‘Local Toledo a Live One’ From International Socialist Review. Vol. 9 No. 11. May, 1909.

LOCAL TOLEDO A LIVE ONE. Open headquarters on one of the busiest streets of Toledo, and a brilliant Arm and Torch on the big plate glass window, challenge the eyes of those who pass and call attention to the fine line of socialist literature displayed. Harry Bothast, or some of the other comrades are always inside, glad to extend a welcome to everybody. Comrade Harry Bothast sends us the following information about the Toledo headquarters:

“The Toledo Socialist Headquarters were opened Nov. 10, 1908. Nine electric car lines pass the door and we used this advertising opportunity by having a conspicuous sign placed on the window. At first the effect was startling as shown in the faces of the passersby, but familiarity soon took the place of surprise and the public began to stop and look and finally to walk in.

“The store in front has all the latest socialist publications for sale, including, of course, a complete line of the Kerr books besides a clean stock of pamphlets, stationery, cigars, etc. The receipts are increasing steadily and we will soon have a sound surplus.

“The rear room contains the library and is used as a reading room also for meetings, lectures and classes. Anyone can borrow a book for two weeks for 5 cents, which money is used to buy at least one new book per week. Often a new book is obtained as soon as published by several comrades paying in advance for the privilege of reading it.

“The Social Study Club invites outsiders prominent in business and professional circles to address them on Wednesday evenings, after which meetings are thrown open for discussion. These meetings draw the outsiders and enable us to present our side of the case and incidentally to clear up new members and sympathizers.

“On Friday evenings the School of Social Science meets for the purpose of developing socialist speakers. Topics are given to volunteer comrades a month in advance and five judges grade the speakers according to a definite scheme of marking, based on composition, delivery an ability to answer questions. The speaker has to run the gauntlet of all the have a growing number of good, effective speakers.

“The custodian in charge of the headquarters, which are open all day and evening, is responsible to the Headquarters Committee which is in turn responsible to the organization.

“All strangers and visiting comrades are assured of a hearty greeting.”

The International Socialist Review (ISR) was published monthly in Chicago from 1900 until 1918 by Charles H. Kerr and critically loyal to the Socialist Party of America. It is one of the essential publications in U.S. left history. During the editorship of A.M. Simons it was largely theoretical and moderate. In 1908, Charles H. Kerr took over as editor with strong influence from Mary E Marcy. The magazine became the foremost proponent of the SP’s left wing growing to tens of thousands of subscribers. It remained revolutionary in outlook and anti-militarist during World War One. It liberally used photographs and images, with news, theory, arts and organizing in its pages. It articles, reports and essays are an invaluable record of the U.S. class struggle and the development of Marxism in the decades before the Soviet experience. It was closed down in government repression in 1918.

PDF of full issue: https://www.marxists.org/history/usa/pubs/isr/v09n11-may-1909-ISR-riaz-gog.pdf