Edward H. Kiefer
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Edward H. Kiefer (May 1, 1874–April 14, 1951) was an
American American(s) may refer to: * American, something of, from, or related to the United States of America, commonly known as the "United States" or "America" ** Americans, citizens and nationals of the United States of America ** American ancestry, p ...
house painter A house painter and decorator is a tradesperson responsible for the painting and decorating of buildings, and is also known as a decorator, or house painter.''The Modern Painter and Decorator'' volume 1 1921 Caxton The purpose of painting is t ...
who served seven terms (1911–1914 and 1931–40) as a member of the
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. The Assembly is controlled by the Republican ...
representing
Milwaukee Milwaukee is the List of cities in Wisconsin, most populous city in the U.S. state of Wisconsin. Located on the western shore of Lake Michigan, it is the List of United States cities by population, 31st-most populous city in the United States ...
. He ran initially as a
Socialist Socialism is an economic ideology, economic and political philosophy encompassing diverse Economic system, economic and social systems characterised by social ownership of the means of production, as opposed to private ownership. It describes ...
, then became a Progressive.


Early life

Kiefer was born in Milwaukee in 1874 and was educated in the
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and
parochial school A parochial school is a private school, private Primary school, primary or secondary school affiliated with a religious organization, and whose curriculum includes general religious education in addition to secular subjects, such as science, mathem ...
s of the city for three years. At age 9 he moved with his family to Morrison, Wisconsin, where he continued school. At 13 he returned to Milwaukee and attended school until age 15, when he became an
apprentice Apprenticeship is a system for training a potential new practitioners of a Tradesman, trade or profession with on-the-job training and often some accompanying study. Apprenticeships may also enable practitioners to gain a license to practice in ...
painter, and practiced that trade for most of his life. He was active in the Brotherhood of Painters, Decorators and Paperhangers and served a leader of that
trade union A trade union (British English) or labor union (American English), often simply referred to as a union, is an organization of workers whose purpose is to maintain or improve the conditions of their employment, such as attaining better wages ...
in various capacities for decades, eventually becoming the business agent for his
local union A local union (often shortened to local), in North America, or union branch (known as a lodge in some unions), in the United Kingdom and other countries, is a local branch (or chapter) of a usually national trade union. The terms used for sub-bran ...
(Local 781).


Political career

Kiefer was first elected to the Wisconsin State Assembly in 1910 as a Social Democrat (the Socialist Party of Wisconsin preserved the old term for some years); and was re-elected in 1912. In 1914, he ran for the
Wisconsin State Senate The Wisconsin Senate is the upper house of the Wisconsin State Legislature. Together with the Wisconsin State Assembly they constitute the legislative branch of the state of Wisconsin. The powers of the Wisconsin Senate are modeled after those o ...
, but lost to Democrat David V. Jennings; his house seat was picked up by fellow Socialist Frank J. Weber. Eighteen years later, Kiefer ran again for the Assembly under the banner of what was now the Socialist Party. He won that 1930 election, and was re-elected in 1932 and 1934. In 1935, Kiefer introduced a resolution in the Assembly that the state call a new constitutional convention so that the
Wisconsin Constitution The Constitution of the State of Wisconsin is the governing document of the U.S. State of Wisconsin. It establishes the structure and function of state government, describes the state boundaries, and declares the rights of state citizens. The ...
could be revised "to meet present day social needs." Kiefer and other socialist legislators wished to have increased state involvement in private industry, public ownership of utilities, confiscation of individual income over $10,000, and establishment of a state bank. In 1936 he successfully ran for re-election as a Progressive (the Socialists and Progressives operated under a form of
electoral fusion Electoral fusion in the United States is an arrangement where two or more United States political parties on a ballot list the same candidate, allowing that candidate to receive votes on multiple party lines in the same election. Electoral fus ...
in this era) and won again with that label in 1938. Kiefer did not seek reelection to the Assembly in 1940, as he had already won a seat on the
Milwaukee Common Council The municipal government of the U.S. city of Milwaukee, located in the state of Wisconsin, consists of a mayor and common council. Traditionally supporting progressive politicians and movements, this community has consistently proved to be a stro ...
in 1939. His simultaneous holding of both posts came under fire from governor
Heil Heil may refer to: * Heil (surname) * Heil, North Dakota, a census-designated place and unincorporated community in the United States *''Heil Hitler'', ''Sieg Heil'', a Nazi salute * Heil Sound, a manufacturer of audio and studio equipment. * Heil ...
. Kiefer was twice elected as chairman of the Wisconsin central committee for the
Wisconsin Progressive Party The Wisconsin Progressive Party (1934–1946) was a political third party that briefly held a major role in Wisconsin politics under the two sons of the late Robert M. La Follette. It was on the political left wing, and it sometimes cooperated wit ...
in 1940 and 1942. (By 1942 the cooperation agreement between the Socialists and Progressives was no longer in effect.)Progressives Blast at Heil
''Milwaukee Journal Sentinel'' September 30, 1942.


Personal life

He had five daughters and a son, including Isabella and Harold.Ex-Alderman, Kiefer, Dead
''Milwaukee Journal'' April 16, 1951.


References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Kiesner, Julius House painters Politicians from Milwaukee Wisconsin city council members Members of the Wisconsin State Assembly Socialist Party of America politicians from Wisconsin Wisconsin Progressives (1924) 1874 births 1951 deaths 20th-century members of the Wisconsin Legislature