The oldest Polish Socialist organization in the U.S. was this Alliance, which gradually shifted its focus from the situation in Europe to organizing Polish workers in the States through the Socialist Party.

‘Polish Socialist Alliance Holds Successful Annual Convention in New York’ from The Worker (New York). Vol. 16 No. 24. September 15, 1906.

The annual convention of the Polish Socialist Alliance was held in New York, at the rooms of the Russian Social Revolutionary Society, 205 E. Broadway, Sept. 2 to 5, with nearly forty delegates present. Important matters concerning the agitation among the Polish workers in the United States were acted upon, and the opinion was expressed that this was the most successful convention of the Alliance that has yet been held.

At the morning session of the first day, William Mallly, representing the National Executive Committee of the Socialist Party, and Comrades Kaplan, Marekoff, Ravinsky and Elsberg, of the Russian Social Revolutionary Society, addressed the convention and conveyed to it the greetings of the respective organizations. Comrades Lee and Hillquit, who were appointed to represent the Socialist Party National Committee, were unable to be present. Both delegations were received with enthusiasm.

In the course of his remarks, Comrade Mailly dwelt upon the necessity of the Polish comrades becoming more closely affiliated with the Socialist Party and urging that action be taken which would encourage the Polish Socialists to join the party individually, so that the party could become a greater factor in national politics and exercise an influence on behalf of the working class struggle abroad as well as at home. Socialists of every nationality should support the Socialist Party in each country so as to strengthen the whole International movement.

The report of the delegates showed that the Polish Socialist Alliance is making gratifying progress thruout the country, with the local treasuries in good condition, notwithstanding the great demands made upon them to support the revolution in Poland and Russia. In all, $15.086 had been collected for the revolution and of this $14,480 had been forwarded to the Central Committee, leaving a balance of $206.28. Telegraphic greetings were received during the convention from Chicago, Bridgeport, Bayonne and Brooklyn.

At the third day’s proceedings a resolution was adopted amid much enthusiasm, recognizing the Socialist Party as the party of the American proletariat: acknowledging that the class struggle exists here as in all other countries and that it is even more ap- parent here than elsewhere. Class conscious workingmen should recognize it as their duty to gather under the banner of the Socialist Party and become members of the International Socialist movement. All Polish workingmen should declare their affiliation with the Socialist movement and the convention bound itself to strive among its constituents to the end that every assistance be given the Socialist Party. The Polish Socialists who could speak English should join English branches and others should consider it their duty to start Polish branches wherever possible.

After a long discussion, the convention adopted a resolution recognizing the Russian Social Democratic Party as the representative of the politically organized Russian proletariat, but expressing the hope that the Russian workingmen would seen see the necessity of a united Socialist Party. Resolutions of thanks to Comrades Moyer, Haywood and Pettibone for their brave stand against the capitalist class were adopted and a telegram of greeting ordered sent the imprisoned comrades.

The Agitation Committee reported that it had a large number of speakers on the list but yet could not meet the demand. It was recommended that the younger Polish workingmen be encouraged to become speakers and writers. During 1905, lectures were held in 75 unorganized cities. Section Chicago desired that all comrades be enjoined to observe the first of May and in case it was impossible to do that a day’s wages be given to the agitation instead.

One of the most important matters acted upon was that of the official organ. “Robotnik.” The consensus of opinion was that the paper should give more attention to the Socialist Party as the agitation literature of the Alliance was purposeless, if it did not deal with American conditions, as well as those in Poland. It was decided to remove the place of publication of “Robotnik” from Chicago to New York.

A translation of “The Jungle” was ordered published in “Robotnik.” Comrade Sinclair having given permission for this to be done.

The Worker, and its predecessor The People, emerged from the 1899 split in the Socialist Labor Party of America led by Henry Slobodin and Morris Hillquit, who published their own edition of the SLP’s paper in Springfield, Massachusetts. Their ‘The People’ had the same banner, format, and numbering as their rival De Leon’s. The new group emerged as the Social Democratic Party and with a Chicago group of the same name these two Social Democratic Parties would become the Socialist Party of America at a 1901 conference. That same year the paper’s name was changed from The People to The Worker with publishing moved to New York City. The Worker continued as a weekly until December 1908 when it was folded into the socialist daily, The New York Call.

PDF of full issue: https://www.marxists.org/history/usa/pubs/the-people-the-worker/060915-worker-v16n24.pdf