The Socialist Party, USA (SPUSA) was reorganized under that name in 1973. The roots
of this organization can be traced back to the American Railway Union that disbanded
in 1897 and formed the Social Democracy of America. This socialist group over the
decades has survived mergers, splits and multiple name changes. Some of their more
influential members were Eugene Debs (1855-1926), Victor Berger (1860-1929), Norman
Thomas (1884-1968), Frank Zeidler (1912-2006) and David McReynolds (1929-2018). Debs
and Berger were two of the most revered figures by many socialists. They were
involved in the founding of the original organization/party; both were Socialist
leaders, political activists and held elected positions in their careers. Berger and
Debs were actually convicted and sentenced in 1918 under the Espionage Act for their
anti-war beliefs and speech. Berger campaigned and won a Wisconsin House of
Representatives' seat while he was under indictment. By 1921, both Berger and Debs
had their sentences overturned or commuted, respectively. Norm Thomas ran for
multiple elected positions in New York as well as President of the United States as
the Socialist Party candidate six times and was a very active speaker on radio
broadcasts. Frank Zeidler was Mayor of Milwaukee, Wisconsin from 1948 until 1960,
when he decided to not run for re-election. He ran for President of the United
States as the Socialist Party candidate of the newly reorganized SPUSA in 1976. He
was chairman/chairman emeritus of the SPUSA for many years. David McReynolds was a
pacifist and political activitist who passionately anti war and against the draft.
He ran for President of the United States as the Socialist Party candidate in 1980
and 2000. He worked for the War Resister's League for around four decades.
The Socialist Party of Wisconsin (SPWI), which includes the Socialist Party of
Milwaukee County (SPMC) also reorganized in 1973 when the SPUSA did. Its history
follows many of the same mergers, splits and name changes. Early in their existence
in the 1930s-1940s the SPWI were often aligned with Wisconsin Progressive Party;
members could even hold dual membership in both parties. However, in 1941 SPWI
members were forced to choose membership in either the SPWI or the Progressive
Party. Wellknown SPWI leaders include Frederic Heath (1864-1954), Victor & Meta
Berger (1873-1944), Emil Seidel (1864-1947), Daniel Hoan (1881-1961), Frank Zeidler
and Kendrick (Rick) Kissell (1963-2019). Frederic Heath was a founding member of the
early Socialist Party and a newspaper editor. He campaigned in various elections but
in 1910 was elected as a Milwaukee County Supervisor. He was re-elected to that
office many times and ending up staying for 38 years. Meta Berger, Victor’s wife,
was an active, lifelong socialist but had a falling out with the Party in 1940 and
resigned. The City of Milwaukee elected three Socialist Mayors from 1910-1960. Emil
Seidel was elected from 1910-1912, Daniel Hoan from 1916-1940 and Frank Zeidler from
1948-1960. Seidel also ran as Vice President of the United States as the Socialist
Party candidate in 1912 as running mate to Norm Thomas. Hoan served as Milwaukee
City Attorney under Seidel and was elected Mayor in 1916. Hoan lost his 1940 mayoral
reelection bid to Carl Zeidler (Frank Zeidler’s older brother). He then switched
from the Socialist Party to the Democratic Party, running unsuccessfully for
Milwaukee Mayor again as well as Wisconsin Governor.
The Milwaukee County local party in the early to mid-20th century held much influence
over the Wisconsin branch as it represented a large percentage of its membership.
Milwaukee County had branches organized by City of Milwaukee election wards,
ethnic/language groups, individual suburban cities and women. The Milwaukee County
Central Committee was involved in governing much of the southeastern part of the
State. The Milwaukee area was also the site for the SPWI annual party picnic. From
roughly 1973 thru the mid to late 1980s, the SPUSA headquarters shared an office
with SPWI and SPMC was located in downtown Milwaukee, Wisconsin. In 1975, there was
a fire in the office building that damaged and destroyed many of the Party’s files,
including the earliest records. Water and fire damage is visible on many of the
records in this collection. Eventually in the late 1980s, the SPUSA’s office was
relocated back to New York.
