Thomas Van Lear: Difference between revisions
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{{Short description|American politician (1869–1931)}} |
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[[File:Thomas Van Lear in 1917.jpg|thumb|Thomas Van Lear in 1917]] |
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{{Infobox officeholder |
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| image = Thomas Van Lear in 1917.jpg |
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| order = |
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| office = 26th [[Mayor of Minneapolis]] |
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| term_start = January 1, 1917 |
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| term_end = January 6, 1919 |
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| predecessor = [[Wallace G. Nye]] |
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| successor = [[J. E. Meyers]] |
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| birth_date = {{Birth date|1869|4|26|mf=y}} |
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| birth_place = [[Maryland]], U.S. |
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| death_date = {{death date and age|1931|3|4|1869|4|26}} |
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| death_place = [[Miami, Florida]], U.S. |
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| alma_mater = |
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| residence = |
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| constituency = |
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| children = |
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| party = [[Socialist Party of America|Socialist]] |
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| spouse = |
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| profession = Machinist, politician |
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| signature = |
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| footnotes = |
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==Early life== |
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Van Lear was born in Maryland in 1869. As a boy he worked in the area's coal mines and, at the age of 18, he joined the [[Knights of Labor]]. He later served in the [[United States Army]] (including a year during the [[ |
Van Lear was born in Maryland in 1869. As a boy, he worked in the area's coal mines and, at the age of 18, he joined the [[Knights of Labor]]. He later served in the [[United States Army]] (including a year during the [[Spanish–American War]]) before relocating to Minneapolis to work as a machinist. He soon became active with the [[International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers|International Association of Machinists]] and other trade and union groups in the city.<ref name=nord>{{cite journal|last1=Nord|first1=David Paul|title=Minneapolis and the Pragmatic Socialism of Thomas Van Lear|journal=Minnesota History|date=1976|volume=45|issue=1|pages=2–10|url=http://collections.mnhs.org/MNHistoryMagazine/articles/45/v45i01p002-010.pdf|jstor=20178402}}</ref> |
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== Career == |
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Van Lear led two unsuccessful campaigns for the mayoralty before he was elected on November 7, 1916, with over 33,000 votes. Van Lear did not win control of the city council, and Sheriff |
Van Lear led two unsuccessful campaigns for the mayoralty before he was elected on November 7, 1916, with over 33,000 votes.{{Citation needed|date=June 2023}} Van Lear did not win control of the city council, and Sheriff Otto Langum worked closely with the Minneapolis [[Citizens' Alliance]], an anti-labor coalition of wealthy business magnates.{{Citation needed|date=June 2023}} In office, Van Lear welcomed the [[People's Council of America for Democracy and the Terms of Peace]] to Minneapolis and refused to approve a law that would effectively ban the [[Industrial Workers of the World]] (IWW).{{Citation needed|date=June 2023}} The only Socialist mayor in the city's history, Van Lear was defeated for re-election in 1918, amid accusations that he and his supporters secretly desired a German victory in [[World War I]].{{Citation needed|date=June 2023}}{{Why|date=June 2023}} Van Lear was expelled from the [[Socialist Party of America]] in 1918. At the time, the Socialist Party was against entering World War 1, and Van Lear was in favor, causing conflict between him and the party.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2019-03-18 |title=Could Minneapolis elect a Socialist mayor? It did in 1916 |url=https://www.minnpost.com/mnopedia/2019/03/could-minneapolis-elect-a-socialist-mayor-it-did-in-1916/ |access-date=2023-10-18 |website=MinnPost |language=en-US}}</ref> He later helped to form a local section of the [[Nonpartisan League]] that firmly supported the policies of [[Democratic Party (United States)|Democratic]] [[President of the United States|President]] [[Woodrow Wilson]].{{Citation needed|date=June 2023}} |
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In 1919, Van Lear worked with Herbert Gaston to found the populist ''Minnesota Daily Star'' newspaper. The first issue was printed in August 1920. While the paper had some success as a political tool, it had a difficult time attracting advertisers and went bankrupt in 1924.<ref name=minnpost>{{cite web|last1=Nathanson|first1=Iric|title='Newspaper with a soul': The short-lived Minnesota Daily Star launched in 1920|url=https://www.minnpost.com/media/2015/03/newspaper-soul-short-lived-minnesota-daily-star-launched-1920|website=MinnPost}}</ref> |
In 1919, Van Lear worked with Herbert Gaston to found the populist ''Minnesota Daily Star'' newspaper. The first issue was printed in August 1920. While the paper had some success as a political tool, it had a difficult time attracting advertisers and went bankrupt in 1924.<ref name=minnpost>{{cite web|last1=Nathanson|first1=Iric|title='Newspaper with a soul': The short-lived Minnesota Daily Star launched in 1920|url=https://www.minnpost.com/media/2015/03/newspaper-soul-short-lived-minnesota-daily-star-launched-1920|website=MinnPost|date=23 March 2015 }}</ref> |
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== Death == |
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He died on March 4, 1931. He is interred at Sunset Memorial Park Cemetery in Minneapolis.<ref>{{cite web|title=Thomas Van Lear (1869–1931)|url=http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GRid=26916773|website=Find A Grave}}</ref> |
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Van Lear died on March 4, 1931.<ref>{{cite news|title=Thomas Van Lear Dies At Miami|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/34741171/obituary_for_thomas_van_lear/|date=March 5, 1931|newspaper=The Brainerd Daily Dispatch|location=Brainerd, Minnesota|page=1|accessdate=August 9, 2019}}</ref> |
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== See also == |
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* [[List of elected socialist mayors in the United States]] |
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== References== |
== References== |
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==Further reading== |
==Further reading== |
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* William Millikan, ''A Union against Unions: the Minneapolis Citizens Alliance and Its Fight against Organized Labor, 1903-1947.'' Saint Paul, MN: Minnesota Historical Society Press, 2001. |
* William Millikan, ''A Union against Unions: the Minneapolis Citizens Alliance and Its Fight against Organized Labor, 1903-1947.'' Saint Paul, MN: Minnesota Historical Society Press, 2001. |
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{{s-start}} |
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{{s-off}} |
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{{s-bef|before=[[Wallace G. Nye]]}} |
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{{s-ttl|title=[[Mayor of Minneapolis]]|years=January 1, 1917 – January 6, 1919}} |
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{{s-aft|after=[[J. E. Meyers]]}} |
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{{s-end}} |
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{{Persondata <!-- Metadata: see [[Wikipedia:Persondata]]. --> |
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| ALTERNATIVE NAMES = |
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| SHORT DESCRIPTION =Politician |
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| DATE OF BIRTH = April 26, 1864 |
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| PLACE OF BIRTH = |
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| DATE OF DEATH = March 4, 1931 |
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| PLACE OF DEATH = |
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{{DEFAULTSORT:Van Lear, Thomas}} |
{{DEFAULTSORT:Van Lear, Thomas}} |
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[[Category: |
[[Category:1869 births]] |
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[[Category:1931 deaths]] |
[[Category:1931 deaths]] |
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[[Category: |
[[Category:20th-century mayors of places in Minnesota]] |
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[[Category:Mayors of Minneapolis]] |
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[[Category:American socialists]] |
[[Category:American socialists]] |
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[[Category:Nonpartisan League politicians]] |
[[Category:Nonpartisan League politicians]] |
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[[Category:Minnesota socialists]] |
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[[Category:Minnesota Farmer–Laborites]] |
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[[Category:Socialist Party of America politicians from Minnesota]] |
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Latest revision as of 15:39, 27 December 2023
Thomas Van Lear | |
|---|---|
 | |
| 26th Mayor of Minneapolis | |
| In office January 1, 1917 – January 6, 1919 | |
| Preceded by | Wallace G. Nye |
| Succeeded by | J. E. Meyers |
| Personal details | |
| Born | April 26, 1869 Maryland, U.S. |
| Died | March 4, 1931 (aged 61) Miami, Florida, U.S. |
| Political party | Socialist |
| Profession | Machinist, politician |
Thomas H. Van Lear (April 26, 1869 – March 4, 1931) was an American politician who served as the 28th Mayor of Minneapolis from January 1, 1917 to January 6, 1919. Van Lear was a member of the Socialist Party of America.
Early life[edit]
Van Lear was born in Maryland in 1869. As a boy, he worked in the area's coal mines and, at the age of 18, he joined the Knights of Labor. He later served in the United States Army (including a year during the Spanish–American War) before relocating to Minneapolis to work as a machinist. He soon became active with the International Association of Machinists and other trade and union groups in the city.[1]
Career[edit]
Van Lear led two unsuccessful campaigns for the mayoralty before he was elected on November 7, 1916, with over 33,000 votes.[citation needed] Van Lear did not win control of the city council, and Sheriff Otto Langum worked closely with the Minneapolis Citizens' Alliance, an anti-labor coalition of wealthy business magnates.[citation needed] In office, Van Lear welcomed the People's Council of America for Democracy and the Terms of Peace to Minneapolis and refused to approve a law that would effectively ban the Industrial Workers of the World (IWW).[citation needed] The only Socialist mayor in the city's history, Van Lear was defeated for re-election in 1918, amid accusations that he and his supporters secretly desired a German victory in World War I.[citation needed][why?] Van Lear was expelled from the Socialist Party of America in 1918. At the time, the Socialist Party was against entering World War 1, and Van Lear was in favor, causing conflict between him and the party.[2] He later helped to form a local section of the Nonpartisan League that firmly supported the policies of Democratic President Woodrow Wilson.[citation needed]
In 1919, Van Lear worked with Herbert Gaston to found the populist Minnesota Daily Star newspaper. The first issue was printed in August 1920. While the paper had some success as a political tool, it had a difficult time attracting advertisers and went bankrupt in 1924.[3]
Death[edit]
Van Lear died on March 4, 1931.[4]
See also[edit]
References[edit]
- ^ Nord, David Paul (1976). "Minneapolis and the Pragmatic Socialism of Thomas Van Lear" (PDF). Minnesota History. 45 (1): 2–10. JSTOR 20178402.
- ^ "Could Minneapolis elect a Socialist mayor? It did in 1916". MinnPost. 2019-03-18. Retrieved 2023-10-18.
- ^ Nathanson, Iric (23 March 2015). "'Newspaper with a soul': The short-lived Minnesota Daily Star launched in 1920". MinnPost.
- ^ "Thomas Van Lear Dies At Miami". The Brainerd Daily Dispatch. Brainerd, Minnesota. March 5, 1931. p. 1. Retrieved August 9, 2019.
Further reading[edit]
- William Millikan, A Union against Unions: the Minneapolis Citizens Alliance and Its Fight against Organized Labor, 1903-1947. Saint Paul, MN: Minnesota Historical Society Press, 2001.