Thomas Van Lear (socialist) led two unsuccessful campaigns and refused to approve a law that would ban the Industrial Workers of the World
Thomas 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 led two unsuccessful campaigns for the mayoralty before he was elected on November 7, 1916, with over 33,000 votes. 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). 
