News of literature distributions and forum planning; executive committee minutes and benefit actions; meeting announcements and study directories. The work of the Socialist Party of New York City on Saturday, February 25, 1911.

‘Socialist News of the Day’ from The New York Call. Vol. 4 No. 56. February 25, 1911.

All announcements and other matter intended for publication in this department must positively be in this office by noon of the day preceding that on which it ‘is to appear. The publication of matter telephoned in cannot be assured. Comrades are advised to send in their notices as far ahead of the date for publication as possible. All meetings begin at 8 p.m. unless otherwise stated.

BUSINESS MEETINGS

MANHATTAN AND BRONX.

Branch 5 Literature Distribution.

The first distribution in February was a splendid success. Twenty-five Comrades took part in it. According to the reports received, twenty-one district agents distributed 4,608 leaflets, 539 booklets, 1,355 lecture cards, and 1,556 throwaways advertising special meetings from door to door: a total of 8,058, exceeding the amount distributed during the whole month of January by over a thousand. Together these twenty-one Comrades spent 51 hours in doing their work, which does not include the time spent in folding, stamping, and assorting leaflets.

The reports made by most are highly encouraging. A surprisingly large number of people show intense interest in Socialism; to many it comes like a revelation. As a rule, the canvassers are received very politely almost everywhere.

Tomorrow’s distribution will, according to all appearance, again break all previous records. But we need 600 distributers if we expect to cover the whole territory of Branch 5. All who wish to participate in the work should report at 360 West 125th street, Room 8, where members of the committee will be on hand from 9 to 12 a.m. to assign districts, hand out literature, and give the necessary instructions. Comrades inexperienced in this kind of activity will be accompanied by competent canvassers. KARL HEIDEMANN, Literature Agent.

Young People’s Societies, Notice!

Will the secretaries and organizers of all Young People’s Socialist societies communicate immediately with F. Sumner Boyd. 125 Manhattan street, city, who is acting as secretary for a special committee of the central committee, Socialist party, to inquire into and report upon the Young Socialist organizations in Local New York. This is important, and should be attended to without delay.

I.S.S. League.

A regular meeting of the Inter High School Socialist League will take place today at 3 p.m. sharp, at the Rand School, 112 East 19th street. Comrade J. Caesar will deliver a talk on “Shelley: His Atheism and His Love.” General discussion will follow.

The Searchlight.

The Searchlight, published by the Inter-High School Socialist League, at 112 East 19th street in the interest of high school students as well as any person who glances with more than casual interest into the affairs of the nation and the world, is due to gladden the populace March 1. Five cents the copy; 35 cents per year.

The Riverside Forum.

Dr. J.E. Robbins will lecture on “Education” tomorrow evening at the Riverside Forum, 259 West 69th street.

Rand School Open House.

Tomorrow evening the usual monthly social at the Rand School will take place. The program will be both artistic and entertaining, as always, and it has become the custom for people in search of a sociable evening to go to the Rand School open house evenings.

Miss Sarah Balsam, soprano, will render vocal selections and will be accompanied by Mias Eva Weisman. Besides other numbers Henry Engels and August Claessens will give a spirited debate on the question, “What Will the Ballot Do for Women?” in rendering which they will give imitations of more or less, well known citizens. Henry Engels will also give “Lord Dundreary’s Letter” and “The Story of the Rose.” Dancing will end the evening, which will probably be the last “open house” of the year, as the ball on March 24 will take its place for that month.

Conference on Naturalization.

A conference of party branches, progressive trade unions, and other radical organizations has been called by the naturalization committee of Local New York to meet April 7, 1911, at the Laber Temple, at 8 p.m.

The purpose of this conference is to establish a permanent office in the city of New York to aid and facilitate the naturalization of progressive and radical workingmen in this city and also to watch and influence naturalization legislation to the end that the same may be simplified and made less restricted. Each organization may send two delegates.

Paris Commune Anniversary.

We missed the occasion last year, but never again. The Commune celebration, which will be held on Saturday evening March 18, at the New York Labor Temple, promises to be a glorious feast of comradeship. The seasoned and experienced committee who are conducting the affair have issued an ultimatum to the effect that under no circumstances shall the assembled audience be afflicted with:

(a) A long drawn out program. (b) “Talent” that is only such in name. (c) Poorly equipped speakers. (d) Harsh or halting dance music (e) Uncomradely feeling. (f) High priced tickets.

Comrades, reverse the above picture in your imaginations and you will have a fair idea of what this event will be like. Get a handful of the 15 cent admission tickets from your branch secretary or from headquarters, 239 East 84th street, and be off and doing yeoman service for this anniversary affair. The memory of the revered Paris Communards deserves it of you.

COMMITTEE ON ARRANGEMENTS. Louis A. Baum, Chairman.

BROOKLYN.

Central committee meets tonight at the Labor Lyceum, 949 Willoughby avenue.

The Woman’s Day Meeting.

The big Woman’s Day Socialist suffrage mass meeting under the auspices of the women’s committee of the Socialist party of Brooklyn will be held tomorrow, at 2:30 p.m., in the Brooklyn Labor Lyceum, 949 Willoughby avenue. “Women as an Economic and Political Factor” win be discussed by Carrie W. Allen, Bertha M. Fraser, Anita C. Block, Meta Stern, and Rev. Roland D. Sawyer. Admission will be free.

Minutes Executive Committee.

The executive committee of Local Kings County met at the Labor Lyceum Thursday, February 23, 1911. Present Spender, Fall, Fineberg. Excused–Gronbach, Pauly, Slavik. Fall was elected chairman. The minutes of last three meetings were adopted as read.

A communication from the Chicago Daily Socialist asking our aid in making it an eight-page paper was referred to the central committee for action. A letter from P. Thorsen desiring us to challenge the Rev. W.J. White to debate the subject of Socialism was referred to Fall, of the People’s Forum. A communication from the Socialist Literature Company notifying us that they have issued two leaflets on the woman question. Motion made and carried that we order 1,000 copies of “Why Women Need the Vote” from said company.

A circular letter from the state committee stating that hereafter it will send a regular monthly list to the locals showing the number of stamps bought by each. Motion carried that the organizer get sufficient copies to distribute among the branches.

The organizer reports that 662 tickets had been sold at the Warren Protest Meeting. The income, including the collection, amounted to $157.92 The approximate expense was $219.03 leaving a deficit of $61.11. Lindgren stated that Comrade Schwartz would institute proceedings against the management of the Grand Opera House to collect $200 damages for breach of contract. The report of the organizer was accepted.

Bids, for the printing of the local were received from Mintzer and N. Asbel. Motion carried that for the time being we have printing done by P. Bartel. Motion carried that we send, together with the letters to the enrolled party voters, a copy each of “Socialist Methods” and, “Why Socialists Pay Dues.” Motion that we order 3,500 copies of each of these leaflets carried Motion that we order 5,000. canvassing cards carried.

A motion was made and passed that we hold a May Day parade and request the central committee to elect a committee to take charge of arrangements.

The following motions also carried: That we elect a committee of one (Slaven) to visit M.A. Benevy; that we order 100 copies of The Call for the Woman’s Day meeting at the Labor Lyceum, Sunday, February 26: that the organizer be authorized to pay $10 to the subscription fund for the benefit of the family of Henry Barna, recently deceased; that a new member of the executive committee be elected by the county committee in place of one from the 6th A.D., who withdrew on account of clause in our constitution prohibiting the executive committee from having two members from any one assembly district; that we refer to Fall, secretary of the People’s Forum, the challenging of Mayor Gaynor to a debate on Socialism, and that we incorporate the People’s Forum, whenever our finances permit. A recommendation was made to the central committee that it elect a permanent press bureau of seven to send reports of meetings, lectures, and insert propaganda articles in all Brooklyn papers. The financial report was: Income, $879.42; expense, $372.06: balance. $7.36. On motion, meeting adjourned. HARRY USWALD. Secretary.

Benefit for Sick Comrade.

The Comrades of Branch 2, 23d A.D., and members of Branch 11, Workmen’s Circle, have arranged a concert and literary entertainment for Friday, March 3, the proceeds of which are to go for the benefit of an active Comrade who has contracted tuberculosis. It is not a common practice for Socialists to run benefit affairs for individuals, preferring always to work for the Cause rather than for individual charity, but this case is of such a special nature and so deserving that they feel it their duty to help a stricken Comrade in the ranks.

It is to be hoped that all those who will be able will avail themselves of this opportunity to do a good deed while spending a pleasant evening. Tickets are 15 cents each and can be obtained at the headquarters of Branch 2, 23d A.D. 1776 Pitkin avenue Brooklyn, at the office of Die Zukunft, 141 Division street, and the office of the Jewish Agitation Bureau. 141 Division street, New York City.

DIRECTORY OF SOCIALIST SCHOOLS.

Manhattan and the Bronx.

East Side Socialist School, 183 Madison street, New York, Sunday. 1:30 p.m.

Yorkville Socialist School, 360 West 125th street. New York. Sunday, 11 a.m.

Workmen’s Educational Alliance. 143-145 East 103d street, Sunday, 10 a.m.

Bronx Socialist School, Wendover and Park avenues, Bronx, Sunday, 10 a.m.

The Modern Progressive School. 214th street and Holland avenue, Sunday, 9:30 a.m.

Brooklyn.

Labor Lyceum Socialist School, Myrtle and Willoughby avenues, Sunday, 10 a.m.

Borough Park Socialist School, Fort. Hamilton avenue and 37th street, Sunday. 10 a.m.

Brownsville Socialist School, 433, Hopkinson avenue, Sunday, 10 a.m.

Queens County Socialist School, Ridgewood Times building, Myrtle and Cypress avenues. Sunday, 10 a.m.

Alabama Avenue School. 309 Alabama avenue, Sunday, 10 a.m.

The New York Call was the first English-language Socialist daily paper in New York City and the second in the US after the Chicago Daily Socialist. The paper was the center of the Socialist Party and under the influence of Morris Hillquit, Charles Ervin, Julius Gerber, and William Butscher. The paper was opposed to World War One, and, unsurprising given the era’s fluidity, ambivalent on the Russian Revolution even after the expulsion of the SP’s Left Wing. The paper is an invaluable resource for information on the city’s workers movement and history and one of the most important papers in the history of US socialism. The paper ran from 1908 until 1923.

PDF of full issue: https://www.marxists.org/history/usa/pubs/the-new-york-call/1911/110225-newyorkcall-v04n056.pdf