W. C. Zumach

William C. Zumach (October 16, 1887 – July 1981) 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.[1]

Background

Zumach was born on a farm in Black Creek, Wisconsin 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 ranches, 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.[2]

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.[3]

Service in the Senate

Zumach was elected to the Senate for the 6th District (6th, 7th, 9th and 10th wards 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.[4] He did not run for re-election in 1920, but was succeeded by fellow Socialist Joseph Joshua Hirsch, who ran unopposed.[5]

After the Senate

As of April 1934, Zumach was announced as a speaker at the annual May Day celebration of the Socialist Party of Waukegan and North Chicago, Illinois.[6] He was described as a member of the Socialist Party's state campaign committee when he was announced as a speaker at the September 9, 1934 annual picnic of the Dodge County party branch.[7]

As of 1940 he was working as a tax assessor for the city of Milwaukee and living there with his wife Irma.

He died in July 1981; he had been living in Walnut Creek, California.[8]

References
  1. Members of the Wisconsin Legislature, 1848-1999 Madison: State of Wisconsin Legislative Reference Bureau, 1999; p. 21 Archived December 9, 2006, at the Wayback Machine
  2. Hunter, Paul F., ed. The Wisconsin Blue Book [1919 edition]. "COMPILED AND PUBLISHED UNDER THE DIRECTION OF THE STATE PRINTING BOARD" Madison: Democrat Printing Company, State Printer, 1919; pp. 463.
  3. Saloutos, Theodore & Hicks, John Donald. Agricultural discontent in the Middle West, 1900-1939. Lincoln, NE: Lincoln University of Nebraska, 1951; p. 208 et seq.
  4. The Wisconsin blue book, 1917 Madison: Democrat Printing Co., State Printer, 1917; p. 292, 490
  5. The Wisconsin blue book, 1921 Madison: 1921; p. 228
  6. Vick, Peggy. "May Day Celebration" Prosveta April 25, 1934; p. 8, col. 3
  7. "Socialists of Four Counties to Picnic" Milwaukee Journal September 7, 1934; p. 15, col. 3
  8. Listing from Social Security Death Index
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