Edmund Ludwig Robert Paul Theodore Melms was a factory worker,

Socialist Party Socialist Party is the name of many different political parties around the world. All of these parties claim to uphold some form of socialism, though they may have very different interpretations of what "socialism" means. Statistically, most of th ...

official, and politician in

Milwaukee Milwaukee ( ), officially the City of Milwaukee, is both the most populous and most densely populated city in the U.S. state of Wisconsin and the county seat of Milwaukee County. With a population of 577,222 at the 2020 census, Milwaukee is ...

Wisconsin Wisconsin () is a state in the upper Midwestern United States. Wisconsin is the 25th-largest state by total area and the 20th-most populous. It is bordered by Minnesota to the west, Iowa to the southwest, Illinois to the south, Lake M ...

Early life

Melms was born in Greenfield, Wisconsin, in 1874. He dropped out of school in 7th grade, and became a factory worker. About 1897, he joined what was then called the Social-Democratic Party of Wisconsin. In 1902, he became employed by the Party, and would serve the city, county and state parties in various capacities for a quarter-century. He worked as a Party organizer, and wrote for

Victor Berger Victor Luitpold Berger (February 28, 1860August 7, 1929) was an Austrian–American socialist politician and journalist who was a founding member of the Social Democratic Party of America and its successor, the Socialist Party of America. Born in ...

' ''

Milwaukee Leader The ''Milwaukee Leader'' was a socialist daily newspaper established in Milwaukee, Wisconsin in December 1911 by Socialist Party leader Victor L. Berger. The paper continued in operation until January 1939, when it was succeeded by the ''Milwauke ...

'' and '' Social Democratic Herald''.

Public office

Melms was a Socialist candidate for the

Wisconsin State Assembly The Wisconsin State Assembly is the lower house of the Wisconsin Legislature. Together with the smaller Wisconsin Senate, the two constitute the legislative branch of the U.S. state of Wisconsin. Representatives are elected for two-year terms, ...

in 1902. In 1904, he was elected to the

Milwaukee Common Council The municipal government of the U.S. city of Milwaukee, located in the state of Wisconsin, consists of a mayor and common council. Traditionally supporting liberal politicians and movements, this community has consistently proved to be a strongho ...

, and would serve as President of that body for eight years. From 1915 to 1917, Melms was Sheriff of Milwaukee County, Wisconsin. In 1918, he was an unsuccessful candidate for the Wisconsin State Senate. Also in 1918, Melms was a candidate for the

United States House of Representatives The United States House of Representatives, often referred to as the House of Representatives, the U.S. House, or simply the House, is the Lower house, lower chamber of the United States Congress, with the United States Senate, Senate being ...

from Wisconsin's 4th congressional district, losing to

John C. Kleczka John Casimir Kleczka (May 6, 1885April 21, 1959) was a Polish American lawyer, judge, and Republican Party (United States), Republican politician from Milwaukee, Wisconsin. He was a member of the United States House of Representatives for the 66 ...

. He ran for the seat again in 1922 and 1926, losing both times to

John C. Schafer John Charles Schafer (May 7, 1893 – June 9, 1962) was a U.S. Representative from Wisconsin. Born in Milwaukee, Schafer fought in the First World War in France, serving for twenty-two months. In 1921, he was elected to the Wisconsin State ...

. He died on January 6, 1933, in Milwaukee and is buried at Forest Home Cemetery there.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Melms, Edmund People from Greenfield, Wisconsin Wisconsin sheriffs Socialist Party of America politicians from Wisconsin Wisconsin city council members 1933 deaths People from Milwaukee