The interest in Mr. Empey's career centers about his activity as a State Capitol lobbyist for the Brotherhood of Locomotive Firemen and Enginemen and about his many years of “grass-roots” campaigning for the Progressive party in Wisconsin. The Empey Papers contain correspondence concerned with his political activities and correspondence concerned with union grievance work. Practically every year of the correspondence has some material on union grievance work; apparently Empey was very diligent on this. In some cases he worked many years with railroad officials to get men reinstated in their jobs. The political correspondence reveals the strong ties between the trade unions and the Progressive Party. In the two years (1931-1933) of his State Directorship of the U.S. Employment Service, the problems there, of course, dominate the correspondence. Finally, for someone interested in the technical aspects of railroading from the operating man's viewpoint, there is material concerning the condition of equipment, engines, and stations.
Following is a list of some of the high points in the papers, which are arranged chronologically:
1922 |
Delegate to the Brotherhood Convention in Houston
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1922 |
Long federal inspection report on the poor condition of equipment after a strike
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1925 |
Information on pay for union activity
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1925 |
Correspondence with Attorney General Reynolds and Governor Blaine
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1926 |
Correspondence regarding support of Blaine for U.S. Senate
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1926 |
Letter of Congressman Peavy illustrating Progressive interparty bickering
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1927 |
Correspondence on Green Bay city politics
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1928 |
Correspondence on the election campaign of State Attorney General Reynolds, Congressman Geo. F. Schneider, U.S. Senator Robert M. La Follette, Jr., and Al Smith for President
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1928 |
Statements of pay for political work
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1928 |
Attendance at Brotherhood Convention in San Francisco
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1929 |
Correspondence with Congressman J. D. Beck, Phil La Follete, J. F. Chase of Oconto, Wisconsin Railroad Commissioner McDonald, and State Treasurer Sol Levitan
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1930 |
Activity towards election of J. W. Reynolds to State Supreme Court, opposing Fowler
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1930 |
Correspondence on the question of harmony between Catholics and Protestants in Green Bay local politics
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1930 |
An opinion by U.S. Senator Blaine on the granting of bank charters
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1930 |
Correspondence in support of Philip La Follette for Governor
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1930 |
An invitation to escort Attorney General J. W. Reynolds to Capitol rotunda for oath taking
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1930 |
Letters with regard to the appointment of Dr. E. E. Kelly of Green Bay to the University Board of Regents
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1931 |
State Director of U.S. Employment Service correspondence
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1931 |
Letters of cooperation from Gov. Philip La Follette and Treasurer Sol Levitan
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1931 |
Correspondence with Wisconsin Chambers of Commerce for cooperation
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1931 |
Listing of pay for Union lobbying work from 1924-1931.
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1932 |
Correspondence with J. D. Beck, a Wisconsin Commissioner of Agriculture
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1932 |
Correspondence indicating Wisconsin Republican Stalwarts question his support of Hoover in 1932 and therefore his fitness for a Federal job
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1932 |
Correspondence indicating that the Northwestern Railroad is refusing to extend his leave of absence
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1932 |
Correspondence with Gov. La Follette and Senator Blaine
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1933 |
Correspondence regarding Labor Secretary Perkins' dismissal of State Directors of the Employment Service
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1934 |
Invitation to Gov. La Follette's inaugural
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1935 |
Correspondence regarding the appointment of Dr. E. E. Kelly of Green Bay to the University Regents
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1936 |
Recommendation of Empey for a position on the Wisconsin Public Service Commission by the Green Bay Trades Council
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1936 |
Correspondence showing interest in the Farm-Labor movement
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1937 |
Empey recommends R. F. Green for position on Public Service Commission; Green appointed in 1939
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1938 |
Aids Orland Loomis campaign for Attorney General
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1942 |
Correspondence regarding campaigns of “Young Bob” La Follette for U.S. Senate and Orland Loomis for Governor
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1945 |
Correspondence concerning his pension rights starts and continues until he retires
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1947 |
Correspondence deals with reminiscences about Governor Blaine and Congressman Beck on a trip to Boscobel
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1947 |
Comment on “Young Bob” La Follette's campaign
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1948 |
Correspondence regarding a derailment in his experience
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1948 |
A little campaigning for Ralph Immel
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1949 |
Correspondence with Publisher William Evjue of the Madison Capital Times against Assemblyman Catlin
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1952 |
Correspondence with Evjue regarding Senator McCarthy's reelection
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Names that figure frequently in the correspondence include A. P. Hansen, local chairman of Lodge 266 of the B.L.F.E. at Green Bay; R. F. Green, Chairman of the B.L.F.E. State Legislative board, in references by Floyd; and A. R. McDonald who was a member of the Railroad Commission of Wisconsin and a personal friend.