Social Democracy of America Officials The Social Democracy of America maintained its headquarters at 504 Trude Building, Chicago, IL.
Eugene Debs moved to Chicago and rechristened his paper Railway Times as The Social Democrat, which became the offical organ of the group. The first issue appeared dated July 15, 1897.
The organization was governed by a 5 member National Executive Board with executive offices distributed amongst its members. The Secretary in charge of signing charters of new "branches" of the organization.
National Executive Board (5):
Colonization Commission (3): established Aug. 2, 1897
The colonization faction adopted a new constitution providing for a 9 member National Executive Council, containing two executive officers. The following were elected at the June 7-11, 1898 convention in Chicago:
Only 3 more issues of the official organ, The Social Democrat, were produced after the June 1898 convention before the publication was terminated due to lack of funds.
Social Democratic Party of America The anti-colonization faction bolted the convention of the Social Democracy in America on July 11, 1898 and formed a new organization:
The Social Democratic Party maintained its headquarters from an office located at 138 Washington Street, Chicago, IL.
National Secretary and Treasurer Theodore Debs (Terre Haute, IN) National Executive Board (5): Jesse Cox -- Chairman (Illinois) Seymour Stedman -- Secretary (Chicago, IL) Victor L. Berger (Milwaukee, WI) Eugene V. Debs (Terre Haute, IN) Frederic Heath (Milwaukee, WI) Editor ofThe Social-Democratic Herald and National Organizer Alfred Shenstone Edwards The Social Democratic Party maintained its headquarters from an office located at 126 Washington Street, Chicago, IL.
National Secretary and Treasurer Theodore Debs (Terre Haute, IN) Chairman of the National Executive Board: Seymour Stedman (Illinois) Secretary Isador Ladoff (Illinois) National Executive Board (9): Victor L. Berger (Wisconsin) Corinne S. Brown (Illinois) C.G. Clemons (Kansan) George H. Goebel (New Jersey) Margaret Haile (Massachusetts) Frederic Heath (Wisconsin) Alfred Hicks (Colorado) F.A. Lymburner (Iowa) L.E. Miller (New York) Editor ofThe Social-Democratic Herald Alfred Shenstone Edwards
Socialist Party OfficialsThe Unity Convention which established the Socialist Party of America determined to move party headquarters away from the two centers of the factional controversy, Chicago and Springfield, MA, instead establishing the center of the organization in St. Louis. An individual who had not partaken of the factional foodfight (and thus acceptable to both sides) named Leon Greenbaum was elected National Secretary of the organization and a St. Louis based "Local Quorum" of 5 named to handle the day to day operations of the new organization.
After reposing for the first week of August in the home of National Secretary Greenbaum, National Headquarters were located in room 427, Emile Building, St. Louis. The party paid $16 per month in rent for the space.
National Secretary Leon Greenbaum Provisional Committe of 5 [St. Louis Quorum] W.H. Baird - this seat vacant at time of 1902 NC meeting M. Ballard Dunn (Secretary) L.E. Hildebrand Gustav A. Hoehn E. Val Putnam The party was governed between conventions by annual meetings of a National Committee consisting of one representative from each organized state plus the members of the Local Quorum, with the Local Quorum and the National Secretary handling day to day operations of the organization, including the issuance of charters to locals and state organizations. At the time of the first annual meeting of the National Committee, held Jan. 24-26, 1902 in St. Louis, there were a total of 23 organized states, but only 13 entitled to seats were in attendance, as well as 4 members of the St. Louis Local Quorum.
National Committee (13+4) (attending Jan. 1902 annual meeting) Victor Berger (Wisconsin) Barney Berlyn (Illinois) George E. Boomer (Washington) James F. Carey (Massachusetts) Charles Dobbs (Kentucky) sub for F.E. Seeds M. Ballard Dunn (Local Quorum) Job Harriman (New York) Max Hayes (Ohio) L.E. Hildebrand (Local Quorum) Gustav A. Hoehn (Local Quorum) Walter Thomas Mills (Kansas) James Oneal (Indiana) E. Val Putnam (Local Quorum) James S. Roche (California) George H. Turner (Missouri) Charles Ufert (New Jersey) John M. Work (Iowa) Fraternal Delegates to the 1902 NC Meeting (voice but no vote) George E. Bigelow (Nebraska) sub for McCaffery, but no proper credentials A.B. Edler (Utah) representative of one faction Ida C. Hazlett (Utah) representative of another faction Leon Greenbaum (National Secretary) at the end of 1902, the St. Louis Local Quorum consisted of: William M. Brandt (elected by the 1902 NC Meeting, Jan. 26) M. Ballard Dunn Gustav A. Hoehn E. Val Putnam James S. Roche
Socialist Party OfficialsThe annual meeting of the National Committee of the SPA met in St. Louis from Jan. 29-Feb. 1, 1903. The gathering voted to move National Headquarters to Omaha, Nebraska, where it maintained a national office at Rooms 303-304, McCague Building, Omaha, NE. This move was effective Feb. 3, 1903. The 1903 National Committee meeting elected the following officers of the organization:
National Executive Secretary William Mailly Assistant Secretary W.E. Clark Representative to International Socialist Bureau Gaylord Wilshire
Local Quorum (to May 18, 1903)
The decision of the 1903 National Committee to transfer party headquarters from St. Louis to Omaha and to set aside the constitution in favor of a new Local Quorum consisting of National Committee members of 5 different states in the Omaha region was appealed to referendum vote of the membership, with Victor Berger of Wisconsin leading the charge. In a referendum closing May 18, 1903, the decision of the 1903 NC plenum moving headquarters to Omaha was approved, 3734 to 2869. In a second referendum on the same ballot, Omaha was narrowly retained, when a proposition (also sponsored by Berger) to move headquarters to Chicago was narrowly defeated, 3484 to 3527. Somewhat contradictorily, a new Local Quorum was also approved by the same refrendum, 3747 to 2965, consisting of the NC members of 5 states in the Chicago region -- WI, IL, KY, IN, and IA. This was seen as a sort of "proletarianizing" of the Quorum by replacing representatives of agrarian states of the midwest and plains with those from states of a more industrial character.
[source: Social Democratic Herald, v. 6, no. 4, whole no. 251 (May 23, 1903), pg. 1] Local Quorum (from May 18, 1903)
1903 National Committee (25) The National Committee consisted of one member from each organized state. The annual meeting of the NC was held Jan. 29-Feb. 1, 1903, in St. Louis.
1903 State Secretaries
Socialist Party OfficialsThe party moved to the Boylston Building, located at 269 Dearborn Street, Chicago, about May 1904. Headquarters at the Boylston Building, located at 269 Dearborn Street, Chicago. The 1904 term began Feb. 1, 1904 and ended Feb. 1, 1905.
National Executive Secretary William Mailly National Quorum
This body was to consist of the National Committee members from 5 specific states named in a 1903 referendum. Published name of the group changed from "Local Quorum" to "National Quorum." The group seems to have met approximately once a month during 1904, generally at party headquarters in Chicago.
John M. Work (Iowa) Secretary to International Socialist Bureau George D. Herron
Socialist Party OfficialsThe SPA maintained its office in the Boylston Building, located at 269 Dearborn Street, Chicago during this period. The organization handled its business through regular mail referenda to an expanded 49 member National Committee. Another change which proved longer lasting was the move away from the 5 member "Local Quorum" to a new 7 member body called the "National Executive Committee."
National Executive Secretary J. Mahlon Barnes (Pennsylvania) J. Mahlon Barnes was elected to succeed William Mailly, with his term beginning Feb. 1, 1905. National Executive Committee (7)
An attempt was made to remove Berger from his seat by the National Committee circa May 1905 for endorsing a Republican judicial candidate for a non-partisan position in Milwaukee in a race in which there was no Socialist on the ballot. A vacancy on the NEC was declared and nominations were opened for the vacancy; Berger was again nominated, as was previous member of the National Quorum Charles Towner. The Berger removal was appealed to a referendum vote of the party membership ("Referendum A -- 1905") and Berger's status as a member of the NEC was sustained by a vote of 4,718 to 4,215.
National Committee (49) (as of May 1905) The 1905 National Committee acted in the same manner as later "National Executive Committees," handling their motions and voting by mail. The 1905 NEC was more akin to the old-style Local Quorum, meeting in person periodically. There was a certain amount of parallelism between the two institutions.
Socialist Party OfficialsNational Executive Secretary J. Mahlon Barnes (Pennsylvania) International Secretary Morris Hillquit (New York) National Executive Committee (7)
Xxxxx Xxxxxxxxx (xxx) National Committee (49)
Socialist Party OfficialsNational Executive Secretary J. Mahlon Barnes (Pennsylvania) International Secretary Morris Hillquit (New York) National Executive Committee (7)
A.M. Simons (Chicago, IL) Ernest Untermann (Grangeville, ID) John M. Work (Des Moines, IA) National Committee (66) (Increased representation for large states.) Alabama --- W.S. Baldwin (Fairhope) Arizona --- Joseph Bechtel (McCabe) Arkansas --- Wells LeFevre (Pine Bluff) California --- Lena Morrow Lewis (Norwood Park, IL) California --- L.H. Edmiston (Riverside) California --- Walter V. Holloway (Camden, NJ) Colorado --- Thomas S. Buie (Denver) Colorado --- Guy E. Miller (Hotchkiss) Connecticut --- Ernest DeWitt Hull (Naugatuck) Connecticut --- Eugene Toomey (New Haven) Florida --- A.J. Petttigrew (Manatee) Idaho --- E.L. Rigg (Rupert) Illinois --- B. Berlyn (Chicago) Illinois --- A.M. Simons (Chicago) Illinois --- Seymour Stedman (Chicago) Illinois --- John Collins (Chicago) Indiana --- J.H. Arnold (Columbia) Indiana --- J.F. Morse (Ft. Wayne) Iowa --- John M. Work (Des Moines) Iowa --- John E. Shank (Sioux City) Kansas --- A.E. Welch (Scott City) Kansas --- A.S. McAllister (Harrington) Kentucky --- Charles Dobbs (Louisville) Louisiana --- J. Van Brook (Lake Charles) Maine --- Charles L. Fox (Portland) Massachusetts --- Antoinette Kornikow (Roxbury) Massachusetts --- James F. Carey (Boston) Maryland --- Ira Culp (Vale Summit) Michigan --- Vernon F. King (Holland) Michigan --- William Wilen (Hancock) Minnesota --- Thomas J. Peach (Grand Rapids) Minnesota --- Guy Williams (St. Paul) Missouri --- G.A. Hoehn (St. Louis) Missouri --- E.T. Behrens (Sedalia) Montana --- J.F. Mabie (Fridley) Nebraska --- Dr. L. DeVore (So. Sioux City) New Hampshire --- Asa Warren Drew (Ashland) New Jersey --- James M. Reilly (Jersey City) New Jersey --- George H. Headley (Kearney) New York --- C.S. Vanderporten (Brooklyn) New York --- William W. Arland (Corning) New York --- Algernon Lee (New York City) North Dakota --- J.S. Lampman (Fargo) Ohio --- E.L. Rodgers (Dayton) Ohio --- Thomas C. Devine (Toledo) Oklahoma --- J. Hagel (Oklahoma City) Indian Territory --- G.F. Bentley (Duncan) Oregon --- C.W. Barzee (Portland) Oregon --- A.H. Axelson (Portland) Pennsylvania --- Fred L. Schwartz (Allegheny) Pennsylvania --- James A. Mauer (Reading) Pennsylvania --- Edward Moore (Philadelphia) Rhode Island --- W.A. Carpenter (Woonsocket) South Dakota --- Freeman Knowles (Deadwood) Texas --- Laura B. Payne (Tyler) Texas --- Stanley J. Clark (Grand Saline) Tennessee --- J.E. Voss (Jackson) Vermont --- J.H. Dunbar (North Hartland) Washington --- D. Burgess (Bellingham) Washington --- Emil Herman (Tacoma) West Virginia --- G.W. Gillispie (Huntington) Wisconsin --- Victor L. Berger (Milwaukee) Wisconsin --- Carl D. Thompson (Milwaukee) Wisconsin --- Frederic heath (Milwaukee) Wyoming --- D.A. Hastings (Cheyenne) Utah --- Grant Syphers (Ogden) 1907 State Secretaries [ CLICK HERE FOR COMPLETE LIST, AS OF OCTOBER 1907 ]
Socialist Party OfficialsNational Executive Secretary J. Mahlon Barnes (Pennsylvania) National Executive Committee
J.G. Phelps Stokes (New York)
1908 State Secretaries
Socialist Party Officials
National Executive SecretaryJ. Mahlon Barnes (Pennsylvania) International Secretaries (2) xxx (xxxx) xxx (xxxx) National Executive Committee (7) The 1910 election for the National Executive Committee was done by referendum of the membership using a system in which the 27 candidates were to be ranked in order of preference, with the most desireable candidate being assigned "1" and the least desireable candidate "27." Ballots not completely ranking the entire slate were discarded; the seven candidates receiving the lowest total numbers were deemed elected. A total of 10,538 valid ballots were cast.Those failing in bids for the NEC included future Socialist Party National Executive Secretaries Adoph Germer and Otto Branstetter, who finished 14th and 15th, respectively. The seven candidates elected(and their total numbers) included:
Victor L. Berger (Wisconsin) -- 122,752 James F. Carey (Massachusetts) -- 135,556 George Goebel (New Jersey) -- 129,615 Morris Hillquit (New York) -- 126,382 Robert Hunter (New York) -- 115,567 Lena Morrow Lewis (California) -- 129,312 John Spargo (Vermont) -- 126,937 Secretary, Women's National Committee Winnie Branstetter (Oklahoma City, OK)
National Committee (57) (I need to do a downloadable document!) State Secretaries (as of Jan. 1910) [ CLICK HERE FOR COMPLETE LIST ]
Socialist Party Officials
National Executive Secretary John M. Work (Iowa) International Secretaries (2) Victor L. Berger (Washington, DC) Kate Richards O'Hare (St. Louis, MO) National Executive Committee (7) Victor L. Berger (Washington, DC) Job Harriman (Los Angeles, CA) William D. Haywood (Chicago, IL) Morris Hillquit (New York City) Alexander Irvine (Los Angeles, CA) Kate Richards O'Hare (St. Louis, MO) John Spargo (Old Bennington, VT) Translator-Secretaries (7) Translator-Secretaries were officials of the SPA in charge of communicating with the various foreign language federatons affiliated with the party. One of the primary tasks of these officials was the translation of party communications into the foreign language for publication to the membership and translation of membership communications to the National Office into English -- thus the name of the position.
Bohemian --- Joseph Novak (Chicago, IL) Finnish --- J.W. Sarland (Chicago, IL) German --- Adolph Dreifuss (Chicago, IL) Hungarian --- Armin Loewy (Chicago, IL) Italian --- Joseph Corti (Chicago, IL) Jewish --- Jacob B. Salutsky (Chicago, IL) Polish --- H. Gluski (Chicago, IL) Scandinavian --- N. Juel Christensen (Chicago, IL) Slovak --- Paul Bruchtel (Chicago, IL) South Slavic --- Alex Susnar (Chicago, IL) General Correspondent, Women's National Committee Caroline A. Lowe (Chicago, IL) National Committee (83) [ CLICK HERE FOR COMPLETE LIST ]
1914-1915 Socialist Party Officials
The 1914-15 NEC was elected at the May 1914 Annual Meeting of the National Committee held in Chicago. National Executive Secretary Walter Lanfersiek (Kentucky) International Secretary Kate Richards O'Hare (St. Louis, MO) in October 1914 listed as: Morris Hillquit (New York, NY) National Executive Committee (5)
James H. Maurer (Reading, PA) J. Stitt Wilson (Berkeley, CA) George Goebel was replaced by Lewis J. Duncan (Butte, MT) by the time of the December 12-13, 1914 meeting of the NEC. 1914 National Committee (66) [ CLICK HERE FOR COMPLETE LIST ] Editor of The American Socialist J. Louis Engdahl (Chicago, IL) Manager of Literature Department Ralph Korngold (Chicago, IL) Director of Information Department Carl D. Thompson (Chicago, IL) Director of Women's Department Winnie Branstetter (Chicago, IL) Director of Young People's Department J.A. Rogers, Jr. (Chicago, IL) Language Federation Translator-Secretaries (10) This list of 10 as of July 1914... BOHEMIAN (CZECH) FEDERATION -- xxxx FINNISH FEDERATION -- J.A. Sarlund GERMAN FEDERATION -- xxxx HUNGARIAN FEDERATION -- Armin Loewy ITALIAN FEDERATION -- xxxx JEWISH FEDERATION -- xxxx POLISH FEDERATION -- Hipolit Gluski SCANDINAVIAN FEDERATION -- xxxx SLOVAK FEDERATION -- xxxx SOUTH SLAVIC (YUGOSLAV) FEDERATION -- xxxx 1914 State Secretaries [ CLICK HERE FOR COMPLETE LIST, AS OF APRIL & OCT. 1914 ] The Socialist Party maintained its National Office at 803 W Madison Street, Chicago, IL.
1915-1916 Socialist Party Officials The 1915-16 NEC was elected on the last day of the May 9-11, 1915 Annual Meeting of the National Committee held in Chicago. This was the last time that the NEC was selected by the NC, the 1915 gathering deciding to return NEC voting to the rank and file through referendum election, terms to henceforth begin each July 1.
Election to the NEC required a majority of votes cast, with lowest candidate cast out each ballot. Order of election was: Germer (2nd ballot); Maurer & Seidel (3rd ballot); Goebel (7th ballot); LaSueur (8th ballot). The last non-elected candidate was C.E. Ruthenberg, who lost to LeSueur on the 8th ballot by a margin of 40-12.
National Executive Secretary Walter Lanfersiek (Kentucky) National Executive Committee (5) Adolph Germer (Mt. Olive, IL) George Geobel (Newark, NJ) James H. Maurer (Reading, PA) Walter LeSueur (Fort Scott, KS) Emil Seidel (Milwuakee, WI) 1915 National Committee (65) [ CLICK HERE FOR COMPLETE LIST ] Editor of The American Socialist J. Louis Engdahl (Chicago, IL) Director of Young People's Department William F. Kruse (Chicago, IL) Language Federation Translator-Secretaries (15) BOHEMIAN (CZECH) FEDERATION -- Joseph "Joe" Novak FINNISH FEDERATION -- J.F. Maki FRENCH FEDERATION -- Joseph Ricard GERMAN FEDERATION -- Adolph Dreifuss HUNGARIAN FEDERATION -- Armin Loewy ITALIAN FEDERATION -- John LaDuca JEWISH FEDERATION -- I.B. Bailin LETTISH (LATVIAN) FEDERATION -- Gerard Bernhard LITHUANIAN FEDERATION -- Joseph V. Stilson The Lithuanian Socialist Federation affiliated circa June 1, 1915. POLISH FEDERATION -- P. Mazurkiewicz RUSSIAN FEDERATION -- Alexander E. Menson SCANDINAVIAN FEDERATION -- N. Juel Christensen SLOVAK FEDERATION -- Paul Bruchtel SOUTH SLAVIC (SLOVENIAN/CROATIAN) FEDERATION -- Frank Petrich UKRAINIAN FEDERATION -- Jacob Fedushko 1915 State Secretaries [ CLICK HERE FOR COMPLETE LIST, AS OF MARCH 1915 ] The Socialist Party maintained its National Office at 803 W Madison Street, Chicago, IL. The Literature Dept. and the Lecture Bureau were merged with the Executive Departement and the Information Department was discontinued on Nov. 9, 1915 by mail vote of the National Committee on NC Motion No. 29, proposed by Kate Sadler of Washington. The reason for this change was ostensibly financial, economic belt-tightening in the face of declining membership numbers -- although there was certainly resentment among Left Wing members of the party towards the Information Department headed by Carl D. Thompson, which no doubt helped drive forward the restructuring.
1916-18 Socialist Party Officials Elected by membership vote for a 2 year term, terms beginning July 1, 1916. The March 1917 Emergency National Convention at St. Louis adopted constitutional revisions which ended the National Commiittee and expanded the NEC to 15 members elected from 5 geographic districts, effective with the end of the current NEC's term.
National Executive Secretary Adoph Germer (Chicago, IL) International Secretary Morris Hillquit (New York, NY) National Executive Committee Victor L. Berger (Milwaukee, WI) Morris Hillquit (New York, NY) Anna A. Maley (New York, NY) John Spargo (Old Bennington, VT) Spargo resigned from the NEC and Party over its anti-war stance circa June 7, 1917. John M. Work (Chicago, IL) Language Federation Translator-Secretaries (15) BOHEMIAN (CZECH) FEDERATION -- FINNISH FEDERATION -- J.F. Maki FRENCH FEDERATION -- GERMAN FEDERATION -- HUNGARIAN FEDERATION -- ITALIAN FEDERATION -- JEWISH FEDERATION -- LETTISH (LATVIAN) FEDERATION -- Otto Purin LITHUANIAN FEDERATION -- Joseph V. Stilson POLISH FEDERATION -- RUSSIAN FEDERATION -- Alexander Stoklitsky SCANDINAVIAN FEDERATION -- N. Juel Christensen SLOVAK FEDERATION -- L. Puttner SOUTH SLAVIC (YUGOSLAV) FEDERATION -- UKRAINIAN FEDERATION -- Paul H. Ladan
1918-19 Socialist Party OfficialsNational Executive Secretary Adoph Germer (Illinois) International Secretary Morris Hillquit (New York) National Executive Committee (15)
Abraham Shiplacoff (New York) -- District 1 Seymour Stedman (Illinois) -- District 3 Alfred Wagenknecht (Ohio) -- District 2
Language Federation Translator-Secretaries (15) BOHEMIAN (CZECH) FEDERATION -- FINNISH FEDERATION -- Henry Askeli FRENCH FEDERATION -- GERMAN FEDERATION -- HUNGARIAN FEDERATION -- Leo Frankl ITALIAN FEDERATION -- JEWISH FEDERATION -- LETTISH (LATVIAN) FEDERATION -- Otto Purin LITHUANIAN FEDERATION -- Joseph V. Stilson POLISH FEDERATION -- Joseph Kowalski RUSSIAN FEDERATION -- Alexander Stoklitsky SCANDINAVIAN FEDERATION -- N. Juel Christensen SLOVAK FEDERATION -- L. Puttner SOUTH SLAVIC (YUGOSLAV) FEDERATION -- George Selakovich
1919 "Pro Tem" Officials The Socialist Party held an election for a new National Executive Committee early in 1919 -- an election which was abrogated by the sitting NEC on the grounds of alleged vote fraud. The insurgent Left Wing Section nevertheless tallied the votes for officers and for NEC members as best they were able, based on the returns of counts by 26 State Secretaries. The following were declared elected by the Left Wing Section:
National Executive Secretary, pro tem Alfred Wagenknecht (Cleveland, OH) International Secretary Kate Richards O'Hare (St. Louis, MO) International Delegates Louis C. Fraina (Boston, MA) John Reed (New York, NY) C.E. Ruthenberg (Cleveland, OH) Alfred Wagenknecht (Cleveland, OH) National Executive Committee (15) Dennis E. Batt (Detroit, MI) Dan Hogan (AR) Louis C. Fraina (Boston, MA) Kate Sadler Greenhalgh (Seattle, WA) Fred Harwood (Newark, NJ) Nicholas Hourwich (New York, NY) Ludwig E. Katterfeld (Cleveland, OH) John Keracher (Detroit, MI) Edward Lindgren (New York, NY) William Bross Lloyd (Chicago, IL) Mary Raoul Millis (Atlanta, GA) Patrick Nagel (OK) Marguerite Prevey (Akron, OH) C.E. Ruthenberg (Cleveland, OH) Harry M. Wicks (Portland, OR)
The outgoing National Executive Committee whose term was to end in 1919 set aside the results of the 1919 party elections and continued in office up to the time of the National Emergency Convention held in Chicago on August 30. That Convention (contrary to the provisions of the party constitution) named a "Temporary" or "Provisional" National Executive Committee which was to serve until such time as the 1920 Convention or until a new NEC was elected by the party membership in referendum vote.
National Executive Secretary Adolph Germer resigned his post effective "Saturday, October 11, 1919, or sooner if the NEC can make arrangements to have a successor take over the affairs of the National Office" with a letter send to the "provisional" NEC on September 17, 1919.
It was this provisional NEC which elected Otto Branstetter as the Executive Secretary of the organization.
1919-20 Socialist Party Officials National Executive Secretary Otto Branstetter "Provisional" National Executive Committee (7) William M. Brandt (St. Louis, MO) John Hagel (Oklahoma City, OK) William H. Henry (Indianapolis, IN) Edmund T. Melms (Milwaukee, WI) James Oneal (New York, NY) George E. Roewer Jr. (Boston, MA) Oliver C. Wilson (Chicago, IL) Alternates: Algernon Lee (NY),. John Doerfler Jr. (WI), Victor Anella (MA), John Shaw (IL), Birch Wilson (PA), Martin F. Plunkett (CT), Charles Sehl (PA).
Board of Appeals (7) The Board of Appeals was established by the 1919 Convention as a mechanism for checking the arbitrary authority of the Central Executive Committee. This institution (borrowed from the structure of the early Socialist Labor Party) was established to hear charges in cases of suspensions of Federations and state organizations.
Oscar Ameringer (Milwaukee, WI) S. John Block (New York, NY) O.G. Crawford (Pennsylvania) Daniel Hoan (Milwaukee, WI) William F. Kruse (Chicago, IL) Jacob Panken (New York, NY) Eugene Wood (New York, NY) From the 1920 Convention forward, Socialist Party Officials were to be elected by annual conventions of the organization, generally held in the late spring. Thus the term of office ran from the time between one convention and the next, splitting years. A Board of Appeals was established as a safeguard to the action of the National Executive Committee with regards to suspensions and expulsions.
1920-21 Socialist Party Officials National Executive Secretary Otto Branstetter International Delegates Algernon Lee (New York) Joseph E. Cohen (???) James Oneal (New York) National Executive Committee William M. Brandt (St. Louis, MO) John Hagel (Oklahoma City, OK) William H. Henry (Indianapolis, IN) Bertha H. Mailly (New York, NY) Edmund T. Melms (Milwaukee, WI) James Oneal (Brooklyn, NY) George E. Roewer Jr. (Boston, MA) Alternates: Thompson, Tucker, Stephens, Stump, Plunkett, Toole, Solomon. Board of Appeals Jacob Panken, Chairman (New York, NY) S. John Block, Secretary (New York, NY) Oscar Ameringer (Milwaukee, WI() O.G. Crawford (Pennsylvania) Daniel Hoan (Milwaukee, WI) William F. Kruse (Chicago, IL) Eugene Wood (New York)
1921-22 Socialist Party Officials National Executive Secretary Otto Branstetter National Executive Committee William M. Brandt (Missouri) Julius Gerber (New York) William Henry (Indiana) Lillith Martin (Indiana) James H. Maurer (Pennsylvania) Edmund T. Melms (Wisconsin) James Oneal (New York) Language Federation Translator-Secretaries FINNISH FEDERATION -- ITALIAN FEDERATION -- JEWISH SOCIALIST ALLIANCE -- LITHUANIAN FEDERATION -- YUGOSLAV FEDERATION --
1922-23 Socialist Party Officials
Elected by the April-May 1922 Cleveland Convention. National Executive Secretary Otto Branstetter Otto Branstetter submitted his resignation at the Feb. 24-25, 1923 meeting of the National Executive Committee, to take effect not later than the 1923 annual convention of the party. He stayed at his post until 1924, however, with Bertha Hale White serving as "Assistant Executive Secretary" until she assumed the full post on Feb. 9, 1924.
National Executive Committee Victor L. Berger (Wisconsin) William H. Henry (Indiana) Morris Hillquit (New York) James H. Maurer (Pennsylvania) Edmund T. Melms (Wisconsin) George E. Roewer Jr. (Massachusetts) B. Charney Vladeck (New York) Birch Wilson (Pennsylvania) International Secretary Morris Hillquit (New York) International Delegates Victor L. Berger (Wisconsin) Morris Hillquit (New York) Language Federation Translator-Secretaries FINNISH FEDERATION -- ITALIAN FEDERATION -- JEWISH SOCIALIST ALLIANCE -- LITHUANIAN FEDERATION -- YUGOSLAV FEDERATION --
1923-24 Socialist Party Officials National Executive Secretary (until Feb. 9, 1924) Otto Branstetter Otto Branstetter submitted his resignation as National Executive Secretary for a second time on Feb. 1, 1924, effective at the National Executive Committee meeting of February 9. He was replaced in the role by Bertha Hale White, formerly the "Assistant National Executive Secretary" of the party.
National Executive Secretary (from Feb. 9, 1924) Bertha Hale White (Chicago, IL) National Executive Committee Eugene V. Debs (Terre Haute, IN) William M. Brandt (St. Louis, MO) Leo M. Harkins (Philadelphia, PA) Morris Hillquit (New York, NY) Edmund T. Melms (Milwaukee, WI) William R. Snow (Chicago, IL) Birch Wilson (Buffalo, NY) National Director, YPSL Albert Weisbord (Boston, MA) Language Federation Translator-Secretaries FINNISH FEDERATION -- A.N. Reivo ITALIAN FEDERATION -- JEWISH SOCIALIST ALLIANCE -- LITHUANIAN FEDERATION -- YUGOSLAV FEDERATION -- Charles Pogorelec
1924-25 Socialist Party Officials
The Socialist Party maintained its National Office at 2653 Washington Blvd., Chicago in this period. National Executive Secretary Bertha Hale White (Chicago, IL) National Chairman Eugene V. Debs (Terre Haute, IN) National Executive Committee Victor L. Berger (Milwaukee, WI) John M. Collins (Chicago, IL) Leo M. Harkins (Philadelphia, PA) Morris Hillquit (New York, NY) James H. Maurer (Harrisburg, PA) George E. Roewer, Jr. (Boston, MA) Joseph W. Sharts (Dayton, OH) International Secretary Morris Hillquit (New York, NY) National Director, YPSL Albert Weisbord (Boston, MA) -- through Nov. 1924 Aarne J. Parker (Fitchburg, MA) --after Nov. 1924 Aarne J. Parker was designated the acting National Director of the Young People's Department via a November 1924 action of the NEC of the Socialist Party. He was formally voted in by the next regular convention of the YPSL and this decision reconfirmed by the NEC in January 1925.
Language Federation Translator-Secretaries BOHEMIAN (CZECH) FEDERATION -- FINNISH FEDERATION -- ITALIAN FEDERATION -- JEWISH SOCIALIST ALLIANCE -- LITHUANIAN FEDERATION -- YUGOSLAV FEDERATION --
1925-26 Socialist Party Officials National Executive Secretary Bertha Hale White Bertha Hale White resigned her position on Nov. 4, 1925 on account of her health and was replaced by George Kirkpatrick on a temporary basis. Acting National Executive Secretary (from Nov. 4, 1925) George Kirkpatrick International Secretary Morris Hillquit (New York, NY) National Executive Committee Eugene V. Debs (Terre Haute, IN) -- chairman Victor L. Berger (Milwaukee, WI) John M. Collins (Chicago, IL) Leo M. Harkins (Philadelphia, PA) Morris Hillquit (New York, NY) James H. Maurer (Harrisburg, PA) George E. Roewer Jr. (Boston, MA) Joseph W. Sharts (Dayton, OH) Language Federations BOHEMIAN [CZECH] SOCIALIST FEDERATION -- James Brantner (Cicero, IL) FINNISH SOCIALIST FEDERATION -- William N. Reivo (Fitchburg, MA) ITALIAN SOCIALIST FEDERATION -- V. Buttis (Chicago, IL) JEWISH SOCIALIST ALLIANCE -- N. Chanin (New York, NY) LITHUANIAN FEDERATION -- Paul Miller (Chicago, IL) YUGOSLAV FEDERATION -- Charles Pogorelec (Chicago, IL) Seven regional weekend conventions of the Socialist Party were during the summer of 1925 in an effort to revitalize the party organization: Cleveland (May 30-31); Minneapolis (June 20-21); St. Louis (July 4-5); Los Angeles (July 25-26); San Francisco (Aug. 1-2); Chicago (Aug 29-30); and New York (Sept. 19-20).
National Director, YPSL Aarne J. Parker (Fitchburg, MA)
1925 State Secretaries [ CLICK HERE FOR COMPLETE LIST, AS OF MAY 1925 ]
1926-28 Socialist Party Officials National Executive Secretary William H. Henry (Indiana) National Chairman (until Oct. 20, 1926) Eugene V. Debs (Terre Haute, IN) Debs died on Oct. 20, 1926; his largely ceremonial position of "Chairman" of the party was then filled by Victor L. Berger. National Chairman (after Oct. 20, 1926) Victor L. Berger (Wisconsin) International Secretary Morris Hillquit (New York, NY) National Executive Committee (7) Victor L. Berger (Milwaukee, WI) James D. Graham (Montana) Morris Hillquit (New York, NY) James Oneal (Brooklyn, NY) Joseph W. Sharts (Dayton, OH) William R. Snow (Illinois) William J. Van Essen (Pennsylvania) National Director, Young People's Department Aarne J. Parker (Fitchburg, MA) Language Federation Translator-Secretaries BOHEMIAN FEDERATION -- FINNISH FEDERATION -- ITALIAN FEDERATION -- JEWISH SOCIALIST ALLIANCE -- LITHUANIAN FEDERATION -- YUGOSLAV FEDERATION -- 1928-30 Socialist Party Officials National Executive Secretary (until Aug. 15, 1929) William H. Henry William H. Henry resigned as National Secretary in May 1929. He was replaced on August 15, 1929, by the 27 year old Clarence O. Senior.
National Executive Secretary (from Aug. 15, 1929) Clarence O. Senior
National Chairman (until Aug. 7, 1929) Victor L. Berger (Milwaukee, WI) Death of Victor L. Berger died Aug. 7, 1929, from injuries suffered after being struck by a streetcar. Berger was 69 years old at the time of his death.
National Chairman (after Aug. 7, 1929) Morris Hillquit (New York, NY) International Secretary Morris Hillquit (New York, NY) National Director, Young People's Department Aarne J. Parker (Fitchburg, MA) National Executive Committee (Seven members, in addition to Chairman Berger and International Secretary Hillquit) Daniel W. Hoan (Milwaukee, WI) James H. Maurer (Harrisburg, PA) Jasper McLevy (Connecticut) James Oneal (New York, NY) George E. Roewer Jr. (Boston, MA) (Roewer subsequently left the NEC and was replaced by Alfred Baker Lewis.) Joseph W. Sharts (Dayton, OH) Lillith Wilson (Pennsylvania)
1930-32 Socialist Party Officials National Executive Secretary Clarence O. Senior
National Chairman Morris Hillquit (New York) International Secretary Morris Hillquit (New York) National Chairman, Young People's Socialist League of America Julius Umansky (xxxx) National Executive Committee (8) Meta Berger (Milwaukee, WI) Danial Hoan (Milwaukee, WI) Alfred Baker Lewis (Massachusetts) James H. Maurer (Harrisburg, PA) Jasper McLevy (Connecticut) -- old guard James Oneal (Brooklyn, NY) -- old guard Joseph W. Sharts (Dayton, OH) -- old guard Lilith M. Wilson (Pennsylvania) -- old guard
1932-34 Socialist Party Officials
Elected by the 17th National Convention, Milwaukee, May 1932. National Executive Secretary Clarence O. Senior
National Chairman (until Oct. 7, 1933) Morris Hillquit (New York) Morris Hillquit died on October 7, 1933. He was succeeded in the ceremonial role of National Chairman by Leo Krzycki. National Chairman (after Oct. 7, 1933) Leo Krzycki (Wisconsin) International Secretary Morris Hillquit (New York) National Chairman, Young People's Socialist League of America xxx (xxxx) National Executive Committee (10) Albert Sprague Coolidge (Massachusetts) -- militant James D. Graham (Montana) -- old guard Powers Hapgood (Indiana) -- militant Daniel Hoan (Wisconsin) -- m.o.r. anti-old guard Darlington Hoopes (Pennsylvania) -- progressive Leo Krzycki (Wisconsin) -- progressive Jasper McLevy (Connecticut) -- old guard John C. Packard (California) -- old guard Norman Thomas (New York) -- progressive Lilith Wilson (Pennsylvania) -- old guard
NEC Alternates (5)
Al Benson (Milwaukee, WI)
Paul Blanshard (New York, NY) John M. Collins (Chicago, IL) James Oneal (New York, NY) Herman F. Neissner (New Jersey)
1934-36 Socialist Party Officials
Elected by the 18th National Convention, Detroit, May 1934. National Executive Secretary Clarence O. Senior -- progressive
National Chairman Leo Krzycki (Wisconsin) -- progressive International Secretary xxx (xxx) National Chairman, Young People's Socialist League of America Ernest Erber (Illinois) -- militant, neo-Trotskyist National Executive Committee (10) Albert Sprague Coolidge (Massassachusetts) -- progressive Franz Daniels (xxx) -- militant James D. Graham (Montana) -- old guard Powers Hapgood (Indiana) -- progressive Daniel Hoan (Wisconsin) -- m.o.r. anti-old guard Darlington Hoopes (Pennsylvania) -- progressive Maynard Krueger (Wisconsin) -- militant James Oneal (Brooklyn, NY) -- old guard Michael Shadid (Oklahoma) -- militant Norman Thomas (New York) -- progressive 1936-38 Socialist Party Officials
Elected by the 19th National Convention, Cleveland, May 1936. National Executive Secretary Clarence O. Senior -- progressive Senior resigned in December 1936 and was replaced effective 12/15/36 by Roy E. Burt, another Norman Thomas protege. Roy E. Burt (Illinois) -- progressive
National Chairman Norman Thomas (New York) -- progressive Vice Chairman Powers Hapgood (Indiana) -- progressive Organization and Labor Secretary Frank N. Trager (xxx) National Chairman, Young People's Socialist League of America Ernest Erber (Illinois) -- militant, neo-Trotskyist Erber exited during the split of the Trotskyists in the middle of 1937, to be replaced by Al Hamilton. Al Hamilton (???) National Executive Committee (10) Albert Sprague Coolidge (Massassachusetts) -- progressive Franz Daniels (xxx) -- militant Max Delson (New York) -- militant Powers Hapgood (Indiana) -- progressive Daniel Hoan (Wisconsin) -- m.o.r. anti-old guard Darlington Hoopes (Pennsylvania) -- progressive Maynard Krueger (Wisconsin) -- militant Max Raskin (Wisconsin) -- ??? George Rhodes (Pennsylvania) -- ??? Norman Thomas (New York) -- progressive At the time of the 1938 National Convention, the NEC consisted of: Devere Allen (Connecticut) Muirray Baron (New York) Albert Sprague Coolidge (Massassachusetts) Max Delson (New York) David H.H. Felix (Pennsylvania) John Fisher (Illinois) Howard Kester (Tennessee) Maynard Krueger (Wisconsin) Walter Polakowski (Wisconsin) Max Raskin (Wisconsin) Ward Rodgers (Tennessee) Frank Trager (New York) 1938-40 Socialist Party Officials
Elected by the 21st National Convention, Kenosha, WI, April 1938. National Executive Secretary Roy E. Burt (Illinois) Burt resigned early in April 1939 and was replaced by Travers Clement by the NEC at is April 15-17, 1939 meeting at Detroit. Travers Clement (California)
National Chairman Norman Thomas (New York City) Vice Chairman John Fisher (Gillespie, Illinois) National Labor Secretary Arthur G. McDowell (Chicago, Illinois) National Chairman, Young People's Socialist League of America Al Hamilton (New Jersey) National Executive Committee (11) Devere Allen (Connecticut) Travers Clement (Los Gatos, California) David H.H. Felix (Philadelphia, Pennsylvania) Maynard Kreuger (Chicago, Illinois) Harry Laidler (New York City) Frank McAllister (St. Petersburg, Florida) Paul Porter (Milwaukee, Wisconsin) Max Raskin (Milwaukee, Wisconsin) Roy Reuther (Detroit, Michigan) Ward Rodgers (Denver, Colorado) Gus Tyler (New York City) NEC Alternates (5) Gerry Allard (Springfield, Illinois) Allard seems to have been promoted to the NEC when Travers Clement was made Executive Secretary in April 1939. Lee Morgan (Ohio) Ben Fischer (New York) Sam Baron (New York) Harry Miller (Wisconsin)
1940-42 Socialist Party Officials
Elected by the 22nd National Convention, Washington, DC, April 1940. National Executive Secretary Travers Clement (California)
National Chairman Norman Thomas (New York City) Vice Chairman David H.H. Felix (Philadelphia, Pennsylvania) National Labor Secretary Arthur G. McDowell (Chicago, Illinois) National Chairman, Young People's Socialist League of America Judah Drob (???) National Executive Committee (8) Also sitting on the NEC were the Chairman, Vice Chairman, Executiv e Secretary, Labor Secretary, YPSL Secretary Jeffrey Campbell (Massachusetts) Maynard Kreuger (Chicago, Illinois) Harry W. Laidler (New York City) Aaron Levenstein (New York) Frank McAllister (St. Petersburg, Florida) Paul Porter (Milwaukee, Wisconsin) Frank N. Trager (New York City) Leonard Woodcock (Michigan) NEC Alternates (5) Gerry Allard (Springfield, Illinois) -and editor of The Socialist Call Ben Fischer (Michigan) Al Hamilton (New Jersey) Robert Parker (Ohio) Harry Fleischman (Illinois) Carle Whitehead (Colorado)
This page (a work in progress) constructed by Tim Davenport.Please contact me with corrections or questions.
The URL of this page is http://www.marxisthistory.org/subject/usa/eam/spaofficials.html
