Thomas Cunningham (Wisconsin politician)

Born in Brooklyn, New York, as a child he moved with his parents to New Haven, Connecticut, where he was educated in the common schools.[1] He was orphaned at a young age;[2] he came to Wisconsin in 1869 and settled at Stoughton, in Dane County. Shortly after arriving, he worked at the Black Earth Advertiser, and then moved to Madison to work for the Wisconsin Democrat. Through his association with the paper, he became acquainted with many of the prominent Democratic leaders in the state.[3]

From 1873 to 1875, he was employed as a clerk in the office of the Secretary of State of Wisconsin. But in 1875, he moved north to Chippewa Falls, Wisconsin, where he returned to journalism. He started a Democratic partisan paper in the county, which was—at that time—a Republican stronghold. Cunningham was the co-owner and editor of the Chippewa Times and its successor, the daily Independent, through at least 1919—except for the years he served as Secretary of State.[4]^: 226 It was remarked that his paper was the first Democratic paper to endure in this county.[2]

Cunningham was elected to three terms as Mayor of Chippewa Falls, in 1885, 1899, and 1900.[4]^: 246 And in 1886 was elected to represent all of Chippewa County in the Wisconsin State Assembly. Cunningham became an influential member of the Democratic Party of Wisconsin representing the Democrats of the "up north" counties, and was elected as a state delegate to every Democratic National Convention from 1880 through 1940.[2][5]

In 1890, Cunningham was chosen by the State Democratic Convention as the party's nominee for Secretary of State in the fall election. Cunningham was chosen on the second ballot, as the convention crowd chanted his name.[6] In the general election, Cunningham defeated Republican candidate Edwin D. Coe with 53% of the vote.[7] Cunningham was subsequently re-elected in 1892, but defeated seeking a third term in 1894. He was succeeded by Republican Henry Casson.

After leaving office, Cunningham returned to his newspaper, working until at least 1919. In his later years, he served on several appointed state commissions, including the Civil Service Commission, the State Forestry Commission, and the State Oil Commission.[1] He also became active in works of history; he was a co-author of West Central Wisconsin: A History, and became a curator at the Wisconsin Historical Society.[5]

He attended his last Democratic Convention in 1940, voting for the renomination of Franklin D. Roosevelt for a third term as President.[5] He died less than a year later.

Cunningham was part of a Democratic sweep of all the statewide elected offices in the 1890 elections, which also saw Democrats gain full control of the state legislature. This was the first time the Democrats held such power in the state since before the American Civil War, and it occurred in a redistricting year. What followed was one of Wisconsin's first major redistricting controversies, to which Cunningham's name is closely associated.[8]

In May 1891, Governor Peck signed the Democratic redistricting plans, 1891 Wisc. Act 482 and 1891 Wisc. Act 483. Throughout the legislative process of developing the maps, Republicans expressed outrage at what they saw as a partisan gerrymander.[9] As Secretary of State, Cunningham was legally responsible for implementing the new maps, but, in February 1892, a suit was related to the Wisconsin Supreme Court to bar Cunningham from acting on the maps and to strike down the legislation.[10] The Court published its opinion on March 22, 1892, agreeing with the Republican position and striking down the redistricting act. Justice Harlow S. Orton wrote for the majority that: (1) the maps did not properly account for the population of non-taxed Native Americans and members of the Army and Navy who were not currently located in the state; (2) the districts did not closely adhere to county lines; and that districts were not properly (3) contiguous, (4) compact, and (5) convenient. The court also found that the districts varied too widely in population, with the most populous Senate district being nearly twice the population of the smallest.[8][10]

The Legislature subsequently made another attempt at redistricting, which was also struck down by the Wisconsin Supreme Court.[11] A third and final version was passed only 12 days before the 1892 election.[8]

The principles articulated by the Wisconsin Supreme Court in these cases—adherence to county lines; contiguity; compactness; convenience; striving for population uniformity—collectively became known in the state as the "Cunningham Principles" for redistricting, and were closely considered for decades of subsequent redistricting measures.[8]

Cunningham was popular and well-liked among the public and the political class in Wisconsin. He was a personal friend of U.S. Senator Robert M. "Fighting Bob" La Follette, leader of the Progressive Republicans.[5][12]

Cunningham and his wife had three children, though their son, Carl, died at about 32 years of age. He was survived by two daughters.[5]

After his death, William J. O'Neil, the son of a friend—William O'Neil—composed a poem about him.[13]

• Cunningham, Thomas J., ed. (1891). The Blue Book of the State of Wisconsin (Report). State of Wisconsin.
• Cunningham, Thomas J., ed. (1893). The Blue Book of the State of Wisconsin (Report). State of Wisconsin.
• Gregory, John Goadby; Cunningham, Thomas Jefferson, eds. (1933). West Central Wisconsin: A History. S. J. Clarke Publishing Co.

• Thomas J. Cunningham at Find a Grave