News from New York’s mass rent strike. Over New Year, 1908 the tenements of New York City’s Lower East Side struck against high rents. Over 10,000 would participate in the strike spreading to other neighborhoods, involving mostly immigrant families and led by the Socialist Party.

‘Rent Strike Makes Gains’ from The Worker (New York). Vol. 17 No. 41. January 11, 1908.

Over 2,000 Families Already Get Reductions.

Tenants Hold Together, Spite of Police Interference and Newspaper Fakes–Socialists Have Approval of the East Side.

The third week of the rent strike on the East Side brings the struggle to its crucial stage, as several hundred dispossess warrants have been issued against strikers, though it is hardly possible all of the warrants will be pressed. Wednesday, when The Worker goes to press, will perhaps test the organization of the strikers, which was forced in haste by the thousands that demanded relief. The landlords are said to have organized also, but the competition between them to fill their tenements makes it questionable whether they can act in unison. Ten or more of them surrendered Tuesday evening, among whom were a number that had entered dispossession proceedings against tenements.

The strike has grown to such proportions that the comrades in charge are unable to take charge of new applicants for reductions. Efforts will be concentrated on winning reductions for those already on strike before any large number of new applicants can be considered.

The teamsters of the East Side have taken action in support of the strike. The teamsters have been counted on to assist police officers in removing the household goods of evicted tenants. They have decided to give no such assistance and any member of the union violating the decision will be fined $10. On the other hand, arrangements will be made with the teamsters to assist the most needy of evicted tenants in the removal of their goods and finding quarters for them. To accomplish this work a force of 400 comrades was secured to patrol the streets Wednesday to report the action of police officers and where relief is needed.

Great Gains Already.

The reductions in rent already secured for the strikers amount to $3, 000 a month or more and the number of tenant families benefited approximates 2,000. Aside from these settlements made thru the strikers’ committee, other landlords have made reductions of which no account can be made; the number is considerable. These reductions can be credited to the strikers as they never would be made were it not for the strike. A few strikers have also withdrawn their demands where they have felt they could not win, but in no case thus far have any of these become resentful because of the loss.

The entire population of the East Side is in sympathy with the movement. One attempt to parade revealed this. Thousands thronged the route and red colors were displayed at the windows as a truck with speakers slowly made its way thru the dense mass. This demonstration, like others, was broken up by the police.

Attitude of the Press.

The capitalist press, at first viewing the strike as a temporary outburst that would soon subside, treated it as good material for sensational news and, in some cases regarded it with some sympathy. But when its magnitude became known and it was seen that the Socialists were the only body to render material assistance to the strikers and guide the revolt in an orderly was, the press changed its attitude.

A sensational story appeared in most of the Tuesday evening papers to bring the strike into disrepute. It is claimed that several East Side owners and lessees have received threats that their property would be burned down after their tenants had been dispossessed. The police of the Madison Street station, are said to be withholding names. The alleged threats, which were anonymous, were written on postals, and read as follows: “We will remove. And after your house has been vacated the Fire Department will visit you.” It is claimed the postals were signed “Tenants” in some cases, and “The Red Flag” in others, the handwriting being “disguised” in every instance, and such tenants as were seen by the landlords denied all knowledge of the communications. This story is followed by an account of a fire on the East Side with the evident purpose of connecting the fire with the alleged threats sent to the landlords.

The story bears its own refutation. It requires editors trained in the art of distorting news in the interests of the capitalist class to assume that the handwriting of persons admittedly unknown is “disguised”. That surpasses any fent of magic performed by Indian conjurors.

It is possible that such communications may have been sent thru the mails, but if the strikers had any such intentions they certainly would not advertise them. On the other hand, it is certain the landlords have good reason to gain publicity for such a story, and for some of their partizans, to engage in an attempt to carry it out.

Organizations and individuals that are interested in securing rent reductions for the workers of the East Side and wish to assist financially, may send contributions to the Treasurer, Nathan Stoopnicker, 313 Grand street, and they will be acknowledged by mail.

The Worker, and its predecessor The People, emerged from the 1899 split in the Socialist Labor Party of America led by Henry Slobodin and Morris Hillquit, who published their own edition of the SLP’s paper in Springfield, Massachusetts. Their ‘The People’ had the same banner, format, and numbering as their rival De Leon’s. The new group emerged as the Social Democratic Party and with a Chicago group of the same name these two Social Democratic Parties would become the Socialist Party of America at a 1901 conference. That same year the paper’s name was changed from The People to The Worker with publishing moved to New York City. The Worker continued as a weekly until December 1908 when it was folded into the socialist daily, The New York Call.

PDF of full issue: https://www.marxists.org/history/usa/pubs/the-people-the-worker/080111-worker-v17n41.pdf