The coming war is the main topic at 1917’s Connecticut Y.P.S.L. convention.

‘Report of the Convention of the Connecticut Young People’s Socialist League’ by Joseph Davis from Young Socialist. Vol. 11 No. 5. May, 1917.

The first annual convention of the Young People’s Socialist League of Connecticut was called to order at 10:30 A.M. Sunday, February 11, 1917, at 11 Central Row, Hartford, Conn., by Jack Belford, acting state secretary. Jack Belford of New Haven, Joseph Davis of Bridgeport, and Simon Alderman of New Haven were elected temporary chairman, vice-chairman, and secretary, respectively. Committees on credentials, constitution, by-laws, orders, and resolutions were elected. The convention adjourned at 12:15 for an hour and a half recess to take pictures and enjoy a banquet prepared by Local Hartford Y.P.S.L.

The convention was again called to order at 2 o’clock. Comrade Alderman of New Haven and Comrade Adolph of Bridgeport were elected publicity committee. The temporary officers were elected permanent officers, and Comrades Belford, Davis and Aldrman took their places as officers. There were no contested seats and delegates were seated from Hartford (4), New Haven (4), New Britain (4), Ansonia (4), Bridgeport (2), and Wallingford (1). The report of the committee on orders. was accepted and Roberts’ Rules of Order was ordered as a guide for meeting. The report of committee on constitution was ordered to be adopted by a referendum vote. The committee on resolutions reported, and the following ressolutions were adopted:

Be it resolved, that the Connecticut State Y.P.S.L., in convention assembled, go on record as opposing the break with Germany and implore the President not to take any further action:

Be it resolved, that the Connecticut State Y.P.S.L., in convention assembled, go on record as opposing militarism, and also go on record as especially opposed to Governor Halcomb’s military censor, and he be sent a copy of this resolution, and also go on record as opposing the militarizing of the Connecticut State schools as are the New York schools, and a copy of this be sent to the State Board of Education:

Be it resolved, that the Connecticut State Y.P.S.L. go on record favoring the “New York Call,” and that the Yipsels boost same as much as possible, and send a copy of this resolution to the “New York Call”.

Be it resolved, that the Connecticut State Y.P.S.L. go on record as favoring the “Bridgeport Examiner” and urge Y.P.S.L. members to support same and send a copy of this resolution to the paper and the State Board of Control be urged to have all printing done at the “Examiner” printing shop, located at Bridgeport, Conn.

Be it resolved, that the Connecticut State Y.P.S.L. go on record as favoring the Young Socialists’ Magazine and that a copy of this be sent to all locals and also to the magazine.

Other resolutions were adopted, such as declaring the conviction of Mooney an unjust act. Under new business the State Board of Control was elected, consisting of Jack Belford (New Haven), chairman; Augustus Adolph (Bridgeport), Samuel Weiner (New Britain), and Anna Hoodus (Ansonia). Under good and welfare Comrades Plunkett (State Secretary Socialist Party), George Spiess, Jr. (Organizer Socialist Party, Hartford), and Clarke (Director of Sunday School, Hartford), addressed the Yipsels, who were very much interested and impressed. All the delegates spoke under good and welfare and the convention adjourned to a social prepared by Local Hartford Y.P.S.L.

(Note: As usual, the N.Y., N.H. & H.R.R. was not on time, the train out being due 7:30 P.M. First it was one hour late, then 40 minutes again, and then another 30 minutes, and as almost all the delegates had to make the Boston-New York 7:30, they were forced to remain at Hartford until 9:40 P.M. While waiting they visited the State Capitol, the Supreme Court and City Hall Building. Local Hartford sure does deserve credit for the knowledge of what people like to eat, as a better meal could not have been expected than was prepared by them.)

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/v11n03-mar-1917_Young%20Socialists.pdf