>Winter, Everett. "Berger's Passing To Alter Wisconsin Socialist Party: Duncan, New Leader, Differs In Political Philosophy, Action." ''[[Wisconsin State Journal]]'', August 11, 1929.</ref> and took over editing and publishing the ''[[Milwaukee Leader]]''.<ref name=yale>{{cite book |author=<!--Not stated--> |date=1952 |title=History of the class of 1915, Yale College. Volume 3, Thirty-fifth year record |url=https://archive.org/details/historyofclassof00unse_0/page/85/mode/1up |location=New Haven |publisher= |pages=85–87 |isbn=}}</ref> He was seen as less doctrinaire than Berger, and at one time was discussed as a potential candidate for [[Governor of Wisconsin]] under some form of [[Wisconsin Progressive Party|Progressive]]/[[Social-Democratic Party of Wisconsin|Socialist]] [[fusion ticket]].<ref name=berger/> In a controversial move, Republican Governor [[Philip La Follette]] appointed Duncan his [[executive secretary]] in 1931,<ref name=fighting>{{cite book |last=Kasparek |first=Jon |author-link= |date=2006 |title=Fighting Son: A Biography of Philip La Follette |url=https://archive.org/details/fightingsonbiogr0000kasp/page/115/mode/1up |location=Madison |publisher=Wisconsin Historical Society Press |pages=115, 188–189 |isbn=}}</ref> and he quickly became a member of La Follette's inner circle.<ref name=governor>{{cite book |last=Miller |first=John E. |author-link= |date=1982 |title=Governor Philip F. La Follette, the Wisconsin Progressives, and the New Deal |url=https://archive.org/details/governorphilipfl00mill/page/19/mode/1up |location=Columbia |publisher=University of Missouri Press |pages=19, 84–86 |isbn=}}</ref> The following year, Duncan was asserted to have (unsuccessfully) led efforts to lure the Socialists into the La Follette camp.<ref>Everett, Winter. "Blaming Each Other" ''[[Wisconsin State Journal]]'' n.d., reprinted in the ''[[Rhinelander Daily News]]'' September 28, 1932; p. 4, col. 2</ref>
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==References==

He did not seek re-election to the Senate in 1932, seeing his career in the legislature as a dead end;<ref name=governor/> Socialist Assemblyman [[George Hampel (legislator)|George Hampel]] was nominated to succeed Duncan in the 6th District,<ref>"Senate Power Given Kohler If He Goes In", ''[[Manitowoc Herald-Times]]'' September 23, 1932; p. 6, col. 3</ref> but was defeated by Democrat [[Charles H. Phillips]] in the [[1932 Wisconsin gubernatorial election|1932 Democratic landslide]].

== Executive service ==
While La Follette lost renomination in 1932, he made a comeback [[1934 Wisconsin gubernatorial election|two years later]] on the Progressive ticket, and after retaking office he once again appointed Duncan his secretary.<ref>{{cite news |author=<!--not stated--> |date=25 April 1935 |title=Cut Governor's budget figures |url=https://archive.org/details/wisconsin-rapids-daily-tribune-1935-04-25/mode/1up |work=[[Wisconsin Rapids Daily Tribune]] |location=Wisconsin Rapids |access-date=10 November 2024}}</ref> In that position, he aided the Governor in passing several pieces of Progressive legislation, including the "Little [[TVA]]" Act, which passed the State Senate by just one vote.<ref name=pragmatic/>

In 1935, Duncan was instrumental in the formation of the Wisconsin Farmer-Labor Progressive Federation, a coalition made up of the Progressive Party, the Socialist Party, the [[Farmer–Labor Party#National Farmer–Labor Party|Farmer-Labor Progressive League]], the [[Wisconsin State Federation of Labor]], and several other labor and farmers' groups.<ref name=fighting/> In particular, Duncan was able to convince the socialists to give up their ballot access in exchange for reserving certain seats for socialists running under the Progressive ticket.<ref name=governor/>

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== References ==
<references/>
<references/>


{{Persondata <!-- Metadata: see [[Wikipedia:Persondata]]. -->
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| NAME = Duncan, Thomas N.
| ALTERNATIVE NAMES =
| SHORT DESCRIPTION = American politician
| DATE OF BIRTH = March 5, 1893
| PLACE OF BIRTH =
| DATE OF DEATH = February 22, 1959
| PLACE OF DEATH =
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}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Duncan, Thomas M.}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Duncan, Thomas M.}}
[[Category:Clerks]]
[[Category:Clerks]]
[[Category:People from Milwaukee, Wisconsin]]
[[Category:Politicians from Milwaukee]]
[[Category:Members of the Wisconsin State Assembly]]
[[Category:Members of the Wisconsin State Assembly]]
[[Category:Wisconsin State Senators]]
[[Category:Wisconsin state senators]]
[[Category:Wisconsin socialists]]
[[Category:Socialist Party of America politicians from Wisconsin]]
[[Category:Yale University alumni]]
[[Category:Yale University alumni]]
[[Category:1893 births]]
[[Category:1893 births]]
[[Category:1959 deaths]]
[[Category:1959 deaths]]
[[Category:20th-century members of the Wisconsin Legislature]]


{{Wisconsin-politician-stub}}

Latest revision as of 10:34, 6 December 2024

Thomas Duncan
Duncan in 1932
Member of the Wisconsin Senate
from the 6th district
In office
January 7, 1929 – January 2, 1933
Preceded byAlex C. Ruffing
Succeeded byCharles H. Phillips
Member of the Wisconsin State Assembly
from the Milwaukee 4th district
In office
January 1, 1923 – January 7, 1929
Preceded byFred Hasley
Succeeded byFred W. Springer
Personal details
Born(1893-03-05)March 5, 1893
Westboro, Wisconsin, U.S.
DiedFebruary 22, 1959(1959-02-22) (aged 65)
Washington, D.C., U.S.
Resting placeForest Home Cemetery
Political partySocialist (before 1935)
Progressive (1935–1946)
Democratic (after 1946)
Spouse
Catherine Cody
​
(m. 1915)​
Children2
Alma materYale University
ProfessionClerk

Thomas McEwing Duncan (March 5, 1893 – February 22, 1959) was an American clerical worker from Milwaukee who served three terms as a Socialist member of the Wisconsin State Assembly (1923–1929) and one term as a member of the Wisconsin State Senate (1929–1933) representing the Milwaukee-based 6th Senate district.[1]

Background

[edit]

Duncan was born in Westboro, Wisconsin on March 5, 1893 and was educated in the Milwaukee Public Schools. He graduated from Yale University in 1915. After graduation he was employed in the bond department of the First Wisconsin Trust Company, and later in the consolidated bond department of the First Wisconsin National Bank.[2] He served as Secretary to Milwaukee Mayor Daniel Hoan from April 1920 to January 1, 1925, and as a member of the Milwaukee Firemen's and Policemen's Pension Commission.

Legislative service

[edit]

He was first elected to the Assembly in November 1922 without opposition to succeed fellow Socialist Fred Hasley[3] to represent the Fourth Milwaukee County Assembly district (the 21st ward of the City of Milwaukee).

Duncan became the most successful Socialist legislator in state history, authoring 83 successful bills over his decade-long career.[4] He was responsible for the 1930 introduction and passage of the partial veto into the Wisconsin state constitution, considered "the most extensive" veto power that has been "given to any state executive."[5]

After the death of Congressman Victor Berger in 1929, Duncan was considered his successor as leader of the Wisconsin socialists,[6] and took over editing and publishing the Milwaukee Leader.[7] He was seen as less doctrinaire than Berger, and at one time was discussed as a potential candidate for Governor of Wisconsin under some form of Progressive/Socialist fusion ticket.[6] In a controversial move, Republican Governor Philip La Follette appointed Duncan his executive secretary in 1931,[8] and he quickly became a member of La Follette's inner circle.[9] The following year, Duncan was asserted to have (unsuccessfully) led efforts to lure the Socialists into the La Follette camp.[10]

He did not seek re-election to the Senate in 1932, seeing his career in the legislature as a dead end;[9] Socialist Assemblyman George Hampel was nominated to succeed Duncan in the 6th District,[11] but was defeated by Democrat Charles H. Phillips in the 1932 Democratic landslide.

Executive service

[edit]

While La Follette lost renomination in 1932, he made a comeback two years later on the Progressive ticket, and after retaking office he once again appointed Duncan his secretary.[12] In that position, he aided the Governor in passing several pieces of Progressive legislation, including the "Little TVA" Act, which passed the State Senate by just one vote.[4]

In 1935, Duncan was instrumental in the formation of the Wisconsin Farmer-Labor Progressive Federation, a coalition made up of the Progressive Party, the Socialist Party, the Farmer-Labor Progressive League, the Wisconsin State Federation of Labor, and several other labor and farmers' groups.[8] In particular, Duncan was able to convince the socialists to give up their ballot access in exchange for reserving certain seats for socialists running under the Progressive ticket.[9]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ Members of the Wisconsin State Legislature 1848-1999
  2. ^ Gregory, John Goadby (1930). History of Milwaukee Wisconsin, Volume III. Wisconsin Historical Society State Historical Library: The S. J. Clarke Publishing Company. pp. 566–570.
  3. ^ The Wisconsin Blue Book, 1923. p. 629
  4. ^ a b Kluever, Joshua (April 2023). "The Golden Age of Pragmatic Socialism: Wisconsin Socialists at the State Level, 1919–37". The Journal of the Gilded Age and Progressive Era. 22 (2): 204–223. doi:10.1017/S1537781422000603. Retrieved 10 November 2024.
  5. ^ Wade, Frederick B. "The Origin and Evolution of Partial Veto Power", Wisconsin Lawyer Vol. 81, No. 3 (March 2008) Archived 2010-01-18 at the Wayback Machine
  6. ^ a b Winter, Everett. "Berger's Passing To Alter Wisconsin Socialist Party: Duncan, New Leader, Differs In Political Philosophy, Action." Wisconsin State Journal, August 11, 1929.
  7. ^ History of the class of 1915, Yale College. Volume 3, Thirty-fifth year record. New Haven. 1952. pp. 85–87.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link)
  8. ^ a b Kasparek, Jon (2006). Fighting Son: A Biography of Philip La Follette. Madison: Wisconsin Historical Society Press. pp. 115, 188–189.
  9. ^ a b c Miller, John E. (1982). Governor Philip F. La Follette, the Wisconsin Progressives, and the New Deal. Columbia: University of Missouri Press. pp. 19, 84–86.
  10. ^ Everett, Winter. "Blaming Each Other" Wisconsin State Journal n.d., reprinted in the Rhinelander Daily News September 28, 1932; p. 4, col. 2
  11. ^ "Senate Power Given Kohler If He Goes In", Manitowoc Herald-Times September 23, 1932; p. 6, col. 3
  12. ^ "Cut Governor's budget figures". Wisconsin Rapids Daily Tribune. Wisconsin Rapids. 25 April 1935. Retrieved 10 November 2024.
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