A report on the work of the original Y.P.S.L.

‘The Chicago Y.P.S.L.’ from Party Builder. No. 59. December 20, 1913.

On May 17, 1907, the first Young People’s Socialist League in the United States was formed at Chicago with thirty members. The four people who led in the organization of the league were Charles Schuler, who is still secretary of the organization, A.W. Mance, Merle B. Haver and Rube Burrows. Great enthusiasm was manifested by all the members who immediately desired to have a headquarters of their own. Several entertainments and social affairs were held, which brought in considerable money. Donations were asked of all Socialists and in November the young folk opened up their headquarters on the third floor of the Chicago Daily Socialist building.

All the painting, decorating, carpenter work, etc., was done by the league members.

Later a great desire was evinced by the members to have a big club house of their own. A place, such as desired, was offered the league for $10,000. A Chicago Socialist offered to give half that amount if the league could raise the other half. This they were unable to do and the project was abandoned.

A new headquarters was secured, however, in a building which had not been used for more than ten years. The young people got to work and soon transferred it into a very comfortable headquarters.

They have a large hall, capable of seating 700 people; a library of several thousand volumes; a pool and billiard room; a girls’ room; a small kitchen; a shower bath; while the main hall is also fitted up for a gymnasium.

Here you will find something going on every night in the week. On Mondays and Wednesdays classes in Public Speaking, American History, Social Problems and Socialism are conducted under the direction of Carl D. Thompson and John C. Kennedy.

On Tuesday evenings business meetings are held, which are followed with dancing or a social evening of some sort. Thursday evenings and Sunday mornings are given to the athletic class. Friday night is for the girls, for the dramatic club and for special affairs. Saturdays are given to dances and entertainments, while lectures and debates are held every Sunday night.

The Chicago organization had to meet something when starting its work that most of the other young people’s leagues have not had to combat with, i.e., the opposition of most of the Socialist party members. Most of the older Socialists did not realize the value of the young people’s organizations and many of them do not today.

Nevertheless the league has done much to help the party. When the Chicago Daily Socialist threatened to go down on several occasions, it was the young people’s league that came to its rescue with three big bazaars, which netted the paper several thousand dollars.

They are also conspicuous at the party picnics, balls and similar affairs handling some phase of the work.

In the summer open air meetings are held by the young folk several times a week, at which they try to develop their own speakers, as well as push the propaganda with regular soap boxers.

While the Chicago organization is the oldest, it has never grown to the proportions that some of the newer leagues in smaller cities have. At present there are 200 members in the Chicago league. At times the league has grown beyond 300 members, but dropped again.

In holding lectures the league does not secure only Socialist speakers, but also lecturers on different scientific subjects. Professors from the universities, colleges and high schools frequently talk before them, some giving entire courses of lectures free of charge. Thus the education of the young people is not entirely confined to one subject.

Frequently debates are arranged between Socialists and non-Socialists. These always draw big crowds and are an excellent means of propaganda, as they attract many people who would not listen to a Socialist talk otherwise.

In addition to the central league there are also several other young Socialists organizations, one. being located at the southern end of the city, about twelve miles away, while a third is located in the Jewish district.

Because of the vast extent of the city (over 22 miles in length) many refrain from joining the league, because of their inability to participate in its affairs. This condition will probably be abolished by the establishment of other branch organizations.

There is a big field for the Chicago organization to work and it has a very promising future.

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 issue: https://www.marxists.org/history/usa/pubs/spa-bulletins/131220-partybuilder-w59.pdf