As the U.S. entered World War One, New York Yipsels meet to debate, and reaffirm, their anti-war internationalism.

‘Report of the New York State Y.P.S.L. Convention’ by Louis Levick from Young Socialists Magazine. Vol. 11 No. 10. October, 1917.

The fifth annual convention of the New York State Federation of Young People’s Socialist Leagues, held in the Bronx September 1st, 2nd and 3rd, was by far the most important state session of the Empire State Yipsels. Plans of organization and education were adopted which, if carried out, will greatly increase the efficiency and strength of the New York league.

Nineteen delegates representing thirteen Y.P.S. Leagues and about as many fraternal delegates attended the sessions of the convention. The following are the delegates that were seated: Albany, Edward Smith; Buffalo, Edward Kaiser and Walter Murphy; Bronx, Isidore Dicker, Ella Rapport and Leonard Juster; Brooklyn, Samuel Stark, Max Lieberman and Louis Weil; Jamestown, Axel V. Berggren; Manhattan, Simon Herman, Robert Spector and Jack Dubinsky; Queens, William Paul; Rochester, Mrs. Rose Suskind and Darwin B. Sherman; Syracuse, Jack Walters; Utica, Spencer Williams; Watertown, David Berkwitz.

The following fraternal delegates were seated: New York State Socialist Party, Samuel Orr; Local Bronx Socialist Party. Max Schmerler; Pennsylvania Federation, S.I. Friedman; New Jersey Federation, Benjamin C. Green and Louis Cohen; The New York Call, Jack Shornick; The Volkszeitung, Selmar Schocken; Rand School, Bertha H. Mailly; Young Socialists’ Magazine, Joseph Juelich, May Reinhardt Schocken and Louis Levick.

The following committees were elected: Organization and Eeducation: Leonard Juster, Louis Weil, Jack Dubinsky, Samuel Stark, Simon Herman, Edward Smith, Isidore Dicker; Resolutions Committee: Robert Spector, Max Lieberman, Mrs. Rose Suskind, Darwin B. Sherman, William Paul. Constitution Committee: Edward Kaiser. Jack Walters, Axel W. Berggren, David Berkwitz and Walter Murphy.

The convention was opened with a banquet, held at Ebling’s Palm Garden, on Saturday evening, September 1. About 200 Yipsels and Socialists attended.

The first business session was held

Sunday morning, September 2nd. The session was opened at 11 o’clock by State Secretary Edward Kaiser, who said in part:

“The opening of the fifth annual convention of the New York State Federation of the Y.P.S.L. finds us at a most critical time due to the world war. Although the hour be critical, it is most opportune for our work, but we should proceed with calmness and careful deliberation in all that we do.”

Ella Rapport, of the Bronx, was elected chairman for the day’s session with Robert Spector, of Manhattan, as vice-chairman. Louise Neustadt, not a delegate, a member of Circle 1, Bronx, was chosen permanent secretary of the convention.

The convention, in common with the Socialist party of America, reaffirmed its allegiance to the principles of Internationalism and declared its unalterable opposition to all wars based upon national aggrandizement. by the unanimous adoption of a resolution opposing war and conscription.

Three resolutions were adopted at the afternoon session, one praising and pledging support to those who have been sent to jail for their convictions; another reaffirming their belief in and pledging their moral and financial support to woman suffrage. and the last indorsing the Socialist. Party’s stand as promulgated by the St. Louis convention and denouncing the draft.

The longest and most heated discussion was aroused by the war and conscription resolution, which was adopted. It reads in part as follows:

“In common with the Socialist Party of America, we reaffirm our allegiance to the principles of internationalism and working class solidarity the world over, and declare our unalterable opposition to all wars based upon national aggrandizement, commercial rivalry or imperialistic designs.

“The entrance of this country in this war to make the world safe for democracy has been marked by gradual and sinister encroachments upon and curtailment of the basic and fundamental rights of freemen, supposed to be held inviolate by the federal constitution.

“The suppression of peaceful meetings, the arrests and convictions of speakers, the curtailment and destruction of our radical press, has made us come to the realization that our vaunted democracy is but a mockery, mouthed for the purpose of covering a multitude of crimes committed in its name.

“Realizing the injustices wrought by the conscription act, by the suppression of freedom of speech, of press and assemblage, determined. that conscription of bodies shall not mean conscription of minds, we, the young Socialists, pledge ourselves to the following course of action:

“1. The full indorsement of Socialist Party’s stand, as promulgated by the St. Louis convention of 1917.

“2. A continued propaganda aiming at the restoration of a press free from censorship and speech free from suppression.

“3. Organization and support of groups working for the repeal of the conscription act.

“4. Unyielding opposition to the Boy Scout movement, the Red Cross organizations and military training and teaching in schools and work places.

“5. The active support of all movements tending toward a democratic and enduring peace.”

Telegrams were sent to the conventions of the Massachusetts and Indiana Yipsels, who met in convention at the same time. Messages of congratulation and fraternity were received from leagues and the party in many parts of the country.

One of the important resolutions adopted at the last day’s session will result in spreading broadcast throughout the state the resolution. adopted at the first session, opposing the war and conscription. Other resolutions indorsed the Y.P.S.L. Column in the Sunday Call, and the convention voted to take the column under its direction, in cooperation with the New Jersey federation.

The Young Socialists’ Magazine was also endorsed and a committee was elected to, confer with a similar committee of the New Jersey League to investigate the advisability of assuming control of the magazine.

The text of the resolutions adopted at the convention and the plans of organization and agitation adopted will be dealt with in subsequent issues of this magazine.

Young Socialist’s Magazine was the journal of the original Young People’s Socialist League and grew of of the Socialist Sunday School Movement, with its audience being children rather than the ‘young adults’ of later Socialist youth groups. Beginning in 1908 as The Little Socialist Magazine. In 1911 it changed to The Young Socialists’ Magazine and its audience skewed older. By the time of the entry into World War One, the Y.P.S.L.’s, then led by future Communists like Oliver Carlson and Martin Abern, had a strong Left Wing, creating a fractious internal life and infrequent publication, ceasing entirely in 1920.

PDF of full issue: https://www.marxists.org/history/usa/pubs/youngsocialist/v11n10-oct-1917_Young%20Socialists.pdf