Charles Hermann Phillips (January 21, 1859 – May 24, 1938) was an American lawyer and Democratic politician in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. He was a member of the Wisconsin State Senate from 1933 to 1937, representing Wisconsin's 6th State Senate district. He was a son of Joseph Phillips, the 19th mayor of Milwaukee.
Charles H. Phillips | |
|---|---|
 Phillips c. 1933 | |
| Member of the Wisconsin Senate from the 6th district | |
| In office January 2, 1933 – January 4, 1937 | |
| Preceded by | Thomas H. Duncan |
| Succeeded by | George Hampel |
| Personal details | |
| Born | January 21, 1859 Milwaukee, Wisconsin, U.S. |
| Died | June 24, 1938 (aged 79) Milwaukee, Wisconsin, U.S. |
| Cause of death | Heart attack |
| Resting place | Calvary Cemetery, Milwaukee |
| Political party | Democratic |
| Spouse |
Helen Ramstack (m. 1884–1938) |
| Children |
|
| Parents |
|
| Education | |
| Profession | Lawyer |
Background
editPhillips was born on January 21, 1859, in Milwaukee. Charles Phillips attended parochial and public schools and Markham Academy, and went on to the University of Wisconsin–Madison. From 1891 to 1895 he worked in the office of the Wisconsin Secretary of State. During this time he attended the University of Wisconsin Law School, graduating in 1893. For a time he worked with his father, and with a Milwaukee leather company, before going into the practice of law.[1] He served as chairman of the Milwaukee County Democratic Party County Committee, and was a delegate to the 1932 Democratic National Convention.
Elective office
editIn 1932 Phillips challenged Socialist State Representative George Hampel who nominated to succeed the incumbent, fellow Socialist Thomas Duncan (who was not seeking re-election). After winning his party primary, Phillips, running on the Democratic ticket with Franklin D. Roosevelt narrowly defeated Hampel in a four-way race, with 14,485 votes for Phillips, 13,951 for Hampel, 8,433 for Republican George Becker, and 267 votes for former Republican State Representative Martin M. Higgins, who was running as an independent. He was assigned to the standing committee on state and local government, and became chairman of the committee in charge of Wisconsin's exhibit at the 1933-34 Chicago Centennial of Progress (world's fair).[2] After the 1934 elections, he became chairman of the standing committee on the judiciary, and a member of the committee on legislative procedure.[3]
In 1936, Phillips sought re-election, but was defeated in turn by George Hampel, who was running as a nominal Progressive under the Socialist/Progressive cooperation agreement then under effect, with 22,093 votes for Hampel, 14,136 for Phillips, and 4982 for Republican Salendon Bennett.[4]
Personal life and family
editCharles Phillips was the 3rd of nine children born to Joseph Phillips and his first wife, Mary Anne (née End). Joseph Phillips was a prominent German Catholic immigrant businessman and flourished in the insurance industry. He was elected to one term as mayor of Milwaukee and represented Milwaukee in the Wisconsin State Assembly for three years.[1]
Charles Phillips married Helen Ramstack in 1884. They had at least two children.[5]
Charles H. Phillips died at age 79 on May 24, 1938. He suffered an apparent heart attack while on his way home from work. He was interred at Milwaukee's historic Calvary Cemetery.[5]
Electoral history
editWisconsin Senate (1932, 1936)
edit| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Democratic Primary, September 1932 | |||||
| Democratic | Charles H. Phillips | 2,356 | 66.42% | ||
| Democratic | Rostock | 1,191 | 33.58% | ||
| Plurality | 1,165 | 32.84% | |||
| Total votes | 3,547 | 100.0% | |||
| General Election, November 8, 1932 | |||||
| Democratic | Charles H. Phillips | 14,885 | 39.66% | ||
| Socialist | George Hampel | 13,951 | 37.17% | ||
| Republican | George W. Becker | 8,433 | 22.47% | ||
| Independent | Martin Higgins | 267 | 0.71% | ||
| Plurality | 934 | 2.49% | |||
| Total votes | 37,536 | 100.0% | |||
| Democratic gain from Socialist | |||||
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Democratic Primary, September 1936 | |||||
| Democratic | Charles H. Phillips (incumbent) | 2,980 | 51.87% | ||
| Democratic | Reilly | 2,765 | 48.13% | ||
| Plurality | 215 | 3.74% | |||
| Total votes | 5,745 | 100.0% | |||
| General Election, November 3, 1936 | |||||
| Progressive | George Hampel | 22,093 | 53.61% | ||
| Democratic | Charles H. Phillips (incumbent) | 14,136 | 34.30% | −5.35% | |
| Republican | Salendon Bennett | 4,982 | 12.09% | −10.38% | |
| Plurality | 7,957 | 19.31% | |||
| Total votes | 41,211 | 100.0% | +9.79% | ||
| Progressive gain from Democratic | |||||
References
edit- ^ a b Watrous, Jerome Anthony (1909). Memoirs of Milwaukee County. Vol. 2. Western Historical Association. pp. 378–379, 550–551. Retrieved September 30, 2022.
- ^ Wisconsin Legislative Reference Library (1933). "Members of the Senate". The Wisconsin Blue Book (Report). State of Wisconsin. p. 217. Retrieved October 2, 2022.
- ^ Ohm, Howard F.; Bryhan, Leone G., eds. The Wisconsin Blue Book, 1935 Madison: Democrat Printing Company, State Printer, 1935; pp. 192, 238
- ^ a b Wisconsin Legislative Reference Library (1937). "Parties and Elections". The Wisconsin Blue Book (Report). State of Wisconsin. pp. 355, 428. Retrieved October 2, 2022.
- ^ a b "Atty. Charles H. Phillips, 79, Ex-State Senator, is Dead". The Capital Times. May 26, 1938. p. 19. Retrieved October 2, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ Wisconsin Legislative Reference Library (1933). "Parties and Elections". The Wisconsin Blue Book (Report). State of Wisconsin. pp. 538, 540. Retrieved October 2, 2022.