1938: Wisconsin

Area and Population.

The area of this state, the fifth and last of the Old Northwest, and admitted to statehood May 29, 1848, is 56,066 square miles. In a population numbering 2,939,006 (1930 census), the largest city is Milwaukee, with 578,249. Madison, the state capital, has 57,899. Other important cities are Racine (67,542), Kenosha (50,262), Oshkosh (40,108), Sheboygan, Green Bay, Fond du Lac, La Crosse and Superior. Among the states Wisconsin ranks 25th in size, and 13th in population.

In the 1930 census, the aggregate of the urban population was 1,553,843, all whites except 13,565, most of whom were Negroes. In the rural population of 1,385,163, Negroes numbered 866, and about 10,000 were Indians living on reservations or scattered among the whites. Of the total population, foreign-born whites numbered 386,213. Rural society showed 44 per cent native whites of native parentage, 40.5 per cent native whites of foreign parentage. The corresponding classes in urban society showed 35.7 per cent and 43.4 per cent respectively. Urban society had a majority of the foreign-born, 20.4 per cent as against 14.8 per cent in rural society.

History.

About 1890 Wisconsin was regarded as a German state. Emigration from abroad had been very heavy from the early 1840's, though the population in 1850 was prevailingly American and 'Yankee' from New York and New England. The foreigners — Germans, Scandinavians, Poles, and others — settled most largely on farms, remained, reared families, and now their children and grandchildren constitute the largest percentage of rural society. After the farm lands were fully occupied, the later emigration from Europe passed mainly to the cities, hence the large foreign-born group, and natives of foreign parentage in urban society.

Native Americans, especially Yankees, dominated politics, business, education, finance, and manufacturing for many years. With the approval of all classes, and the firm support of the stronger foreign-born elements, they provided for universal common-school education, free high schools, a state university; they developed agricultural and industrial training and also adult vocational training. They led in manufacturing; they have always been among the state's leading financiers and also its agricultural promoters. Nevertheless, the progress made in all these lines would have been impossible without the cooperation of the foreign elements.

Politics.

Yankee political leadership continued unbroken to the end of the nineteenth century, when it was successfully challenged by Robert M. La Follette (1855-1925), who was a native of Wisconsin, of Kentucky ancestry. Emanuel Philipp's governorship (1915-21) broke in upon La Follette's control. Since the latter's death, his two sons, Philip F. and Robert M. Jr., have been the most prominent state politicians, though Walter J. Kohler, Fred R. Zimmerman, and Albert Schmedeman, all of German descent, held the governorship each one term. In 1936, Philip F. La Follette was elected governor for a third term — his second consecutive term — and with a favorable legislature put through in 1937 a number of important measures. These included, among others, a 'little T. V. A.,' a 'little A. A. A.' and a state reorganization law. All were strongly contested, and the first-named was forced into the courts and some of the powers conferred upon the Wisconsin Development Authority were denied.

Education.

Of a total count of 862,818 inhabitants of school age (4 to 20) in Wisconsin, for the school year 1935-36, there were 548,568 enrolled in the public schools, including 143,732 in the high schools. In 1937 the state established nine months as the requisite period for a school year, and set a minimum salary for teachers of $80 a month for 1938-39.

Financial and Welfare Administration.

A banking commission controls state banks and allied financial institutions. In 1937 a board of control, which governed penal and charitable institutions, was superseded by a department of corrections and a department of mental hygiene. Wisconsin administers a pension system whose beneficiaries are widows, the aged, and the public school teachers. The expense of outdoor relief is shared with Federal authority. An industrial commission administers the Workmen's Compensation Act.

Agriculture.

Dairying is the leading agricultural interest of Wisconsin; in this industry the state leads the nation.

Mineral Products.

At present, the most important minerals of Wisconsin are iron ore and zinc. In 1937, shipments of the former amounted to 1,419,810 tons, with a value of $4,473,942, compared with 918,935 tons in 1936, valued at 52,568,129. Zinc production in 1937 amounted to 6,938 tons, as against 8,126 in 1936, valued at $812,600. Including substantial amounts of stone, sand and gravel, the total value of Wisconsin's minerals in 1936 was $15,785,440.

State Officers.

The election in 1938 resulted in the defeat of Governor La Follette, candidate for a fourth term, by a Republican, Julius P. Heil, a Milwaukee industrialist. All other Progressive candidates were likewise defeated by Republicans. Both houses of the Legislature now have Republican majorities. The delegation which was displaced contained no Republican member. All were Progressives or Democrats.

As a result of the election, the chief officers of the state are: Governor, Julius P. Heil; Lieutenant Governor, Walter S. Goodland; Secretary of State, Fred R. Zimmerman; Treasurer, J. M. Smith; Attorney General, John E. Martin.

United States Senators:

Robert M. La Follette, Jr., and Alexander Wiley.