A six-month report on the work of the 50-odd members of the Indianapolis section of the Socialist Labor Party.

‘Section Indianapolis, Socialist Labor Party’ from the Weekly People. Vol. 11 No. 49. March 8, 1902.

Work Accomplished During the Last Six Months.

That the comrades may know what Section Indianapolis has been doing during the last six months, the following abstract of the report of Adolph Neff, the organizer, to the Joint Meeting, held January 25th, is given.

The confusion after the Party “clean- up” a few years back, is beginning to disappear as was shown by the last municipal election, especially in the 11th precinct, 13th Ward, where not one of those who had at first condemned the S.L.P. cast his ballot for the Party with which the capitalist class seeks to ruin the S.L.P.

The membership continues to increase: 5 new members having been admitted to Branch 1, and 10 to Branch 2. making a total of 15 new members, making a total membership of about 50.

In reference to the education and training of the working class Neff said as follows:

“Agitation in its various forms is the means to this end. From July 20th to October 18th, street meetings were held on an average of four per week, keeping a hot fire poured into the camp of the enemy. In fact, so much was this the case that it caused great uneasiness among the capitalist politicians, and, as election drew near, the uneasiness became intensified until the master class was compelled to resort to their last and only argument-force, and twice our gallant fighter Frank Jordan, was put under arrest the police pretending that he had been blockading the side-walk.

“Both arrests being nothing but bluffs, on the first occasion he was released, after brief hearing; but the second time, seeing that the Party was not so easily scared, the bluff was carried a little farther and a fine imposed upon the speaker. The case however was appealed to a higher court, the decision of which has not yet been given, but the prospects are very bright for the Party and the fun is well worth the cost. The total expense of this legal matter reached the sum of $25.00, all of which thus far has been defrayed with money loaned by Party members.”

The total campaign expenses amounted to $76, of which $57.65 was raised by donation, leaving a deficit of $18.35; $11.50 of which is due the New York Labor News Company.

The Entertainment Committee reported a profit of $7.50 on its last entertainment, with a few tickets still to be heard from.

The Literary Department sold pamphlets to the value of $2.45; also 2.000 WEEKLY PEOPLE and about 8,000 leaflets had been sold and distributed. Fairly good work has been done for the support of the DAILY PEOPLE. In answer to the 10c per week call we have slightly fallen back; a total of $20.25 having been realized in this way. In response to the second letter we have been more prompt, so far $85 has been collected.

The section subscribed $5.50 in support of the Lyon fund.

Neff closed his report as follows: “From this report it can be seen that this has indeed been a period of activity and our reward is a rapidly growing section, having grown to such an extent that a more disciplined organization is required and a few improvements must be made. The situation compares well with the following illustration: The little peanut vendor on the street corner doesn’t need to bother about an elaborate system of conducting his business. He goes and comes as he sees fit and his whole business affairs are a matter of little mental calculation. But the business of a gigantic department store cannot be conducted in such a manner. In this case a disciplined organization is required with its officers and rules to govern them. Just so with any organization. Section Indianapolis up to the present time has conducted its business in some respects similar to the method, pursued by the peanut vendor. A set of by-laws until recently has been a matter of little importance, but, owing to the rapid growth we have experienced, they have become quite necessary. Some time ago the General Committee appointed a sub-committee for the purpose of drawing up a set of by-laws which will be presented to this body for action.

“The progress we have made in the past has well repaid us for our work. Let every member put forth his most vigorous efforts to repeat or improve upon the results of the last six months. Let every member do his utmost to make our organization a greater success. “The lecture course, which is now in progress, demands the attention of every member as well as the introduction of sympathizers to it.

“In the matter of subscriptions to the DAILY PEOPLE, let us make a special effort to give a good foundation to that all important factor in the American Socialist Movement and the only daily in the English language that is not dominated by capitalist influence.

“Let the officers, who are to be entrusted with the Section’s work for the coming term, attend strictly to the duties that respectively have been assigned them. And in the end these little victories will culminate in that great revolution destined to inaugurate the Socialist Republic and emancipate our class.” At the Joint Meeting an election of officers took place which resulted as follows: Delegates to City Central Committee: Comrades Viewegh, Richards, Lagler, Herder, Hoffman. (Fin. Sec.), Featherin gill and Remley (Sec.).

Delegates to State Committee: Comrades Viewegh, Lagler. Doepper, Richards, F. Jauke, (Sec.), Neff and Remley. Comrade Neff was re-elected organizer and Comrade lagler treasurer. The Auditing Committee consists of Jordan, J. Burckhardt and Roemer, and the Grievance Committee Doepper, Featheringill and Remley. Comrades Burckhardt and Remler were chosen agents for the DAILY and WEEKLY PEOPLE and Felix Fester for the “Arbeiter Zeitung.” THE PRESS COMMITTEE.

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