Buffalo had large, well organized Socialist Party with a proletarian class base, regular paper, and strong left wing. Pauline Newman, I.L.G.W.U. organizer, pays tribute to their work.

‘The Comrades of Buffalo: An Appreciation’ by Pauline M. Newman from The Buffalo Socialist. Vol. 2 No. 57. July 5, 1913.

“O Comrades! O Labor’s host!
O men of courage, heart and mind,
O far and wide send Labor’s toast,
Till every heart feels Freedom’s thrill
And freeman’s shouts like bellows
Roar O’er all the land from shore, to shore.”

The working class of Buffalo is awakening from its slumber. It is in revolt against low wages, and long hours of labor. It is revolting against working its life away for a pittance.

The working class of Buffalo is beginning to feel its strength and power. It is beginning to be heard. The workers of Buffalo are realizing the necessity for organization, and as a result they are rallying around the banner of Unionism.

For this, the Socialists of Buffalo are responsible: Labor’s awakening there, and within the vicinity of Buffalo, is entirely due to them. It is chiefly through their efforts that the conditions of Labor in Buffalo are being improved.

The recent strike of the carmen, which resulted in a splendid victory for the strikers, is only a sample of the kind of work the Comrades in Buffalo are doing. For that strike was initiated and kept alive by, and agitated for by the local Comrades. So were the strikes of the store clerks, expressmen, machinists and drivers.

The Socialists, more than any other class of people in Buffalo, knew that conditions of Labor were worse than in other cities. They felt that conditions were rotten ripe for a change. They knew that if the workers would only get together and act as an organized body they could improve their conditions to a very great extent.

The Socialists could not leave this work to be done by the United Trades and Labor Council, for the simple reason that the above so-called “official” Labor body does not care to do any agitation, or organization work among the working people of Buffalo, As a matter of fact this “official” body of labor is no longer official, as their charter has been revoked by the American Federation of Labor. This act on the part of the A.F.L is sufficient indictment against the Council, and shows that the Comrades were altogether in the right to take matters into their own hands.

Because of this, the work of agitation was entirely left to the Socialists, Labor in Buffalo had to be aroused, and the Socialists have done it marvelously. Labor in Buffalo had to be enlightened, and the Socialists decided to publish a weekly paper for that purpose. That paper is constantly turning its searchlight on the horrible conditions from which Labor suffers. Labor READS their paper, and reading it understands; or is beginning to understand the cause of its enslaved position. That paper turns its light first in the direction where Labor lives and works. Then it turns the light to the magnificent mansion where the Larkins dwell. Labor sees the difference; it can’t help seeing. Seeing the two extremes it is bound to grasp the meaning of the Socialist message.

The circulation of that paper is growing, and with it the strength of the Labor Movement.

This paper, The Buffalo Socialist is published by the Socialist’s. Not one of the Comrades participating in publishing the paper is being paid for his, or her services. All of them are doing the most they can, giving the best that is within them without expecting any thing in return.

Perhaps you would like to interview the editor in chief of the Buffalo Socialist? Well, you can’t do it. The editor in chief can’t be seen all day long. No, not because he has an office for himself, but because he is working in a shop the whole day, and is editing the paper at night, he has no time for anything else. During the recent strikes when the weekly paper was turned into a daily, the editor and his “staff” worked many times far into midnight in order to get the paper out bright and early. It was during those days that the Comrade editor had to rush down to the office of the “Socialist” right from the shop without getting a moment’s rest from his hard day’s work.

Not only the editor but the ” news writers,” the “proof reader,” and the rest of the staff are all working men, toilers with stooping shoulders, with lines on their faces–lines that tell of hardship gone through; of pain borne through the struggle for bread; lines that are the result of the bitterness and wretchedness of the present system.

Yet, while at work, be it “making up the paper,” or distributing handbills, their faces are illumined with a radiance that can shine only on such as work for us great a cause as that of Socialism. And it is this light that impresses itself on the pages of that paper. That is why, the paper is getting hold of the hearts and minds of its readers.

At times when one feels a little discouraged, or impatient with the slow growth of the Movement, one has but to go into that small, dark, not over tidy office of the “Buffalo Socialist,” and you are at once inspired by the devotion and self sacrifice of the beaver Comrades. One is actually thrilled with joy to be a part of the Movement which produces such men and women. What other movement, what other cause can claim such loyal and devoted adherents?

I was amazed, when upon my arrival in Buffalo I noticed hundreds of news boys selling the “Buffalo Socialist.”

And all this work has been accomplished in about three and a half years!

A time there was when the Socialist local of Buffalo did not amount to anything. That was at the time when many members preferred to philosophise rather than do practical and effective work. These members, at that time, thought that by “knocking” those who happened to differ with them they could bring about the Social Revolution They found it easier to criticize than to get out and do the work themselves. But that time, fortunately for the Socialist Movement, is gone. The local now is blessed with a membership of men and women who do not waste time in talking. They plan, they execute, they are seen, they are heard, and the effect of their work is felt. This, then, is the secret of the wonderful strides the local has made within the last three years.

The Women’s Committee, or as it is called there, the Women’s Club, is also doing remarkable work. During the recent strikes it had a lunch room and fed the girls of the department stores. It arranges entertainments, study classes, meeting, and is certainly doing effective work for the Movement of Buffalo in particular, and for the Cause in general.

One is tempted to predict that before long local Buffalo will become the banner local of the State of New York.

Keep up the good work my Comrades. Our Cause is worthy of the best we can give. For such a Cause like ours we must be ready to work, to live, and if necessary to die. Go on then, my Comrades, and

“Praise the torch of liberty, Grasp it with a firmer hand,
Let the tyrant master see
And its meaning understand.
For Labor’s host have sworn to be,
From the yoke of bondage free.”

And YOUR work is surely THE KIND OF WORK THAT WILL HELP TO FREE THE WORKING CLASS FROM WAGE SLAVERY.

Keep that torch light burning.

The Buffalo Socialist was a weekly published in Buffalo New York by the Buffalo Socialist Publishing Company from 1911-1915 and aligned with the Socialist Party of America. Edited by Max Sherover, the company also produced a weekly women’s newspaper, New Age, from 1915.

For PDF of issue: https://www.marxists.org/history/usa/pubs/buffalo-socialist/v2n57-jul-05-1913-Buf-Soc.pdf