Charles H. Phillips

This article is about the Milwaukee Democrat born in 1859. For the Jefferson County Republican born in 1824, see Charles Phillips (Wisconsin politician, born 1824). For others with a similar name, see Charles Phillips (disambiguation).
Charles H. Phillips
Phillips c. 1933
Member of the Wisconsin Senate
from the 6th district
In office
January 2, 1933 – January 4, 1937
Preceded byThomas H. Duncan
Succeeded byGeorge Hampel
Personal details
Born(1859-01-21)January 21, 1859
Milwaukee, Wisconsin, U.S.
DiedJune 24, 1938(1938-06-24) (aged 79)
Milwaukee, Wisconsin, U.S.
Cause of deathHeart attack
Resting placeCalvary Cemetery, Milwaukee
Political partyDemocratic
Spouse
Helen Ramstack
​
(m. 1884⁠–⁠1938)​
Children
  • Joseph Phillips
  • (b. 1885; died 1947)
  • Helen Adele (Wein)
  • (b. 1895; died 1988)
Parents
Education
ProfessionLawyer

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.

Background

Phillips 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

In 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

Charles 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

Wisconsin Senate (1932, 1936)

Wisconsin Senate, 6th District Election, 1932[6]
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
Wisconsin Senate, 6th District Election, 1936[4]
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

  1. ^ a b Watrous, Jerome Anthony (1909). Memoirs of Milwaukee County. Vol. 2. Western Historical Association. pp. 378–379, 550–551. Retrieved September 30, 2022.
  2. ^ Wisconsin Legislative Reference Library (1933). "Members of the Senate". The Wisconsin Blue Book (Report). State of Wisconsin. p. 217. Retrieved October 2, 2022.
  3. ^ Ohm, Howard F.; Bryhan, Leone G., eds. The Wisconsin Blue Book, 1935 Madison: Democrat Printing Company, State Printer, 1935; pp. 192, 238
  4. ^ 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.
  5. ^ 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.
  6. ^ Wisconsin Legislative Reference Library (1933). "Parties and Elections". The Wisconsin Blue Book (Report). State of Wisconsin. pp. 538, 540. Retrieved October 2, 2022.
Wisconsin Senate
Preceded by Member of the Wisconsin Senate from the 6th district
January 2, 1933 – January 4, 1937 		Succeeded by