Thomas Duncan (American politician)

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 (1923–1928) and one term (1929–1932) as a member of the Wisconsin State Senate representing the Milwaukee-based 6th Senate district.[1]

Thomas McEwing Duncan in 1932

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.[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

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 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."[4] 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 Progressive/Socialist fusion ticket.[5] 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.[6] He did not seek re-election to the Senate in 1932; Socialist Assemblyman George Hampel was nominated to succeed Duncan in the 6th District,[7] but was defeated by a Democrat in the 1932 Democratic landslide.

References
  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. 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
  5. Winter, Everett. "Berger's Passing To Alter Wisconsin Socialist Party: Duncan, New Leader, Differs In Political Philosophy, Action." Wisconsin State Journal, August 11, 1929.
  6. Everett, Winter. "Blaming Each Other" Wisconsin State Journal n.d., reprinted in the Rhinelander Daily News September 28, 1932; p. 4, col. 2
  7. "Senate Power Given Kohler If He Goes In", Manitowoc Herald-Times September 23, 1932; p. 6, col. 3
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