Representatives of New Jersey’s 400 members of the Young People’s Socialist League meet in Newark’s Labor Lyceum in convention.

‘State Convention of the Y.P.S.L. of New Jersey’ by Harry Binn from Party Builder (National Bulletin of the Socialist Party). No. 82. May 23, 1914.

With every person present singing: “Ye sons of toil awake to glory,” and with every heart filled to its capacity with anticipation and enthusiasm, the first state convention of the Young People’s Socialist Leagues of New Jersey was called to order by the state secretary on Sunday, May 10, 1914, at 11 o’clock, at the Newark Labor Lyceum.

At last, as Fred Krafft of the state Socialist party express it, “The seeds had taken root and the flowers were now in bloom, in spite of all the opposition.” Here was represented something practically new in the annals of American history, a thing to be feared by the capitalist, aye, most feared by them; but valued by Socialists, a young people’s movement for Socialism.

What does this mean? Ah, it has a big significance. The young people of New Jersey have awakened to the fact that their lives are not what they should or could be, that they had not the same opportunity to enjoy life as did others, and most important, that this was caused by our poorly constructed society.

Having realized this, they commenced to study, and study leads to marvelous results. It opens the mind’s eye, it opens and fills the heart with the desire to do right; and when study and education. is carried on towards Socialism, it accomplishes still more; it imbeds in everyone’s soul the spirit of comradeship, humanitarism and altruism; and with everyone inspired thus we have an ideal world. This convention showed that such a spirit was permeating the hearts and minds of a number of young men and women throughout New Jersey, the people having learned an all-important point in education, that is, that they must, if they wish to reach their goal, play strongly on organization work, as Comrade Bertha Frazer of New York said: “Organize! Organize! Organize! Educate! Educate! Educate!”

The following are circles admitted to the state league: Circles 1 and 2 of Newark; Comrade Club of Hudson County: Circles Patterson, Passaic, Bloomfield, Bergen County, Montclair, Haledon and Elizabeth, the last two needing some assistance, which has been sent to them by the convention. The total membership of the state aggregates 400, including those circles not represented at the convention.

The business of the state convention was conducted very smoothly; in fact, Comrade Dr. Maud Thompson thought it was carried on better than the state convention of the Socialist party usually is. The lack of strife and ill-feeling and the broad spirit of comradeship that prevailed was a delight to all present. The order of business was as follows:

1. Convention called to order by state secretary. 2. Credential Committee reported. 3. Delegates were seated. 4. Election of sergeant-at-arms and two assistants. 5. Election of chairman and vice-chairman. 6. Election of secretary and assistant secretary. 7. Address by Wilson B. Killingbeck, state secretary of Socialist party of New Jersey. 8. Written reports from each circle. 9. Report from fraternal delegates (fraternal delegates were present from New York, Manhattan, Bronx and Brooklyn). 10. Election of Resolution Committee. 11. Adjournment for lunch (served in building). 12. Report of State Committee. 13. Address by Comrade Bertha M. Frazer. 14. Report of Constitution Committee. 15. New business. 16. Election of organizer (Comrade E. Brock of Essex elected). 17. Report of Resolutions Committee. 18. Report of treasurer. 19. Musical number. 20. Address by Dr. Maud Thompson. 21. Social: Violin solo, piano solo, vocal solo, vocal duet; Comrade Strobell addressed the convention.

Comrade Krafft gave a very enthusiastic address. The day was concluded by singing revolutionary songs under the leadership of Comrade Craig.

Any information can be procured by writing to the state secretary, Y.P.S.L. of New Jersey, Harry Binn, 201 Jelliff avenue, Newark, N.J.

For a variety of reasons, the national Socialist Party of America did not have an official publication until May 1904 when the national convention mandated the monthly Socialist Party Official Bulletin as a way for the Party to communicate to its members. The name was changed to Socialist Party Monthly Bulletin in October 1911. The Party Builder became the name in 1913 and also became a subscription paper and a weekly. In 1914 the Socialist Party replaced The Party Builder with a regular propaganda newspaper, The American Socialist. These Party paper contain National Committee and National Executive Committee minutes, National Secretary reports, membership figures, financial statements, letters from party members, articles by prominent party leaders, and the figures for election of party officers and internal questions.

PDF of full issue: https://www.marxists.org/history/usa/pubs/spa-bulletins/140523-partybuilder-w81-reportstonc.pdf