SUB-SECTION I

SOCIALIST MOVEMENT IN AMERICA

CHAPTER I

Historical Sketch

In its widest aspect the Socialist movement in the United States today includes the activities of the Socialist Party, the newly created Communist Party of America, the Communist Labor Party, and the Socialist Labor Party.

The inspiration afforded by the success of the Russian Communist Party in setting up a Soviet regime in Russia, however, has in addition to giving impetus to the revolutionary movement throughout the world, modified the tactics of each of the organizations named, so as to make it difficult to distinguish one from the other in their economic ambitions and tactics.

The present Socialist movement in the United States must be distinguished from the early experiments in Utopian ideals, represented by the sectarian communities such as the Shakers, or the experiment in Communism made by the Owenites, or the Fourierists and the Icarian communities.

The modern movement of organized Socialism may be dated from the formation of the Social Party of New York and Vicinity which was organized in January, 1868, in the Germania Assembly rooms on the Bowery. The membership of this organization was recruited solely from the German labor circles, and its policies and platform were in accord with the principles then set down by the International Workingmen's Association.

In 1868 this party nominated an Independent ticket, but the number of votes which it secured was negligible. The organization did not survive this defeat, but in the same year some of the leading spirits of this organization organized what has been termed by Morris Hillquit "The first strictly Marxian organization of strength and influence on American soil," which was known as the Allgemeiner Deutscher Arbeiter Verein.

In 1869 this organization was admitted to the National Labor Union as Labor Union No. 5 of New York, and in the following year joined the International Workingmen's Association as Sec

tion 1, New York. It should be noted that the pioneer element of the radical and revolutionary movement in this country was German.

During the next succeeding years the number of sections of the International grew to thirty or more, being located in New York, Chicago, San Francisco, Newark, New Orleans, Springfield, Washington and Williamsburgh (Brooklyn, N. Y.).

The activities of these sections of the International attracted considerable attention during that period. The movement was generally stimulated by the action taken in transferring the seat of the General Council of the International from London to New York. The general secretary of the council at this time was S. A. Sorge, who was an intimate friend of both Carl Marx and Frederick Engels. He became the most active of the organizers in the new movement.

It was not, however, until the panic of 1873 that the Internaational came prominently before the American people. The agitation among the laboring classes generally, which was occasioned by the unemployment resulting from economic disturbances, afforded the German Socialists an opportunity to spread their propaganda and gain recruits. The "Arbeiter Zeitung," says Morris Hillquit in his "History of Socialism in the United States," p. 182, "official organ of the International," published a plan for the relief of the unemployed, which consisted of the three following measures:

"First: Employment of the unemployed on public works. "Second: Advances of money or food for at least one week to all who stand in need of it.

"Third: Suspension of all laws for the dispossession of delinquent tenants.”

As a result of this agitation a demonstration of unemployed was held on the 13th day of January, which was broken up by the police. Similar demonstrations were held in Chicago and other cities.

In speaking of the Second National Convention of the American sections of the International held in Philadelphia on the 11th of April, 1874, Mr. Hillquit says, "It did not assemble in very auspicious circumstances. The events in the labor movement just described had given rise to sharp controversies as to the policy to be pursued in the future by the International."

These divergencies of opinion resulted in the formation of a competing Socialist Party known as the Labor Party of Illinois, and the New York sections left the International to form a new party known as the Social Democratic Workingmen's Party of North America.

In 1876 the First International ceased to exist. At the last convention of this organization held in Philadelphia on the 15th day of July, the following proclamation was adopted:

"FELLOW WORKINGMEN. The International Convention at Philadelphia has abolished the General Council of the International Working-Men's Association, and the external bond of the organization exists no more.

"The International is dead!' The bourgeoisie of all countries will again exclaim, and with ridicule and joy it will point to the proceedings of this convention as documentary proof of the defeat of the labor movement of the world. Let us not be influenced by the cry of our enemies! We have abandoned the organization of the International for reasons arising from the present political situation of Europe, but as a compensation for it we see the principles of the organization recognized and defended by the progressive workingmen of the entire civilized world. Let us give our fellow-workers in Europe a little time to serenghten their national affairs, and they will surely soon be in a position to remove the barriers between themselves and the working men of other parts of the world.

"Comrades! You have embraced the principles of the International with heart and love; you will find means to extend the circle of its adherents even without an organization. You will make new champions who will work for the realization of the aims of our association. The comrades in America promise you that they will faithfully guard and cherish the acquisitions of the International in this country until more favorable conditions will again bring together the working men of all countries to common struggle, and the cry will resound again louder than ever:

"Proletarians of all countries, unite!''

Afater the dissolution of the First International, the Socialist movement was carried on in America principally through the agency of the Social Democratic Workingmen's Party of North

America, which had been formed on the 4th of July, 1871. The platform of the party is given by Mr. Hillquit as follows:

"The Social Democratic Working-Men's Party seeks to establish a free state founded upon labor. Each member of the party promises to uphold, to the best of his ability, the following principles:

"1. Abolishment of the present unjust political and social conditions.

"2. Discontinuance of all class rule and class privileges.

"3. Abolition of the working men's dependence upon the capitalist by introduction of co-operative labor in place of the wage system, so that every laborer will get the full value of his work.

"4. Obtaining possession of the political power as a prerequisite for the solution of the labor question.

"5. United struggle, united organization of all working men, and strict subordination of the individual under the laws framed for the general welfare.

"6. Sympathy with the working men of all countries who strive to attain the same object."

It was the purpose of this organization to unite into one party the various groups of Socialists which were scattered throughout the United States. Conferences were held with representatives of numerous societies, but apparently without result. However, the convention of the National Labor Union, held at Pittsburgh, on April 17, 1876, was seized upon as an opportunity for strengthening the Socialist movement, and this convention was captured by the Socialists and was instrumental indirectly in uniting the various Socialist groups.

A convention was held in Philadelphia on July 19 to 22, 1876. which resulted in the consolidation of the North American Federation of the International Workingmen's Association, the Social Democratic Workingmen's Party of North America, the Labor Party of Illinois and the Socio-political Labor Union of Cincinnati into a new organization known as the Workingmen's Party of the United States. This was founded upon the Marxian principles, and the year following assumed the name of the Socialist Labor Party of North America.

For about twenty years the Socialist Labor Party was the dominant factor in the Socialist movement in this country.

It