News from round he state as new locals are formed, old local reinvigorated, and many new members enrolled as the Socialist Party runs in New York’s statewide 1910 election.

‘Socialist Party’s Lively Campaign’ from the New York Call. Vol. 3 No. 259. September 15, 1910.

In New York State Several New Locals Formed–Great Amount of Literature Distributed.

Following are the minutes of the meeting of the executive committee of the Socialist party of New York recently held.

At the meeting of the state executive committee on Sept. 6 Comrade Paulitsch acted as chairman. The following members were present: Paulitsch, Solomon, Fraser, Pauly, Bennetts. Absent, with excuse, Comrade J. Hillquist.

A number of communications were read from locals all over the state bearing on the work of organization and agitation. Among the most important communications read were the following:

From Local Buffalo, ordering 5,000 state bulletins, 200 membership cards, etc. and reporting a large increase in membership, also that the new headquarters of the local are located at 52 West Eagle street, where the local has a hall with a seating capacity of about 700.

From Charles J. Ball of Erie county asking in behalf of Local Buffalo that assistance be given to the local in the shape of literature in foreign languages. On motion it was decided by the state committee that Local Buffalo be supplied with all the literature in foreign languages which the state committee may issue in such quantities as the local may need.

From a number of comrades in Queens county, protesting against the nomination of one of the comrades in that county on the ground that he was in arrears with his dues, and the state secretary was instructed to write to the Queens county committee and ask them that the candidate in question pay up his dues and thus satisfy those protesting against the nomination.

From Local Syracuse, ordering 25,000 state platforms.

From Local Schenectady, reporting a very large meeting addressed by Comrade Strebel, also that the local is unusually active and the prospects were never brighter there than they are during the present campaign. From Local Rochester, ordering 20,000 state bulletins.

From Local Watertown, suggesting that steps be taken to organize locals In Ogdensburg and Gouverneur, which was referred to the state secretary for immediate action.

From Local Troy, in the matter of arrangements for Russell meeting. From Local Illon, in the matter of Comrade Bohn’s failure to be present at the meeting arranged for him in Frankfort. Comrade Bohn also explained that he missed his train connections and he was therefore unable to arrive in Frankfort on time.

Four New Locals Formed.

From Comrade James Nolan, of Illon, inclosing application for a charter for Local Frankfort, Herkimer county, signed by ten applicants, and upon motion it was decided that the charter be granted and the local entered under Local Frankfort, Herkimer county.

From Local Nyack, reporting that steps have been taken to nominate a full county ticket for Rockland counts.

From Local Corning ordering state platforms and reporting the election of officers, and that suitable arrangements will be made for meetings with Comrades Russell and Strebel.

From Local Auburn, reporting two very enthusiastic meetings with Comrade Bohn and Mrs. Fraser, and asking that Comrade Russell be assigned there for a meeting the latter part of October.

From Local Dolgeville, reporting a very enthusiastic meeting arranged by Comrade Bohn.

From Watervliet, reporting the hiring of permanent headquarters and that a large number of new members have joined the local.

From Local Kings county, reporting the expulsion of M. Nathanson for scabbing during the recent cloak makers’ strike.

From Local Spring Valley, ordering due stamps.

From Local Wellsville, reporting the condition of the local and complaining that Mrs. Fraser missed her train, and, therefore, could not arrive in Wellsville on time for the meeting.

From Comrade E.J. Squier, district organizer, enclosing 12 applications for the formation of the local of Bemus Point, Chautauqua county, all of the applicants being farmers. On motion the charter was granted and the local entered under the list of locals as Local Bemus Point, Chautauqua county.

Application for the formation of at local in Falconer, signed by 10 applicants, was also received, and on motion the charter was granted and entered as Local Falconer, Chautauqua county.

Two members at large for Fredonia, one for Plattsburg and one for Brewster, N.Y., were also received, and the applicants were admitted as members at large.

From Local Oneida, Madison county, an application for the reorganization of the local, signed by 17 applicants, and on motion the reorganization was approved and Local Oneida was again entered under the list of locals.

Communication from Local New York in the matter of dates for Comrade Russell and the state secretary was instructed to assign Comrade Russell to New York for October 1, also for as many dates during the week ending October 8 as could be spared, and for such other dates later during the campaign as may be possible. Local New York was also authorized to print Comrade Russell’s letter of acceptance on their own expense.

From Kings county, in the matter of dates for Comrade Russell and the state secretary, reported that the dates asked for by the organizer of Kings county will be granted him. From Local Yonkers, asking that Comrade Russell be assigned for a meeting on October 15, which request was granted.

From Local Jamestown ordering 5,000 state platforms.

From Local Schenectady, in the matter of the local’s condition and the change of attitude towards the movement from Dr. Lunn.

From Local Geneva, reporting the placing of a full ticket in the field for Ontario county.

From Lily Dale, application, with seven applicants, for the formation of a local, and on motion the charter was granted and entered under the locals as Local Lily Dale, Chatauqua county.

One application for member at large from a Comrade in Fort Plain, Montgomery county, was received and favorably acted upon.

Sentiment Upstate Growing.

Comrades Bohn and Fraser were present at the meeting of the state executive committee and gave very favorable reports on the condition of the movement upstate and the results of their meetings.

Both Comrades report that the  meetings which they were fortunate to address all over the state were the most enthusiastic that they have ever spoken to before and that the sentiment upstate is growing considerably. People seem to be familiar with the principles of the Socialist party and are eager to listen to our speakers, read our literature and often travel for miles to listen to a Socialist speaker.

Comrade Bohn reports that the work in Niagara county resulted in an increase in membership, and that steps have been taken to place the party organization in that county on a sound basis. Niagara county will have a full ticket in the field for the first time since the party has been in existence in this state.

The meeting held in Jefferson county were very successful, and before long, locals will be organized in Ogdensburg, also Fulton and Oswego.

Utica is in excellent condition, and the membership of the local has grown considerably during the last six months, and the local has taken all the speakers that the state secretary could offer them.

Mrs. Fraser reported that all the meetings which she had addressed were by far more successful than she had ever anticipated. The local papers gave big reports of the meetings and the audiences were very attentive and at nearly all the places they sold all the literature which she brought with her, besides distributing a large quantity of leaflets. The last meeting which she addressed was in Buffalo, where, in spite of a rainy evening, the hall was packed, the local charging admission and taking up a collection in addition to it meeting was a great moral and financial success, and will help Local Buffalo a great deal.

Comrade Squire’s reports about the work in Chautauqua county show a growing sentiment in that county, and before long we will be able to have at least seven locals–Jamestown, Dunkirk, Lily Dale and Bemus Point: Good prospects for organizing locals also in Westfield and Fredonia. Comrade Squire will soon be through with his work in Chautauqua county and he will then be assigned to work in Cattaraugus and Allegheny counties.

Comrade W.B. Corbin, district organizer for Schenectady and vicinity reports that a great deal of agitation has been done in that section and many new members have joined the party in all the locals in the territory.

Large quantities of literature were distributed. subscriptions for The Call taken and a great deal of sound organization work done, so that before the campaign is over we will have that territory thoroughly organized.

Comrade Grausalke, district organizer for Suffolk and Nassau countless, reports that he is devoting three days every week to the work, that he has distributed about 6,000 different leaflets, that locals will be organized in Lindenhurst and Babylon, and suggesting that a speaker be sent to that territory, as the people are anxiously asking for speakers and good meetings can be held. State Committee Needs Money. The state secretary reported on the condition of the state organization that the receipts on the sale of dues during the month of August have been very satisfactory, about $,000 due stamps being sold during that month, indicating that the membership of the party is steadily growing: that the state committee has printed so far $800 worth of literature, and inasmuch as the receipts for the state campaign fund come in very slowly in all probabilities the state committee will be compelled to stop printing any further literature and cancel arrangements for speakers made through the state. The situation was made clear to the locals when the campaign lists were sent out to them that, the state committee has no other income except what is derived from due stamps and its percentage on the state campaign funds, and that the state committee would carry on as much of a campaign as its funds warranted. As soon as we find ourselves without funds the state: committee will cut down the agitation in the state and reduce the speaking tours arranged for Comrades Strebel, Mrs. Fraser, Bohn and Russell.

Comrade Strebel’s meetings were undoubtedly the most successful ever held in the state. His knowledge of the conditions prevailing all over the state enables him to deliver such addresses as appeal especially to upstate audiences. The most important feature of his meetings was the unusually large audiences in some of the small towns. At some of these places his audiences numbered from 500 to 600 persons, which was almost one-third of the population.

All the necessary arrangements for the Russell meetings have been completed. Comrade Russell will start on his tour on September 10, and will be kept in the field with small interruptions from that date up to the close of the campaign.

In addition new tours will be arranged for Comrades Strebel, Bohn. Mr. and Mrs. Fraser and Comrade Carrie W. Allen provided the state committee has the necessary funds to cover part of the expenses of these tours.

The state secretary further reported that more literature was distributed so far during the early part of the campaign than was distributed in former years during the entire period of the campaign. 250,000 state platforms were printed and distributed. The August issue of the State Bulletin was printed, the edition exceeding 150,000, and the Comrades all over the state were very pleased with it and have distributed it more carefully and more systematically than any other leaflets issued by the state committee. 50,000 state platforms in German, 20,000 in Polish, have been ordered to be printed by the state committee. It will be sent out to all such places in the state that can use them. Copy for the September issue of the State Bulletin is now ready and will be given over to the printer. It is expected that the second number of the Bulletin will be ready for distribution about the 20th of September. 150,000 copies will be printed.

The State Campaign Picnic.

Comrade Russell’s “letter of acceptance” will be printed later on and it can be used between the period of October 1 and October 15.

Other leaflets are now in preparation, but same will not be printed only if the state committee can see its way clear to pay up for the present, at least part of its indebtedness.

The state campaign picnic, held on August 21, was a great success financially and otherwise, and in all probabilities when the final settlement is made of all the outstanding tickets, the surplus will amount to about $900 to $1,000, which will be divided equally between the state campaign and The New York Call. Whatever surplus so far realized from the picnic was turned over to the state campaign fund to be used to meet some of the most pressing obligations of the state committee.

Certificates of nomination were sent to all the locals in the state and instructions were given to them as to the time and place when such certificates have to be filed. It was decided that the official state convention be held at 239 East 84th street, on Tuesday, September 27, 1910.

The reports, which were read at this meeting, have shown to the members of the state executive committee that the movement up-state is constantly growing and that great opportunities are before us in this state and proper advantage should be taken of them. The state committee had no difficulty in placing all its speakers in the state, and if our finances would only permit, at least fifteen speakers could be used from now on until the close of the campaign.

The next meeting of the state executive committee will take place on Tuesday, September 20, 1910, at the state headquarters, 239 East 84th street, and all the members of the committee are requested to attend same.

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/1910/100916-newyorkcall-v03n259.pdf