An early report of Socialist organizing in California as the Social Democratic Party (the Socialist Party would be founded that July) state organizer travels to Stockton, Benicia, Dixon, Williams, Colusa, Woodland, and Sacramento in April and May of 1901.

‘Report of the State Organizer’ by Scott Anderson from Advance (San Francisco). No. 353. May 11, 1901.

Stockton, May 3, 1901. On Sunday morning, April 22nd, I started on my first trip and lecturing tour through the Golden State of California. At 9:30 a.m. I set out for Vallejo. I reached there only to find that all the addresses of comrades I had with me were wrong. After a search of several hours I met Comrade A. Newman who went with me to the home of Comrade Rump, where I was warmly received and had dinner. No arrangements had been made for a meeting and being tired and out of sorts, I took the stage for Benicia.

Benicia, April 23. Here I met Comrade Wm. Gnauck, who is an enthusiastic socialist, and had made all arrangements for an open air meeting. At the meeting there was a fair and attentive audience, but they seemed very much afraid of socialism and kept as much in the shadow as possible.

Dixon, April 24. Here I met Comrades G.D. Van Pelt , C.C. Donoho, B. F. Swenson and others. We held an open air meeting from an immense band wagon. There was an attentive audience, but just as in Benicia they were very timid. At the close of the meeting I organized Dixon Local of the S.D.P. with 7 members. G.D. Van Pelt was elected organizer and as far as I am able to judge all the members are first rate socialists and hard workers for the cause.

Williams, April 25^th. Here I met Comrade G.R. Gilmore and his amiable wife, who generously gave me the hospitality of their home. He and Comrade Clark worked like trojans for a successful meeting. Comrade Clark got up a transparency with four sides and sent out 2 boys, one with Comrade the dinner bell of the Hotel, to round them up. Gilmore got a large piece of old lumber and fixed it up with a pedestal, then saturated it with crude coal oil, and there was a grand bon fire. Notwithstanding all these efforts the meeting was not large, but was a good one, very orderly and attentive.

Colusa, April 26th. Here Comrade Wolff and several others had secured a hall and had printed and circulated the following handbill: “Tonight-Free lecture in New Armory Hall, Colusa, by Scott Anderson. Subject in which all are interested. All are invited, especially ladies.” On the hand bill there is no mention whatever of the subject. I think that was decidedly a mistake. The subject was named in the local papers, however. At 8 o’clock there was a count of votes to see who had bought the most votes to be elected (?) Maid of Honor to the queen of the Sacramento festival, and our audience went there; so the attendance was small.

College City, April 27th. Here I met Comrade M. Eddy and had so far the best meeting of my trip. The meeting was held in the College Chapel, and considering the size of the town, was quite large and representative.

Woodland, April 28th. Here I met Comrade Geo. C. Jefferson who seems to be almost alone in the work; he is a very superior man and a hard worker for socialism, explained that my chance of a meeting was but slim, as I had run up against a dog show, and in Woodland a man show was not in it with a dog show. I made the effort, however, and had an audience of about fifty.

Sacramento, April 29th. Arriving at the Capital City, I proceeded to the home of Comrade W.F. Lockwood. I found that the comrade had made herculean exertions to get up a large meeting in Pythian Hall. Unfortunately the rain fell in torrents all day and in consequence spoiled the meeting. Some 150 attended, however, and I thought the meeting a big success. H. Gaylord Wilshire, of Los Angeles was present and spoke for about half an hour. I remained in Sacramento Monday, the rain prevented any meeting. Tuesday rained again. On Wednesday, I called a meeting by postal card when 14 attended–13 signed the constitution and were duly enrolled as Local Sacramento. Comrade Lockwood was elected organizer and I think they have a very fine Local. Each member by resolution pledged himself to bring another at their next meeting.

Stockton, May 2^nd. Stockton is better situated for open air meetings than any place I have seen in California. In the square in front of the Hall of Justice 5000 people could assemble and find plenty of room. I am here for a week. My first meeting was an excellent one, and the outlook is fine. The city election takes place on May 21st. Our comrades could only manage to get 6 candidates on the ticket, but they are going to work hard for them.

Advance began as The Class Struggle, the official paper of Section San Francisco of Daniel De Leon’s Socialist Labor Party, launched as a weekly in 1896. In 1900 the paper was taken over by George B. Benham and allied with the Social Democratic Party (Springfield) Massachusetts, the name changed to Advance and Emil Liess as editor. The paper became the official organ of the Local San Francisco, of the Socialist Party of America when it was formed in 1901 and ran for another few years before financial difficulties closed its doors.

PDF of full issue: https://www.marxists.org/history/usa/pubs/class-struggle-advance/010511-advance-w353.pdf