Andrew Graham was severely injured in an October, 1924 auto accident. After many months in the hospital, the Chicago-born construction worker, veteran Socialist and active Communist died sixteen months later on April 23, 1926.

‘Andrew Graham Will Be Buried This Afternoon’ by Walter Schuth from The Daily Worker. Vol. 3 No. 89. April 25, 1926.

‘Andrew Graham, Active Comrade, is in Hospital.’ November 20, 1924.

Would Welcome Visits from Comrades

Comrade Andrew Graham, member of the Irving Park Branch of the Workers Party, who has been active in the radical movement for the past 20 years, is lying in the Swedish Covenant hospital at California and Foster Aves., with a serious spine injury. A communication or a visit from comrades and friends will mean much to him at this time.

Comrade Graham is a cement finisher and his work in the building trade made it difficult for him to be active during the summer months. But now and then the Irving Park branch would get a new member, even in the summer, as a result of Comrade Graham’s activity. Comrade Graham could be depended on at all times to do the party work asked of him. He helped in many educational campaigns, distributed leaflets, visited comrades, posted bills, pluggers, etc.

Comrade Graham has been especially active in reorganizing former branches of the old socialist party into the Workers Party, often paying the rent of such branches out of his own pocket. Comrade Graham’s spine is injured and his left arm is broken in two places. He has injuries on the head and bruises on the body. He is lying in a cast and would welcome a visit.

‘Thanks DAILY WORKER.’ February 18, 1925.

Editor of the DAILY WORKER: I am writing for my brother, Andrew Graham, who is in the Swedish Covenant hospital, to express his appreciation and that of his family for the help that has been given him. It has been a great help and we are all deeply grateful to all those who have helped us in any way.

Sincerely yours,

Lela W. Stewart.

‘Andrew Graham Dies.’ April 24, 1926.

Andrew Graham, 41, member of the Workers (Communist) Party died at the German Deaconess Hospital. He was Injured In an accident about a year ago. Hie funeral will take place from the John V. May’s undertaking establishment, 4689 Milwaukee Ave. at 2:30 Saturday afternoon.

‘Andrew Graham Will Be Buried This Afternoon’ by Walter Schuth. April 25, 1926.

Active Party Worker Dies of Injuries

Andrew Graham, age 41, died Wednesday morning, April 21, from injuries that he received in an accident Oct. 31, 1924, while driving his truck from work to his home for a bite to eat before taking out candidates and speakers of the Workers (Communist) Party to various street corners during the congressional campaign in the seventh congressional district.

He spent many months in the hospital because of a broken spine and other injuries, which caused him pain and suffering beyond description.

Comrade Graham was born in the Jefferson Park district of Chicago.

Fought For Workers.

He has served the working-class movement for more than twenty years. These twenty years of his life were spent for others, always hoping that he might help them understand the class struggle.

He was the type who was ready to do the Jimmy Higgins’ work at any time or place.

He received great enjoyment, pleasure and consolation out of his work. Andrew Graham was a real rebel. Success to him didn’t mean the accumulation of wealth, but rather how he could help better the lot of the workers.

No matter where this comrade traveled he always had some kind of literature with him. He was always ready to use it in such a way that he felt satisfied it wasn’t wasted. He would discuss workers’ problems on the job without fear. He also spent his money freely for the cause.

He wasn’t backward in talking about Communism in the hospital or handing out literature to his attendants and visitors and the other patients. He was admired and loved by all comrades who knew him as well as his many friends.

Funeral Services Today.

Funeral services will be held at Mays’ chapel, Milwaukee and Wilson Ave., on Saturday afternoon, April 24, at 2 o’clock.

He will be buried at Union Ridge cemetery on Higgins Road.

The Daily Worker began in 1924 and was published in New York City by the Communist Party US and its predecessor organizations. Among the most long-lasting and important left publications in US history, it had a circulation of 35,000 at its peak. The Daily Worker came from The Ohio Socialist, published by the Left Wing-dominated Socialist Party of Ohio in Cleveland from 1917 to November 1919, when it became became The Toiler, paper of the Communist Labor Party. In December 1921 the above-ground Workers Party of America merged the Toiler with the paper Workers Council to found The Worker, which became The Daily Worker beginning January 13, 1924.

PDF of full issue: https://www.marxists.org/history/usa/pubs/dailyworker/1926/1926-ny/v03-n088-NY-apr-24-1926-DW-LOC.pdf