An early look at socialism in Albuquerque, New Mexico from an eager new recruit of the Socialist Labor Party in 1902. ‘Kango’ for Kangaroo was the S.L.P. term for the Socialist Party.

‘Socialism in Albuquerque’ by J.A. Stromquist from The People (S.L.P.). Vol. 11 No. 49. March 8, 1902.

Albuquerque, March 5. As comrades in other parts of the country have probably never before seen Albuquerque, New Mex., represented in the columns of THE PEOPLE, it may interest them to hear something about it.

The city is situated in the Rio Grande- valley and has a fine all-year-round climate, zero being seldom reached in winter and if the 100 degree mark is occasionally passed in summer, the atmosphere is so fine that sunstrokes, etc., are wholly unknown. The population is about 12,000, but the proletarian part of it consists mainly of Mexicans, and common labor receives but very low wages, while living is rather high. Mechanics, such as machinists, boiler-makers, and the building trades receive fairly good pay, and in summer there is a good deal of work in the building line. The real proletarian is, however, hardly to be found here as yet, and the vast majority of workers are altogether un-class-conscious. There can, therefore, not be expected to be a very strong sentiment in favor of Socialism for some time, although there are signs of awakening even now.

The party, variously known as “Kangaroo,” “Multi-Cocoa,” etc., etc., had the Rev. Karl D. Thompson here, lecturing, a few months ago, and now have a club of “Alte-Genossen” for which they vaguely claim a membership of “several hundreds,” under the leadership of one Stamm, a wholesale merchant, their following consisting mainly of struggling middle-class traders, etc., not to mention a bunch of “Jolly boys,” generally found at the faro tables in the saloons, some “goody-goody” church-soshulists, “me-toos,” Populists and freaks, besides a few honest dupes whom I hope eventually to enlighten as far as to see “where they are at.” They (the Kangs) have resolved to put up a city-ticket at the next election here, but they are treated with deserved contempt by the daily Republican organ which declares that their party will easily beat them by nominating a ticket of the “best” citizens. The freaks are going to fight the freaks. “When Greek meets Greek,” you know. Bellamy’s water-tank is going to swamp out Mark Hanna’s “fool” dinner-pail, etc.

These Kangs are displaying a great deal of activity in their own funny way, one of their ways of doing “peeznées” being to send out a kid (to whom a touch of soap and water would be a blessing), with a bagful of “Appeals to Nonsense,” which are distributed free along the street, etc.

Brother Capital is represented here mainly by the A.F. of L. railroads, who employ in their shops about 1,000 men at low wages, generally, and has its pound of flesh out of them, too. “Brother Labor” is represented by the scabbing B. of L.E. Machinists and Boilermakers’ Unions, and some other death and coffin societies. “Brother Labor” and “Brother Capital” seem to live in the best of harmony, which is secured by Brother Labor” licking “Brother Capital’s” toe, whenever the latter chooses to kick him. Having joined the S.L.P. only within the last six months and not having belonged to any similar organization before, I have never learned to speak in public and that, of course, handicaps me a good deal. It would, therefore, be of great benefit to the movement and help to me. If a comrade, who has been a member of an S.L.P. section and can speak a little, could come here. If he were a carpenter, mason or machinist, he would be tolerably sure of employment and if he suffered from any lung or chest complaint, the climate would be a great boon to him. Any comrade who sees this and wishes to change residence should communicate with the undersigned through the P.O. General Delivery.

Down with wage-slavery and forward to the Socialist Republic is the watchword. J. A. STROMQUIST. Albuquerque, New Mex., Feb 9.

New York Labor News Company was the publishing house of the Socialist Labor Party and their paper The People. The People was the official paper of the Socialist Labor Party of America (SLP), established in New York City in 1891 as a weekly. The New York SLP, and The People, were dominated Daniel De Leon and his supporters, the dominant ideological leader of the SLP from the 1890s until the time of his death. The People became a daily in 1900. It’s first editor was the French socialist Lucien Sanial who was quickly replaced by De Leon who held the position until his death in 1914. Morris Hillquit and Henry Slobodin, future leaders of the Socialist Party of America were writers before their split from the SLP in 1899. For a while there were two SLPs and two Peoples, requiring a legal case to determine ownership. Eventual the anti-De Leonist produced what would become the New York Call and became the Social Democratic, later Socialist, Party. The De Leonist The People continued publishing until 2008.

PDF of full issue: https://www.marxists.org/history/usa/pubs/the-people-slp/020308-weeklypeople-v11n49.pdf