This very early report of locals, groups, and sections joining the Communist Labor Party in the weeks following its founding during the fracturing of the Socialist Party, and larger workers movement, that occurred in early September of that year. The smallest of the three large parties, the C.L.P. was most closely associated with John Reed and largely drew its strength from English-speaking syndicalists and industrial unionists from the I.W.W.. the S.P. the Workingman’s Party, and others. While the vast majority of the Language Federations and their members, many of whom were member of A.F.L. unions, went to the Communist Party, the German Federation, under the leadership of Ludwig Lore, who sided with the C.L.P. in its majority.

‘Building the Communist Labor Party’ from Truth (Duluth). Vol. 3 No. 39. October 3, 1919.

Telegrams in great number are pouring into the national office of the Communist Labor Party. Locals in all parts of the nation are wiring assurances of their co-operation in building the new party and, more important, are demanding dues stamps and supplies.

Edward Lindgren, acting state secretary of New York wires as follows: “Local Kings County, formerly the second largest local in the Socialist Party, decided at a meeting of the central committee held last Saturday, Sept, 20, to affiliate with the Communist Labor Party. Of course, the controversy has split the local, about 500 going over to the Socialist Party, 800 to the Communist Party including the federation branches, leaving about 2,000 to 2,500 after we get through with our organization campaign just started. Send me at once for the state office 2,000 dues stamps, 2,000 dues cards and other supplies.”

L.K. England, Edgar Owens and Perry Shipman are engaged in organization work for the Communist Labor Party in Rock Island County, Ill. The C.L.P, state convention for Illinois has been called to meet in Moline on Oct. 12th.

The Cook County (Chicago) organization committee for the C.L.P. is composed of G. A. Engelken, Arthur Proctor, J. Meisinger, Samuel Hankin and John Nelson. A stirring proclamation has been issued to the revolutionary membership in Cook County calling them to join the C.L.P. which hold its organization meeting Sept. 28th.

Chas. Baker is assisting in organization work in Chicago. He was conscripted by the Chicago comrades for the greater part of the week of Sept. 21st.

Marguerite Prevey will make a tour beginning about October 1st. Chas. Baker w scheduled to speak in the following Lima, Ohio, Oct. 1; Columbus 2nd; cities: Ft. Wayne, Ind., Sept. 29, 30, Dayton 3rd; Hamilton 4th; Cincinnati 5th.

Max Bedacht, member of the national executive committee visited the national office this week. He reports that the mass meeting of German branch members held in Chicago went on record as advising all German branches to affiliate with the C.L.P.

The First Russian Communist Branch of Chicago has endorsed the C.L.P. program and applied for a charter.

“I will say for my part that the C.LP. is the only one of the three parties we can consistently support.” W.B. Dillon, New Mexico.

James Dolsen, California state organizer, is touring the west for the C.L.P.

Ruby Herman, state secretary of Washington, wires for convention minutes and actions. Mary Geffs, state secretary of Colorado, writes that we shall have her undivided support.

“We, have the Scandinavian Branch of Duluth and Local Duluth, 400 members, with the C.L.P.” Jack Carney.

The Italian Branch of New York City has withdrawn from the Italian Socialist Federation, fearing that the federation will remain with the reactionary Socialist Party. It intends organizing an Italian Federation affiliated with the C.L.P.

The locals at Worcester, Mass., and Conway, Pa. have written for programs and constitutions of the C.L.P.

GERMAN FEDERATION JOINS C.LP.; The national executive of the German Federation voted 41 to 8 to join the Communist Labor Party. Branches in New York and New Jersey, numbering 1,700 members, have already decided to affiliate.

The first order for dues stamps came from Thos. Crimmins, for Local Syracuse, N.Y, He writes: “The language federations here decided to join the C.L.P. Send 200 dues stamps at once.”

An application for a charter has been received from Local Rock Island County, Ill., the largest local in Illinois outside Chicago.

“State conferences for the Communist Labor Party were held in Kansas City, Kans., and Kansas City, Mo., Sept. 21 Temporary organization for the party were effected. Sufficient representative were present from the two states to assure us half the membership at the first sweep. The undersigned was elected secretary for the district comprising Missouri, Kansas and Nebraska.” J.P. Cannon.

L.E. Katterfeld has given up his residence in Kansas to take up his duties in the national office of the C.L.P. His years of organization experience will be of much value to the party nationally.

The Scandinavian Socialist Federation has decided to withdraw from the Socialist Party and will decide its future affiliation either by referendum or in convention.

Local Danville, Ill., decided unanimously to withdraw from the Socialist Party and join the Communist Labor Party.

Truth emerged from the The Duluth Labor Leader, a weekly English language publication of the Scandinavian local of the Socialist Party in Duluth, Minnesota and began on May Day, 1917 as a Left Wing alternative to the Duluth Labor World. The paper was aligned to both the SP and the I.W.W. leading to the paper being closed down in the first big anti-I.W.W. raids in September, 1917. The paper was reborn as Truth, with the Duluth Scandinavian Socialists joining the Communist Labor Party of America in 1919. Shortly after the editor, Jack Carney, was arrested and convicted of espionage in 1920. Truth continued to publish with a new editor J.O. Bentall until 1923 as an unofficial paper of the C.P.

Access to full paper: https://www.mnhs.org/newspapers/lccn/sn89081142/1919-10-03/ed-1/seq-1