Walter Polakowski (January 18, 1888 – November 13, 1966) was an American upholsterer, trade union activist, and small business owner from Milwaukee, Wisconsin who served as a Socialist member of the Wisconsin State Assembly and Wisconsin State Senate for a total of 14 years. He was the older brother of John Polakowski, who succeeded him in the Assembly in 1922.
Background Polakowski was born in Buffalo, New York on January 18, 1888, to a family of Polish descent,Aderman, Ralph M. The Quest for social justice: the Morris Fromkin memorial lectures, 1970-1980 Madison: Published for the Golda Meir Library of the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee by the University of Wisconsin Press, 1983; pp. 155=156 and came to Milwaukee with his family around 1900. He began working while still a child, as a newsboy and bootblack; at the age of 14 he was apprenticed to an upholsterer, and by the age of 18 represented the Upholsterers' Union in the Milwaukee Federated Trades Council. He married Catherine at 19 and went into the grocery and saloon business, becoming a proprietor at 21. He later sold out and went into the insurance business until 1920, when he established the Union Upholstering and Auto Trim Shop. He had never held a public office until elected to the Assembly in 1920.
Public office
In 1920, he unseated incumbent Democratic incumbent Frank Kubatzki (who had served three terms representing the 8th Milwaukee County District [8th Ward of the City of Milwaukee]), by 1593 votes to Kubatski's 1572. He was assigned to the standing committee on finance.The Wisconsin blue book, 1921 Madison, 1921; pp. 279, 299
In the fall of 1922 he was elected to the State Senate from the 3rd District (8th, 11th, 14th and 24th wards of the City of Milwaukee), receiving 5,778 votes to 3,796 for Republican Thaddeus J. Pruss, and his younger brother John (also a Socialist) was elected to the Assembly seat which included his old district. He was assigned to the joint committees on finance and on highways.The Wisconsin blue book, 1923 Madison, 1923; pp. 579, 589, 607 He was unopposed for re-election in 1926 (only two votes were cast against him), and was assigned to the committee on corporations and taxation.Holmes, Fred L., ed. The Wisconsin blue book, 1927 Madison: Democrat Printing Company, State Printer, 1927; pp. 584, 652, 675 In 1928, he was the Socialist nominee for Congress from Wisconsin's 4th congressional district, losing to Republican incumbent John Schafer in a three-way race.Anderson, William J.; Anderson, William A., eds. The Wisconsin blue book, 1929 Madison: Democrat Printing Company, State Printer, 1929; p. 822 He was re-elected in 1930, tallying more votes than his Democratic and Republican opponents combined; and remained on the corporations and finance committee.Kelly, Alice, ed. The Wisconsin blue book, 1931 Madison: Democrat Printing Company, State Printer, 1931; pp. 181, 200, 568 He again served as the Socialist nominee for Congress in 1932, coming in third in a four-way contest which saw Raymond Cannon oust incumbent Schafer.Witte, Edwin E.; Kelly, Alice, eds. The Wisconsin blue book, 1933 Madison: Democrat Printing Company, State Printer, 1933; p. 512 Polakowski was also a Wisconsin delegate at the 1932 Socialist National Convention, which was held in Milwaukee.
Before the 1934 election, his old district was eliminated during redistricting and he ran for re-election from the new 7th Senate District, which included only one ward from his old district, but added several suburban cities and townships. He was defeated by Democratic Assemblyman Max Galasinski in a four-way race.Ohm, Howard F.; Bryhan, Leone G., eds. The Wisconsin blue book, 1935 Madison: Democrat Printing Company, State Printer, 1935; pp. 193, 622
William Evjue wrote of Polakowski and his fellow Wisconsin Socialists, "[The] lobbyists knew it was not possible to influence these men. They were incorruptible. Walter Polakowski was the same kind."Evjue, William T. "Hello, Wisconsin" Capital Times November 9, 1961; p. 3, col. 1
After the legislature By 1937, Polakowski was working as a union organizer for the Amalgamated Clothing Workers of America."In the Matter of MARATHON RUBBER PRODUCTS Co. and FRANK REINDL and EMMA REINDL, HIS WIFE In the Matter of MARATHON RUBBER PRODUCTS Co., RESPONDENT and AMALGAMATED CLOTHING WORKERS OF AMERICA Cases Nos. C-406 and C-407" National Labor Relations Board Docket Number: C-406 and C-407, Parts: 718; decided December 19, 1938 He also worked briefly as an organizer for the Socialist Party, before being fired (allegedly for his announced intention to run for the Senate against a candidate endorsed by the Farmer-Labor Progressive Federation."Mrs. Berger and 4 Other Socialists Face Ouster Move" Milwaukee Sentinel September 15, 1938; p. 1, col. 3
In August 1939, when his wife filed for divorce, he was working as a bartender; the couple at that time had two adult children, and a 17-year-old daughter, Phyllis."Court Ousts Daughter From Alimony Session" Milwaukee Journal August 14, 1939; p. 1, col. 1
Polakowski would twice more try to return to the Senate from the Third District, running unsuccessfully for the Progressive nomination in 1942.Ohm, Howard F.; Kuehn, Hazel L., eds. The Wisconsin blue book, 1944 Madison: State of Wisconsin, 1944; p. 512 He sought the Democratic nomination in a 1949 special election,Ohm, Howard F.; Kuehn, Hazel L., eds. The Wisconsin blue book, 1950 Madison: State of Wisconsin, 1950; p. 657 but campaigned openly as a Socialist, denouncing plans to introduce a "right to work" bill in the legislature."Speaks for Labor" Milwaukee Journal March 31, 1949; p. 6, col. 2
In May 1963 a testimonial dinner was held in Polakowski's honor, at which he was termed "the father of unemployment compensation laws"."200 Honor Polakowski At Dinner" Milwaukee Sentinel May 31, 1963; part 2, page 1, col. 8
He died on November 13, 1966.
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