WI-01. Socialists for Congress. Cello, 7/8 inch. This is a Milwaukee
pin, supporting the party's candidates for Congress from the city's two
congressional districts. On left is Victor Berger, and on the right is Winfield
R. Gaylord. The two man ran together in four elections: 1904, 1910, 1912,
and 1914. This pin may date from any of those races. Berger won election
to Congress a number of times. Gaylord came within about 400 votes of victory
in both 1910 and 1914. This beautiful pin was produced by the Ohio Art Works
Company, and bears its backpaper.
WI-02. First Socialist Congressman, Victor L. Berger. Cello, 7/8 inch.
Victor Berger was elected to Congress several times beginning in 1910. His
district comprised about half of the city of Milwaukee. Logically these
pins would have been used in Berger's first reelection campaign, in 1912.
Indeed, 1912 newspaper articles in both the Milwaukee Leader and
the Social Democratic Herald urged the party faithful to buy these
pins for use in the campaign. Of course, it is also possible the pins were
issued as early as November 1910, as celebratory pieces, and the pins may
also have been used in elections after 1912. The fact that there are several
varieties may support the pin's use in more than one campaign. Details for
this variety: Upper text is black, not red. No union bug at 6:00. Backpaper
of the Milwaukee office of Whitehead & Hoag. The second "R"
in Berger does not nearly reach Berger's shoulder. The photo used on this
pin varies almost imperceptibly from the photo used on the following two
pins. Differences are most apparent around the shirt collar and the part
of the hair.
WI-03. First Socialist Congressman, Victor L. Berger. Cello, 7/8 inch.
Details for this variety: Upper text is in black, not red. Prominent Chicago
union bug at 6:00. Another union bug is stamped into the back metal. The
second "R" in Berger nearly reaches Berger's shoulder.
WI-04. First Socialist Congressman, Victor L. Berger. Cello, 3/4 inch.
Details for this variety: Unlike the previous two items, this one has the
upper text in red, and it measures 3/4 inch rather than 7/8 inch. The backpaper
is of the Cruver firm of Chicago.
WI-05. Cello, one inch. Hoan. Supports Daniel Hoan for Mayor of Milwaukee.
On curl: Auth. & Pd. for Hoan for Mayor Committee. Hoan was the Socialist
mayor of Milwaukee from 1916 to 1940.
WI-06. Re-elect Zeidler Mayor. Frank P. Zeidler was the Socialist mayor
of Wilwaukee from 1948 to 1960. Official committee info on the curl.
WI-07. Frank P. Zeider, Mayor. Tab, 7/8 inch diameter. Supports Milwaukee's
Socialist mayor.
WI-08. Let's Go with Zeidler. Tab, 7/8 inch diameter. Milwaukee item
for Frank P. Zeidler for mayor.
WI-09. "Krzycki for Congress." Probably 1924. One inch cello.
Identified on the curl as a Bastian Brothers item. In 1918, Socialist
candidate Leo Krzycki won 22 percent in the eighth district. In 1924 he
placed second in Wisconsin's fourth congressional district race, winning
about 32 percent of the vote. There are no records of any other congressional
candidate in U.S. history who was named Krzycki. Earlier, Krzycki had won
several municipal offices in Milwaukee, where he was one of few Polish Americans
to vocally support the Socialist party. In the 1930s he was a key leader
of the party at the national level
