| Thomas Duncan | |
| State: | Wisconsin |
| State Senate: | Wisconsin |
| District: | 6th |
| Term Start: | January 7, 1929 |
| Term End: | January 2, 1933 |
| Predecessor: | Alex C. Ruffing |
| Successor: | Charles H. Phillips |
| State Assembly1: | Wisconsin |
| District1: | Milwaukee 4th |
| Term Start1: | January 1, 1923 |
| Term End1: | January 7, 1929 |
| Predecessor1: | Fred Hasley |
| Successor1: | Fred W. Springer |
| Birth Date: | 5 March 1893 |
| Birth Place: | Westboro, Wisconsin, U.S. |
| Death Place: | Washington, D.C., U.S. |
| Resting Place: | Forest Home Cemetery |
| Alma Mater: | Yale University |
| Profession: | Clerk |
| Children: | 2 |
Thomas McEwing Duncan (March 5, 1893 - February 22, 1959) was an American clerical worker from Milwaukee who served three terms as a Socialist member of the Wisconsin State Assembly (1923–1929) and one term as a member of the Wisconsin State Senate (1929–1933) representing the Milwaukee-based 6th Senate district.[1]
Duncan was born in Westboro, Wisconsin on March 5, 1893 and was educated in the Milwaukee Public Schools. He graduated from Yale University in 1915. After graduation he was employed in the bond department of the First Wisconsin Trust Company, and later in the consolidated bond department of the First Wisconsin National Bank.[2] He served as Secretary to Milwaukee Mayor Daniel Hoan from April 1920 to January 1, 1925, and as a member of the Milwaukee Firemen's and Policemen's Pension Commission.
He was first elected to the Assembly in November 1922 without opposition to succeed fellow Socialist Fred Hasley[3] to represent the Fourth Milwaukee County Assembly district (the 21st ward of the City of Milwaukee).
Duncan became the most successful Socialist legislator in state history, authoring 83 successful bills over his decade-long career.[4] He was responsible for the 1930 introduction and passage of the partial veto into the Wisconsin state constitution, considered "the most extensive" veto power that has been "given to any state executive."[5]
After the death of Congressman Victor Berger in 1929, Duncan was considered his successor as leader of the Wisconsin socialists,[6] and took over editing and publishing the Milwaukee Leader.[7] He was seen as less doctrinaire than Berger, and at one time was discussed as a potential candidate for Governor of Wisconsin under some form of Progressive/Socialist fusion ticket.[6] In a controversial move, Republican Governor Philip La Follette appointed Duncan his executive secretary in 1931,[8] and he quickly became a member of La Follette's inner circle.[9] The following year, Duncan was asserted to have (unsuccessfully) led efforts to lure the Socialists into the La Follette camp.[10]
He did not seek re-election to the Senate in 1932, seeing his career in the legislature as a dead end;[9] Socialist Assemblyman George Hampel was nominated to succeed Duncan in the 6th District,[11] but was defeated by Democrat Charles H. Phillips in the 1932 Democratic landslide.
While La Follette lost renomination in 1932, he made a comeback two years later on the Progressive ticket, and after retaking office he once again appointed Duncan his secretary.[12] In that position, he aided the Governor in passing several pieces of Progressive legislation, including the "Little TVA" Act, which passed the State Senate by just one vote.[4]
In 1935, Duncan was instrumental in the formation of the Wisconsin Farmer-Labor Progressive Federation, a coalition made up of the Progressive Party, the Socialist Party, the Farmer-Labor Progressive League, the Wisconsin State Federation of Labor, and several other labor and farmers' groups.[8] In particular, Duncan was able to convince the socialists to give up their ballot access in exchange for reserving certain seats for socialists running under the Progressive ticket.[9]