Leo Krzycki | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Pronunciation | k-ZHIT-ski |
| Born | Leo C. Krzycki August 10, 1881 Milwaukee, WI, USA |
| Died | January 22, 1966 (aged 84) Milwaukee, WI, USA |
| Nationality | American |
| Other names | Leon Krzycki (Polish) |
| Citizenship | American |
| Occupation(s) | Union leader, Socialist leader, activist |
| Years active | 1895-1950 |
| Employer | Amalgamated Clothing Workers of America (ACWA) |
| Organization(s) | Congress of Industrial Organizations (CIO), American Slav Congress (ASC), American-Polish Labor Council (APLC) |
| Successor | Bessie Abramowitz Hillman (ACWA), John Marsalka (ASC) |
| Political party | Socialist Party of America |
| Movement | Socialism |
| Opponents |
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| Spouse | Anna Kadau |
| Children | Leona Krzycki, Eugene John Krzycki, Victor Leo Krzycki |
| Parent(s) | Martin Krzycki, Katherine Wobszal |
| Awards | Order of Polonia Restituta (1946) |
Leo Krzycki (1881-1966) was a chairman of the Socialist Party of America and vice president of the Amalgamated Clothing Workers of America.[1][2][3]
Leo C. Krzycki was born on August 10, 1881,[1][4] in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, to Martin Krzycki and Katherine Wobszal.[2]
In 1918, Krzycki ran for the United States House of Representatives from Wisconsin's 8th congressional district. He lost to incumbent Edward E. Browne. In 1924, he was a candidate for the House of Representatives from Wisconsin's 4th congressional district.[5] He lost to incumbent John C. Schafer. Krzycki ran for the United States Senate in 1926, losing to John J. Blaine. He then ran for Secretary of State of Wisconsin in 1928, losing to incumbent Theodore Dammann.
In 1933, Krzycki was elected chairman of the national executive board of the Socialist Party of America, succeeding the lately deceased Morris Hillquit.[1]
Krzycki's 1937 involvement in the strike of about 1,500 people against the Republic Steel plant was criticized, especially the "march" forward that the strikers took towards the plant gates. One first-hand account stated that he knew beforehand that the police captain was a "sadist" and stayed on-stage, trying in vain to dissuade the protests from going forward.[6] Krzycki was also a key figure in organizing the 1937 strike against Ford Motor Company, and shares a historic image leading the strikers with labor leaders Richard Frankensteen and Ed Hall.[7]
In 1909, Krzycki married Anna Kadau, a neighbor; they had three children.[1][2]
Krzycki was a member of the American Committee for Protection of Foreign Born.[8][9]
Leo Krzycki died age 84 on January 22, 1966, in Milwaukee.[1][2]
