Socialist Party of New York

The Socialist Labor Party of America (SLP) throughout its first fifteen years was primarily an organization of German immigrants. Organized in 1876, the party included sections from New York City and its environs from its date of origin.

By the decade of the 1890s the National Executive Committee of the SLP was based in New York, which was also the place of publication of the organization's official organs, including the English-language weekly, The People, and the German-language Vorwärts (Forward).

A bitter dispute over trade union policy led to a split of the SLP in July 1899, with a dissident faction (disparagingly known as the “Kangaroos”) headed by lawyers Henry L. Slobodin and Morris Hillquit. Fighting for control of the National Executive Committee and losing, a majority of the party's membership departed to launch a new organization — also confusingly known as the Socialist Labor Party and issuing an English-language weekly which made use of the same front page nameplate as that of its orthodox rivals.

On Saturday, June 16, 1900, a joint convention was held in New York City bringing together delegates from the dissident SLP and the Chicago SDP. A nine-member State Committee was elected that included, among others, German editor Herman Schlueter, Leonard D. Abbott, and future National Secretary of the Springfield SDP William Butscher.”Two Years’ History of the SDP of New York,” ‘’The Worker’’ [New York], vol. 12, no. 16 (July 20, 1902), p. 1.

For a number of years after the formation of the Socialist Party of America in the summer of 1901, the New York state affiliate of that organization retained its prior name, the Social Democratic Party of New York, owing to provisions of New York election law that made a renaming of the party without loss of its ballot line problematic."Warning to New Readers,"] The Worker [New York], vol. 13, no. 31 (Nov. 1, 1903), p. 4. The party also retained the former ballot logo of the Social Democratic Party with headquarters in Springfield, an upraised arm bearing a torch."SDP Ticket In New York: The Party's Emblem," The Worker [New York], vol. 13, no. 31 (Nov. 1, 1903), p. 4.

File:Socialists elected in New York City, 1917.jpg, Barnet Wolff, Alexander Braunstein, Algernon Lee, Baruch Charney Vladeck, Adolph Held, and Maurice Calman.
Seated: August Claessens, William Feigenbaum, Elmer Rosenberg, Louis Waldman, Joseph Whitehorn, Jacob Panken, Abraham Shiplacoff, William Karlin, Samuel Orr, Charles B. Garfinkel, Benjamin Gitlow, and Joseph A. Weil.]]

During its height in the 1910s, the party fielded candidates for the office of Mayor,{{Cite web | url = https://timesmachine.nytimes.com/timesmachine/1913/10/13/104913518.pdf | title = Socialists Fling at all the Parties | date = October 13, 1913 | work = The New York Times |access-date=February 27, 2010 }} seats in the New York State Assembly and the House of Representatives.{{cite web | url = https://timesmachine.nytimes.com/timesmachine/1913/10/26/100283372.pdf | title = Sulzer Appeal Under Way?| date = October 26, 1913 | work = The New York Times |access-date=February 27, 2010 }} In 1917, several anti-war organizations along with SPNY gathered to discuss the War in Europe.{{cite web | url = https://timesmachine.nytimes.com/timesmachine/1917/02/05/102317067.pdf | title = Pacifist Demand War Referendum | date = February 5, 1917 | work = The New York Times |access-date=February 27, 2010 }} When they nominated Morris Hillquit for Mayor, the party was afraid he along with other members faced imprisonment because of the party's anti-conscriptionist platform. During the national convention for the SPNY of 1917, the party decided to create a party bureau which would support socialist agitators who faced jail time or were sent behind bars.{{Cite web | url = https://query.nytimes.com/gst/abstract.html?res=9F0DEFDC133BE03ABC4153DFB166838C609EDE | title = Socialist Expect Trouble for Ticket | date = July 9, 1917 | work = The New York Times |access-date=February 27, 2010}} During the national convention in 1918, they discussed the crisis in Russia and the election strategy for the gubernatorial election which was held later in 1918.{{Cite web | url = https://timesmachine.nytimes.com/timesmachine/1918/06/30/98267663.pdf | title = Socialist Count on Anti-War Voters | date = June 30, 1918 | work = The New York Times |access-date=February 27, 2010 }}

In 1920, Samuel Orr, Louis Waldman, Charles Solomon, Samuel DeWitt, and August Claessens were called before the Speaker of the New York State Assembly. The five were charged with being unfit for membership in the Assembly through their membership in the Socialist Party of America and its state affiliate, and were suspended from their seats by a vote of 140 supporting to 6 against suspension.{{Cite book | url = https://books.google.com/books?id=r-qMCBRrtg8C&q=Samuel+Orr | title=Journal of the Assembly of the State of New York, Volum 4 | year = 1920 | pages = 33–55 | publisher = University of Michigan |access-date=February 27, 2010}}{{Cite web|last=Confessore|first=Nicholas|date=2009-10-21|title=When the Assembly Expelled Socialists for Disloyalty|url=https://cityroom.blogs.nytimes.com/2009/10/21/when-the-assembly-expelled-socialists-for-disloyalty/|access-date=2020-11-04|website=City Room|language=en-US}} A protracted political trial followed as to the fitness of the five Socialists to assume their seats, which ran throughout the winter and spring. The trial began on January 20, 1920 and ended on March 11,{{Cite book | author = Waldman, Louis | url = https://archive.org/details/albanycrisisingo00wald | quote = Albany: The Crisis in Government.| title = Albany: The Crisis in Government | year = 1920 | page = [https://archive.org/details/albanycrisisingo00wald/page/50 50] | publisher = Boni & Liveright, New York |access-date=February 27, 2010| author-link = Louis Waldman }} ending with the Assembly voting overwhelmingly for expulsion on April 1, 1920.

The party is affiliated with the Socialist Party USA. It has a close relationship with the Green Party; as such, the Socialist Party almost never seeks ballot access, instead endorsing Green Party candidates (notably Howie Hawkins).

At the SPA's 1972 National Convention, which was held in Manhattan,{{cite news|title=Young Socialists open parley; to weigh 'New Politics' split|newspaper=New York Times|date=27 December 1972|page=25|author=Anonymous|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1972/12/27/archives/young-socialists-open-parley-to-weigh-new-politics-split.html?sq=Young+socialists&scp=7&st=p}} the SPA changed its name to "Social Democrats, USA" by a vote of 73 to 34.

• {{cite news|title=Socialist Party now the Social Democrats, U.S.A.|newspaper=New York Times|date=31 December 1972|page=36|author=Anonymous|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1972/12/31/archives/socialist-party-now-the-social-democrats-usa.html|access-date=February 8, 2010}}

The New York Times reported on the 1972 Convention on other days, e.g.,

• {{cite news|title=Young Socialists support Meany; Group urges the Democrats to join labor movement|date=31 December 1972|page=36|last=Johnston|first=Laurie|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1972/12/31/archives/young-socialist-support-meany-group-urges-the-democrats-to-join.html?sq=Young+socialists&scp=11&st=p|newspaper=New York Times}}
• {{cite news|title=Young Socialists defeat motion favoring recognition of Cuba|newspaper=New York Times|date=28 December 1972|page=15|last=Johnston|first=Laurie|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1972/12/28/archives/young-socialists-defeat-motion-favoring-recognition-of-cuba.html?sq=Young+socialists&scp=4&st=p}}

During the convention, the majority won every vote, by a ratio of two to one. The Convention elected a national committee of 33 members, with 22 seats for the majority caucus, 8 seats for the coalition caucus of Michael Harrington, 2 for the Debs caucus, and one for the "independent" Samuel H. Friedman.{{cite news|title='Firmness' urged on Communists: Social Democrats reach end of U.S. Convention here|newspaper=New York Times|date=1 January 1973|page=11|author=Anonymous|url=https://select.nytimes.com/gst/abstract.html?res=F50C15F73F551A7493C3A9178AD85F478785F9}} Many former members of the Debs caucus joined David McReynolds in founding the Socialist Party of the United States of America in 1973.{{Citation needed|date=July 2011}}

After failing to renew their charter, the Socialist Party of New York City was revived in February 2017.{{cite news|url=https://twitter.com/SPofUSA/status/833517450687893505|title=Socialist Party USA on Twitter: "This evening, the @SPofUSA National Action Committee voted to officially charter the Socialist Party's New York City local! #NYC"|work=Twitter|access-date=1 April 2017}} As of April 2017, there are 3 locals of the Socialist Party in New York State; the Capital Region, Central New York and New York City.{{cite web|url=http://socialistparty-usa.net/states--locals.html|title=States & Locals - Socialist Party USA|access-date=1 April 2017}}

In 1956, Darlington Hoopes ran as the final nominee of the Socialist Party of America but was not on the New York ballot. In 1976, following a split in the Socialist Party, Socialist Party USA began running independent candidates with the Socialist Party label. However, no SPUSA presidential nominee appeared on the ballot in New York until 2020, when Howie Hawkins was nominated by both SPUSA and the Green Party. He will appear on the ballot as a Green.

{{Main|Category:Socialist Party of America politicians from New York (state)}}

• Meyer London, U.S. Representative (1915–19, 1921–23)
• George R. Lunn, U.S. Representative (1917–19) (elected as a Democrat), Lieutenant Governor of New York (1923–24) (elected as a Democrat), Mayor of Schenectady (1912–13, 1916–17, 1919–23)

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• Matthew M. Levy, Justice of the New York Supreme Court (1951-71) (elected as a Democrat)
• Edmund Seidel, New York State Senator (1921–22)
• Herbert M. Merrill, New York State Assemblyman (1912)
• Abraham I. Shiplacoff, New York State Assemblyman (1916–18), New York City Alderman (1920–21)
• Joseph A. Whitehorn, New York State Assemblyman (1917–18)
• August Claessens, New York State Assemblyman (1918–20, 1922)
• William M. Feigenbaum, New York State Assemblyman (1918)
• Charles B. Garfinkel, New York State Assemblyman (1918)
• Benjamin Gitlow, New York State Assemblyman (1918)
• William Karlin, New York State Assemblyman (1918)
• Samuel Orr, New York State Assemblyman (1918, 1920, 1921)
• Elmer Rosenberg, New York State Assemblyman (1918)
• Louis Waldman, New York State Assemblyman (1918, 1920)
• Charles Solomon, New York State Assemblyman (1919–20, 1921)
• Sam DeWitt, New York State Assemblyman (1920)
• Henry Jager, New York State Assemblyman (1921)
• Nathaniel M. Minkoff, New York State Assemblyman (1938) (elected as an American Laborite)

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• John H. Gibbons, Mayor of Lackawanna (1920–22)
• Jacob Panken, Judge of the New York City Municipal Court (1918–27)
• Abraham Beckerman, New York City Alderman (1918–21)
• Alexander Braunstein, New York City Alderman (1918–21)
• Maurice Calman, New York City Alderman (1918–19)
• Edward F. Cassidy, New York City Alderman (1921)
• Adolph Held, New York City Alderman (1918–19)
• Algernon Lee, New York City Alderman (1918–19, 1921)
• Barnet Wolff, New York City Alderman (1918–19)
• Baruch Charney Vladeck, New York City Alderman (1918–21), New York City Councilman (1938) (elected as an American Laborite)
• Salvatore Ninfo, New York City Councilman (1938–43) (elected as an American Laborite)
• Harry W. Laidler, New York City Councilman (1940–41) (elected as an American Laborite)
• Louis P. Goldberg, New York City Councilman (1942–43, 1946–49) (elected as an Independent)
• Gertrude W. Klein, New York City Councilwoman (1942-45) (elected as an American Laborite)

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{{Reflist|2}}

• Robert Wark, [https://archive.org/details/HistoricalSketchOfTheNewAgebuffaloNy-1922 "Historical Sketch of The New Age, Founded, June 1912: 10 Years of Struggle for the Emancipation of the Masses,"] The New Age, vol. 11, whole no. 516 (July 13, 1922), pp. 1, 10. —History of the Socialist movement in the city of Buffalo.

• {{commons-inline}}
• [http://socialistparty-usa.net Socialist Party USA]
• [http://cnyreds.org Socialist Party of Central New York]
• [https://archive.org/details/TheCityForThePeopleMunicipalPlatformOfTheSocialistPartyMayoralty/mode/1up The City for the People! : Municipal Platform of the Socialist Party, Mayoralty Election, 1932: For Mayor, Morris Hillquit]

{{Socialist Party of America}}

{{Socialist Party USA}}

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New York

New York

Category:Political parties in New York (state)

New York

Category:Socialism in New York (state)