DOCSLIB.ORG

Report of the National Executive Committee to the Emergency National Convention of the Socialist Party of America: Chicago, IL — Sept

Total Page：16

File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb

Download full-text PDF Read full-text
Report of the National Executive Committee to the Emergency National Convention of the Socialist Party of America: Chicago, IL — Sept Oneal: Report of the NEC to the Emergency National Convention [Sept. 1, 1919] 1 Report of the National Executive Committee to the Emergency National Convention of the Socialist Party of America: Chicago, IL — Sept. 1, 1919. by James Oneal Published in the New York Call, v. 12, no. 246 (Sept. 3, 1919), pg. 2. The period in which this National Executive ism at Versailles. It was a working class settlement that Committee has served the party has been one of per- no imperialist could accept. secution from without and dissensions within. It has tried to serve the party at a time when normal judg- St. Louis Convention Faced Its Task ments had been difficult owing to the hatreds, suspi- When US Plunged Into War. cions, and hysterical bred by a world in arms. The ma- terial basis of capitalist society has been shaken all over The St. Louis Convention faced its task and, even the world, and this has found expression in the whole while in session, the United States plunged into the superstructure of society. All movements have been bloody world struggle. Knowing the dangers they affected by it, the Socialist movement included. faced, the party delegates adopted a program that reaf- The fact that the intellectual life of the nations firmed its international position. This was approved has been affected is evidence of the historical principle by a general vote of the party members. that any disturbance or change in the material basis of Within a year after adopting the St. Louis pro- society must make its impress upon the politics, opin- gram, hundreds of comrades were arrested and an era ions, and general intellectual life of the nation. of persecution set in. “Patriotic” societies organized The Socialist Party of the United States faced white terror in many parts of the country. Locals and the crisis in April 1917, in a special Emergency Con- branches were destroyed, party members were boy- vention held in St. Louis. The nation was on the verge cotted, and in some states they were the victims of of war. Previous to this convention the party had is- mobs. sued a number of important manifestos regarding the Our press was largely destroyed and the few pub- war and its causes, these statements in each case hold- lications that survived were deprived of their mailing ing aloft the banner of internationalism. privileges. Government spies dogged the heels of party In 1915 the Socialist Party issued a peace pro- members and in some of the larger cities our head- gram that became the program of the whole interna- quarters were raided by government officials. Some tional Socialist movement. It was taken up by the were sacked by mobs. Russian revolutionists and was the basis of the Rus- A small group left the party after the adoption sian Soviet program for peace at Brest-Litovsk. It be- of the St. Louis program. The conduct of this group came the program of all the other international So- has been, on the whole, with exceptions, consistent cialist groups. The formula of self-determination, no and uniform. They have attacked the party and its punitive indemnities, and no annexations, first pro- members and acquiesced in the policy of the imperial- claimed by the party in this country, was rejected by ists, even to accepting the imperialist peace of Ver- German junkerdom at Brest and by Allied imperial- sailles and intervention in Russia. They constituted a 1 2 Oneal: Report of the NEC to the Emergency National Convention [Sept. 1, 1919] small Right Wing, and their desertion and betrayal the Espionage Act free discussion was an impossibil- rather strengthened than weakened the party. ity. Only one view could be heard regarding the war. Organization work and public propaganda be- To have held the convention would have sub- came impossible in many parts of the country. In some jected many comrades to persecution and imprison- states branches were unable to meet to transact ordi- ment. So the party continued its main work of de- nary business. The branches were isolated, deprived fending its political and class war prisoners and, out- of contact with each other, and thus subject to rumors side of some of the larger cities, all propaganda work and suspicions. In many parts of the country the only was practically suspended. Our funds were also being source of information the party members had was the drained and we were often faced with the need of ur- capitalist press. All the resources of the party had to be gent financial aid for some comrades. mobilized for the defense of our victimized members. In spite of the tremendous obstacles we faced, the party New Period in Party Follows managed to secure funds to defend our comrades in Collapse of Central Alliance. court. The collapse of the Central Alliance in Europe Active Socialists Imprisoned was followed by a new period in the party. While no In Effort to Terrorize Party. definite date may be set for the beginning of the present party dissensions, it is certain that they began to be As though to terrorize the party into a surrender generally noticeable in January of this year, when the to the dark forces of reaction, some of the best-known National Executive Committee elected delegates to the comrades were indicted and some sentenced to long Berne Conference, owing to the fact that the delegates terms of imprisonment. Among them is one of the elected by referendum could not serve, and the assem- best-loved Socialists in the world, Eugene V. Debs, who bling of the Berne Conference in March [1919] made is serving a 10-year sentence; National Executive Sec- necessary the election of delegates by the National retary [Adolph] Germer; Louis Engdahl, editor of The Executive Committee. American Socialist; William Kruse, Secretary of the The so-called Left Wing members of the Na- Young People’s Socialist League; victor L. Berger; A.I. tional Executive Committee [Ludwig Katterfeld and Shiplacoff; Stanley J. Clark; Emil Herman of the Na- Alfred Wagenknecht] participated in the election, tional Executive Committee; and Irwin St. John nominating and voting for candidates. None of their Tucker. nominees were elected and shortly after the election Frederick Krafft and Alfred Wagenknecht of the an organized attack was made against the international National Executive Committee served terms in prison, delegates by the Left Wing. and Victor L. Berger, in addition to a sentence of 20 It was uncertain whether passports could be se- years, has 4 more indictments pending against him, cured in time to attend the Berne Conference. The besides being refused his seat in Congress. National Executive Committee in session decided that All the Socialist candidates for Congress in Wis- if our delegates arrived at Berne in time and the con- consin and the State Secretary also are under indict- ference failed to take the position of the party on war ment. No mail whatever is permitted to be delivered and imperialism, we were to withdraw with any ele- to the Leader, the party daily in Milwaukee. Some ments favoring a genuine working class international. 2,000 Socialists in all have been arrested because of It was agreed that we would not affiliate with any in- their opinions and the era of persecution is by no means ternational that excluded the Russian comrades, who ended. were fighting world imperialism, or the comrades op- In March 1918, Local St. Louis initiated a move- posed to the Ebert-Scheidemann regime in Germany. ment for a special convention, which the National Before our delegates could leave the country, the Executive Committee considered the following May. National Executive Committee learned that the Berne In a proclamation to the membership the impossibil- conference had failed to respond to its opportunity. It ity of holding the convention was pointed out. Under devoted its proceedings to useless bickerings regard- Oneal: Report of the NEC to the Emergency National Convention [Sept. 1, 1919] 3 ing “responsibility” for the war, thus echoing the views the absorption of the party in the work of defending of the imperialists of the two alliances. It wasted time our party members in court, these slanders were ac- in discussing clauses of the League of Nations to be cepted in some quarters and the seeds of distrust and formed at Versailles, ignoring the fact that only a holy suspicion were sown in our ranks in the name of the alliance of capital could issue from the deliberations Socialist Party and its officials and members, who have of the imperialist diplomats. been maliciously libeled by the dastardly propaganda. We brand those responsible for it as guilty of atro- Systematic Campaign of Lies cious conduct unbecoming Socialists. The Socialist Waged Against Party by Faction. Party is not and never will be committed to any sup- port of the betrayers of Socialism in Germany or else- Learning this, the National Executive Commit- where. tee decided to send one delegate abroad to impart in- formation to the comrades in Europe, informing them Slanders Accompanied by Like of our attitude on international questions. The del- Propaganda Regarding Russia. egate carried out the instructions of the National Ex- ecutive Committee. These slanders have been accompanied with a Yet, despite all this, a systematic campaign of similar propaganda regarding Russia. The party and falsehood has been waged against the party by a fac- its officials, especially the members of the National tion within the party. This faction has falsely claimed Executive Committee, have been charged with being that the party is allied with the Berne conference. Our “Kolchaks” and “counterrevolutionists,” the implica- delegate abroad could have attended a commission of tion being that the party has been committed to coun- the Berne conference which met in Holland on April terrevolution in Russia, allied intervention, and sup- 24 [1919].
Load more

Recommended publications
  • Programmes for 1894—95
    JOHNS HOPKINS UNIVE SITY Pziblis/zed wit/i t/ie approbation of t/ie Board of Trustees VOL. XJII.—No. “3.1 BALTIMORE, JUNE, 1894. [PRICE, 10 CENTs. GENERAL STATEMENTS AS TO THE COURSES OF INSTRUCTION. The Johns Hopkins University will commence The medical department is open to women; the its nineteenth year of instruction on the first of other departments are not. October, 1894. The work will go forward in these A new academic building, called McCoy Hall, divisions: in commemoration of its donor, will be occupied The Graduate department in which arrangements in the autumn. It contains the library and the are made for the instruction of advanced students class-rooms in language, literature, history, and in the higher studies of literature and science; philosophy,—superseding the temporary structures The Undergraduate or Collegiate department in hitherto in use. which students receive a liberal education leading Laboratories are provided in Chemistry, Physics, up to the degree of Bachelor of Arts; Electricity, Geology and Mineralogy, and in Biol- The Medical department in which students who ogy, Anatomy, Physiology, Zo6logy, Pathology. have already received a liberal education (including Seminaries are organized in the Greek, Latin, the modern languages and the natural sciences) French, German, English, Sanskrit, and Semitic are received as candidates for the degree of Doctor languages, and also in History and Political of Medicine, and in which Doctors of Medicine Science. There are various scientific associations may attend special courses. and journal clubs which hold regular meetings. In other words, arrangements are made for the The Library contains more than sixty-five thou- instruction of the following classes: sand volumes, part of which are kept in the central 1.
    [Show full text]
  • Johns Hopkins University Circulars
    JOHNS HOPKINS UNIVERSITY CIRCULARS Publis/ied with the approbation of the Board of Trustees VOL. XII,—No. 107.] BALTIMORE, JUNE, 1893. [PRICE, 10 CENTS. PROGRAMMES FOR 1893--94. The following courses in literature and science are offered for the academic year which begins October 1, 1893. They are open to properly qualified young men, according to conditions varying somewhat in each department. The Annual Register, giving full statements as to the regulations and work of the University, will be sent on application. Separate announcements ofthe Medical Courses will be sent on application. D. C. GILMAN, President of the Johns Hopkins University. JOHN J. ABEL, Professor of Pharmacology, FABIAN FRANKLI N, Professor ofMathematics, courses in Pharmacology. (a) Theory of Algebraic Forms, Exercises in Analytic Geom- etry, Theory of Numbers, Theory of Probability. H. B. ADAMS, Professor ofAmerican and Institutional History, (b) Differential and Integral Calculus, Determinants, Modern (a) Seminary of History and Politics. Analytic Geometry, etc. (b) Early History of Institutions, Greek Politics, and Germanic State Life. B. L. GILDERSLEEVE, Professor of Greek, (c) withassistance, undergraduate coursesin Historyand Politics. (a) will direct the Greek Seminary (Plato, etc.) (b) will conduct a Grammatical Society. M. BLOOM FIELD, Professorof Sanskrit and Comparative Philology, (c) will lecture on Greek Epic Poetry. (a) Linguistic Science and Comparative Grammar. (d) course of Practical Exercises in Greek. (b) Judo-Iranian Languages. HERBERT E. GREENE, Collegiate Professor of English, J. W. BRIGHT, Professor of English Philology, courses in English and Rhetoric. (a) English Seminary. E. H. GRIFFIN, Professor ofthe History ofPhilosophy, (b) English Philology, Middle English Grammar, Anglo- (a) advanced courses in Modern Philosophy and Ethics.
    [Show full text]
  • 388-8693 Facsimile: (213) 386-9484
    CENTER FOR HUMAN RIGHTS AND CONSTITUTIONAL LAW 256 SOUTH OCCIDENTAL BOULEVARD LOS ANGELES, CA 90057 Telephone: (213) 388-8693 Facsimile: (213) 386-9484 www.centerforhumanrights.org June 4, 2014 The Hon. President Barack Obama The White House 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue NW Washington, DC 20500 The Hon. Eric Holder, Jr. Attorney General U.S. Department of Justice Washington, DC Re: Report on the convictions of and disproportionate sentences imposed on the Cuban Five and legal frameworks available for the humanitarian release and repatriation to Cuba of three members of the Five continuing to serve prison sentences in the U.S. Dear President Obama and Attorney General Holder, The accompanying report regarding the case of the Cuban Five is submitted on behalf of the Center for Human Rights and Constitutional Law, an organization dedicated to protecting and promoting respect for and compliance with human rights norms and constitutional provisions intended to safeguard the rights of vulnerable groups and insular minorities. We have attempted to objectively review the critical evidence of record in the Cuban Five case and, for the first time that we are aware, synthesize the case in one comprehensive document for consideration by your Administration. Based on our review of the record, we believe there are strong grounds for humanitarian release of the remaining three members of the Cuban Five still serving federal prison sentences in the U.S. and their removal to Cuba, whether under Article II, Section 2 of the U.S. Constitution or pursuant to the well-established Presidential power to enter into Executive Agreements with other governments affirmed.
    [Show full text]
  • Socialist Party of America
    llllllllllllllliliillllifiliilllllllillllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllll^ PROCEEDINGS EMERGENCY CONVENTION OF THE SOCIALIST PARTY OF AMERICA AT ST. LOUIS, 1917 llllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllIllllliiM MARYLAND: Maynard Shipley, S. L. V. Young. MASSACHUSETTS: Victor Anna la, Abraham Bloom, Charles E. Fenner, Eugene Hough, George Makela, Louis Marcus, James Oneal, George E. Roewer, Jr., Max A. Schulze, F. J. Syryala. MICHIGAN: D. E. Farley, E. O. Foss, H. A. Hedden, John Keracher, John MINUTES FIRST DAY SESSION. Kiiskila, Al. Renner, M. Sugar, Robt. Westfall. April 7, 1917. MINNESOTA: F. W. Adams, B. J. Locher, Anna A. Maley, Chas. Rastedt, Morning Session. Geo. Sahlman, W. A. Stafford, L. Vanderberg, W. O. Wassing. MISSOURI: W. M. Brandt, G. C. Grant, Kate R. O'Hare. Convention called to order by National Executive Secretary, Adolph MONTANA: McElroy, A. F. Miessner. Germer, who read the official call for the assembling of the Convention. NEBRASKA: G. C. Porter. Comrade Morris Hillquit, of New York, elected Temporary Chairman. NEW HAMPSHIRE: P. J. Leonard. Opening address by Comrade Hillquit. NEW JERSEY: Valentine Bausch, Geo. H. Goebel, Henry Green, Milo C. Election of Temporary Secretary. Following nominated: Jones, Frederick Krafft, Patrick L. Quinlan, James M. Reilly. NEW MEXICO: Walter B. Dillon, S. Parks. A. Wagenknecht, of Ohio. NEW YORK: Allen L. Benson, Alex. W. Berggren, F. G. Biedenkapp, L. Julius Gerber, of New York. B. Boudin, Joseph D. Cannon, Julius Gerber, Morris Hillquit, Wm. Hilsdorf, John C. Kennedy, of Illinois. Algernon Lee, Ludwig Lore, Max Lulow, S. J. Mahoney, Chas. W. Noonan, Geo. E. Roewer, Jr., of Massachusetts. Moses Oppenheimer, Albert Pauly, John C. Rowitch, Fred Sander, James C. Comrades Gerber and Kennedy declined.
    [Show full text]
  • Supplementary Report of the National Executive Committee of the Socialist Party of America to the Emergency National Convention: Chicago, IL — September 4, 1919
    NEC of the SPA: Supplementary Report to the Convention [Sept. 4, 1919] 1 Supplementary Report of the National Executive Committee of the Socialist Party of America to the Emergency National Convention: Chicago, IL — September 4, 1919. Published in the New York Call, v. 12, no. 250 (Sept. 7, 1919), pg. 5. This report was delivered to the convention by James Oneal, who seems likely to have been the main author. In response to the request of the convention, we ued for months and no member of these federations submit this supplementary report. thought it necessary to even inform us that the party The reasons for suspending the offending lan- was on trial or intimated that we should have a hear- guage federations were stated in the June Bulletin of ing. the National Office. They are, in brief, as follows: It is evident that most of the members of the Section 2 of Article 12 of the constitution pro- federations honestly believed that the Socialist Party vides that the duty of each Translator-Secretary “shall had become an annex to the capitalist class and world be to serve as a medium of communication between imperialism. They heard one side, and it was so persis- his federation and the national organization of the tently presented that their minds were poisoned against Socialist Party.” the party and the National Executive Committee. The suspended federations, instead of serving this purpose, assumed power to reverse decisions of Slanderous Propaganda Appeared in the National Executive Committee. They demanded English Publications of Left Wing. that the amnesty convention we tried to arrange be abandoned or they would oppose it.
    [Show full text]
  • Report of Executive Secretary to the National Executive Committee: Chicago, Illinois — Aug
    Germer: Report to the NEC of the Socialist Party of America [Aug. 8, 1918] 1 Report of Executive Secretary to the National Executive Committee: Chicago, Illinois — Aug. 8, 1918. by Adolph Germer Report delivered to the Conference of State Secretaries and Socialist Officials, Chicago. Published as a pamphlet by the Socialist Party. Copy in the SPA papers, Duke University. Chicago, Illinois, As Arthur Henderson so well says, “We have August 8th, 1918. entered upon a new world. With the main features of this new world we are yet unfamiliar.” To the National Executive Committee Naturally, those who exploited labor before the of the Socialist Party. war and who are exploiting labor during the war, will seek to shape the new world in such a manner as to Comrades: continue the exploitation when the war is ended. Profit is the one god worshipped by the industrial overlords, In this report I have chiefly confined myself, ex- irrespective of the burdens it imposes on the people. cept for a brief comment, to a review of Party activi- This was so clearly brought out in the report submit- ties since the St. Louis Convention [April 7-14, 1917], ted to Congress by the Federal Trade Commission together with such recommendations as I feel should under date of June 29, 1918, which shows that in 3 be considered at this meeting. years the 5 big packers alone have gouged the people At no time since our movement was founded, in for $121 million in excessive war profits. fact, at no time in human history, has mankind been If the profiteers will fleece the American people taxed, in life and treasure, as during the world war to the tune of hundreds of millions in excessive war started 4 years ago.
    [Show full text]
  • Espionage Act Cases in This Pamphlet Arose Un- Der the Original Phrasing of Section 3 of Title I
    ESPIONAGEACT CASES WITHCERTAINOTHERSON RELATED POINTS- New law in making as to criminal utterance in war-time Compiled and edited by WALTER NELLES Pliblished by the NATIONAL CIVIL LIBERTIES BUREAU 70 Fifth Avenue, New York City Washington Office : 647 Munsey Building (Price $1.00) Iuly, 1918 .ESPIONAGEACT CASES WITH CERTAINOTHERSON RELATED POINTS- New law in making as to criminal utterance in war-time Cowpiled and edited by WALTER NELLES Published by the NATIONAL CIVIL LIBERTIES BUREAU 70 Fifth Avenue, New York City Washington Office: 647 Munsey Building (Price $1.00) JulJI, 1918 CONTENTS Text of Section 3 of Title I ; Espionage Act Amendments approved May 16, 1918; Instructions of Attorney- General ........................................... 3 Extracts from Decisions and Charges .................... 5 (See Analysis of Holdings atid Indices) Notes and Comments ..... .. ......... ... ................. 79 Appendix-Total Federal War Cases to June 8, 1918, in the groups including prosecutions for use of language. ..... 83 Classifications-Cases under all three sub-divisions of the statute .......................................... 84 Cases under the first sub-division of the statute. ..... 84 Cases under the second and third sub-divisions of the statute ........................................ 84 Cases not under espionage Act ....................... .84 Cases involving Socialism or Socialists ............... 84 Cases involving Christianity or Christians ............ 84 Indices-Index of Persons Concerned .................... 84 Indexof Judges .................................... 85 Supplement-recent cases added while in press: Taubert, N. H ...................................... 86 Miller, Colo. ....................................... 90 Shutte, N. Da. (not analyzed or indexed). .............. 92 ANALYSIS OF HOLDINGS I. PROXIMATE CAUSATION A. The use of language cannot be criminal unless the nature of the language and the circumstances of it use are such that a forbidden effect would probably, follow, naturally, and as a direct, result.
    [Show full text]
  • 1917 Journal
    ; SUPKEME COURT OF THE UNITED STATES. Monday, October 1, 1917. Present: The Chief Justice, Mr. Justice McKenna, Mr. Justice Holmes, Mr. Justice Day, Mr. Justice Van Devanter, Mr. Justice Pitney, Mr. Justice McReynolds, Mr. Justice Brandeis, and Mr. Justice Clarke. The Chief Justice said: The court will receive motions for admission to the bar and other motions noticed for to-day and which are ready for submission, and the call of the docket will commence to-morrow pursuant to the twenty-sixth rule. All motions and petitions noticed for to-day that are not ready for submission may be submitted to-morrow. At the conclusion of the business of to-day the court will adjourn until to-morrow at the usual hour, in order to enable it to pay its respects to the President of the United States. C. M. Hanna, of Parkersburg, W. Va.; Thomas G. Fewell, of Meridian, Miss.; Benjamin F. Harrah, of Washington, D. C; Wil- liam A. Morrow, of Chicago, 111.; Chauncey C. Colton, of Duluth, Minn. ; Charles Rosecrantz, M. of New York City ; Samuel A. Mitch- ell, of St. Louis, Mo. ; Charles F. Kelley, of New York City ; Nathan H. Frank, of San Francisco, Cal. ; Robert M. Riculfi, of Jackson- ville, Fla.; Will R. Miller, of Franklin, Ind.; Fred W. Milverton, of Honolulu, Hawaii; Frank Healy, of Providence, R. I.; Henry P. Dart, jr., of New Orleans, La.; Philip S. Ehrlich, of San Francisco, Cal. Harry H. Nayor, ; of Boston, Mass. ; Samuel Sigilman, of Bos- ton, Mass. Louis ; J. Warren, of Honolulu, Hawaii ; E. Curtis Rouse, of New York City; Henry O'B.
    [Show full text]
  • The Communist International and US Communism, 1919–1929 Historical Materialism Book Series
    The Communist International and US Communism, 1919–1929 Historical Materialism Book Series Editorial Board Sébastien Budgen (Paris) Steve Edwards (London) Marcel van der Linden (Amsterdam) Peter Thomas (London) VOLUME 82 The titles published in this series are listed at brill.com/hm The Communist International and US Communism, 1919–1929 By Jacob A. Zumoff LEIDEN | BOSTON Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data Zumoff, Jacob A. The Communist International and US Communism, 1919–1929 / by Jacob A. Zumoff. pages cm — (Historical materialism book series ; 82) Includes bibliographical references and index. ISBN 978-90-04-21960-1 (hardback : alk. paper) — ISBN 978-90-04-26889-0 (e-book : alk. paper) 1. Communist International—History—20th century. 2. Communist Party of the United States of America—History—20th century. 3. Communism—United States—History—20th century. I. Title. HX11.I5Z78 2014 324.273’7509042—dc23 2014016838 This publication has been typeset in the multilingual ‘Brill’ typeface. With over 5,100 characters covering Latin, ipa, Greek, and Cyrillic, this typeface is especially suitable for use in the humanities. For more information, please see brill.com/brill-typeface. issn 1570-1522 isbn 978-90-04-21960-1 (hardback) isbn 978-90-04-26889-0 (e-book) Copyright 2014 by Koninklijke Brill nv, Leiden, The Netherlands. Koninklijke Brill nv incorporates the imprints Brill, Brill Nijhoff, Global Oriental and Hotei Publishing. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, translated, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise, without prior written permission from the publisher.
    [Show full text]