The Socialist Labor Party of America (SLP) is the oldest socialist political party in the United States that advocated Marxism^[1] and the second oldest socialist party in the world. Socialism is a social and economic system (or the political philosophy advocating such a system) in which the economic means of production are owned and controlled collectively by the people. ... “Political Parties” redirects here. ... Marxism is both the theory and the political practice (that is, the praxis) derived from the work of Karl Marx and Friedrich Engels. ...

Origins

The party was founded in Newark, New Jersey, in 1876 as the Workingmen's Party of America. Renamed in 1877, the SLP was a confederation of small Marxist parties from throughout the United States, becoming the first nationwide Socialist party. It was especially strong in New York City where there was a very large community of German immigrants^[1]. Nickname: Map of Newark in Essex County County Founded/Incorporated 1666/1836 Government  - Mayor Cory Booker, term of office 2006–2010 Area [1]  - City 67. ... Year 1876 Pick up Sticks(MDCCCLXXVI) was a leap year starting on Saturday (link will display the full calendar) of the Gregorian Calendar (or a leap year starting on Thursday of the 12-day slower Julian calendar). ... 1877 (MDCCCLXXVII) was a common year starting on Monday (see link for calendar). ...

At about the same time, another similarly-named organization, the Workingman's Party was formed in San Francisco, California under the leadership of drayage proprietor Dennis Kearney. The main purpose of this group was summed up by the slogan, "the Chinese must go!". In 1881 a radical anarchist-oriented section left the party and formed the Revolutionary Socialist Labor Party. RSLP was at one point larger than SLP. The Workingmans Party was a California labor organization led by Dennis Kearney in the 1870s. ... San Francisco redirects here. ... Dennis Kearney (1847–1907) was a California political leader in the late 19th century, known for his anti-immigrant political views toward Chinese immigrants. ... Year 1881 (MDCCCLXXXI) was a common year starting on Saturday (link will display the full calendar) of the Gregorian calendar (or a common year starting on Thursday of the 12-day slower Julian calendar). ... Revolutionary Socialist Labor Party, a radical split from the Socialist Labor Party in the USA. RSLP was formed in 1881 by anarchist-oriented elements of the SLP that had rallied around a Revolutionary Clubs. In 1883 it merged with other anarchist groups to form the International Working Peoples Association. ...

In 1886, the SLP took an active part in the New York City Mayoralty campaign of Henry George, who lost to Abram S. Hewitt ^[1]. Henry George Henry George (September 2, 1839 – October 29, 1897) was an American political economist and the most influential proponent of the Single Tax on land. ... Abram Stevens Hewitt (1822 – 1903) was a teacher, lawyer, an iron manufacturer, U.S. Congressman, and a mayor of New York City. ...

In 1890, the SLP came under the leadership of Daniel De Leon, a lawyer who lectured at Columbia Law School until he quit to devote himself full time to the SLP. Since then, the SLP has adhered to the form of Marxism known as DeLeonism. One of the reforms that DeLeon was responsible for was the establishment of English as the official language of the Party — German had previously been the majority language^[1]. De Leon was famously approvingly referred to by Lenin. The Socialist Labor Party fielded its first slate of Presidential Electors in 1888, winning 2,068 votes. Simon Wing, the SLP's first nominee for President (1892) received 21,163 votes. Daniel de Leon Daniel De Leon (December 14, 1852 – May 11, 1914) was a Curaçao-born American socialist and Syndicalism-influenced trade unionist of Jewish origin. ... Columbia Law School, located in the New York City borough of Manhattan, is one of the professional schools of Columbia University, a member of the Ivy League, and one of the leading law schools in the United States. ... Marxism is both the theory and the political practice (that is, the praxis) derived from the work of Karl Marx and Friedrich Engels. ... Developed by Daniel De Leon, Marxism_Deleonism is a form of Marxism. ... 1892 (MDCCCXCII) was a leap year starting on Friday (see link for calendar). ...

Early 20th century developments

De Leon's opponents, (Primarily German-Americans, Jewish immigrants of various origins, and Trade Unionists^[1]) led by Morris Hillquit, left the SLP in 1901 and fused with Eugene V. Debs' Social Democratic Party and formed the Socialist Party of America. In a dispute that took place in the Second International, concerning the entry of the French socialist Alexandre Millerand into the French government, and the possibility of winning reforms through parliamentary action, the SLP firmly opposed the supporters of reformism. Therefore they and others in a similar position became known as Impossibilists. Today the term is still sometimes used with reference to the SLP and the Socialist Party of Great Britain although the two parties differ politically on a number of issues and have no connection. Morris Hillquit (1869-1933) was a prominent Socialist and labor lawyer and leader in New York Citys Lower East Side in the early twentieth century. ... Year 1901 (MCMI) was a common year starting on Tuesday (link will display calendar) of the Gregorian calendar (or a common year starting on Monday [1] of the 13-day-slower Julian calendar). ... Eugene Victor Debs (November 5, 1855 – October 20, 1926) was an American labor and political leader, one of the founders of the International Labor Union, the Industrial Workers of the World (IWW), and five-time Socialist Party of America candidate for President of the United States. ... The Social Democratic Party (SDP) is a former political party operating in the United States. ... The Socialist Party of America (SPA) is a socialist political party in the United States. ... The phrase Second International has two meanings: For the international association of socialist parties of the late 19th century, see Second International (politics) and a successor organization, the Socialist International For one of the Merriam-Webster dictionaries of American English, see Websters New International Dictionary, Second Edition This is... Alexandre Millerand (February 10, 1859 - April 7, 1943) was a French socialist politician. ... Socialist Reformism is the belief that gradual democratic changes in a society can ultimately change a societys fundamental economic relations and political structures. ... Arguing against capitalism, Speakers Corner, October 31, 2004 The Socialist Party of Great Britain, also known as the SPGB, is a small Marxist party, which is emphatically not Leninist. ...

Despite often being condemned for its supposed sectarianism the SLP carried out work in the trade unions and its members were active in the Knights of Labor. With the collapse of the Knights SLP members were instrumental in setting up a small union federation in opposition to the American Federation of Labor in part because the AFL refused to organise the vast unskilled majority of the working class. This led to De Leon writing as to the need for what he called Socialist Industrial Unions which he speculated would not only defend the working class but would form part of the future socialist society. Sectarianism refers (usually pejoratively) to a rigid adherence to a particular sect or party or religious denomination. ... Knights of Labor seal The Knights of Labor, also known as Noble and Holy Order of the Knights of Labor, was founded by seven Philadelp tailors in 1869, led by Uriah S. Stephens. ...

Perhaps the greatest impact the SLP and De Leon had was when they took part in the founding of the Industrial Workers of the World in 1905. However before too long they had fallen out with the element that they termed 'the bummery' and left to form their own rival Industrial Workers of the World based in Detroit. De Leon died in 1914^[1], and thus this WIIU was to lose its central focus. This body would soon be renamed the Workers International Industrial Union and declined into little more than SLP members. The WIIU was wound up in 1924. The Industrial Workers of the World (IWW or the Wobblies) is an international union currently headquartered in Cincinnati, Ohio, USA. At its peak in 1923 the organization claimed some 100,000 members in good standing, and could marshal the support of perhaps 300,000 workers. ... The Workers International Industrial Union (WIIU) was a De Leonist political international active in the United States, Canada, Britain and Australia. ... The Workers International Industrial Union (WIIU) was a De Leonist political international active in the United States, Canada, Britain and Australia. ...

Later history

With the death of De Leon, the SLP, always critical of both the Soviet Union and of the Socialist Party's "reformism," has been isolated from the majority of the American Left^[1], and that isolation seems to be ever-increasing^[1].

The party experienced two growth spurts in the twentieth century. The first occurred in the late 1940s. The presidential ticket, which had been receiving 15,000 to 30,000 votes, increased to 45,226 in 1944. Meanwhile, the aggregate nationwide totals for U.S. Senate nominees increased during this same period from an average in the 40,000 range to 96,139 in 1946 and 100,072 in 1948. The party's fortunes began to sag during the early 1950s, and by 1954 the aggregate nationwide totals for U.S. Senate nominees was down to 30,577.

Eric Hass became influential in the SLP in the early 1950s. Hass, the nominee for President in 1952, 1956, 1960, and 1964, played a major role in rebuilding the SLP. He authored the booklet "Socialism: A Home Study Course" which was well-received. Hass increased the party's nationwide totals and recruited many local candidates. His vote for President increased from 30,250 in 1952 to 47,522 in 1960 (a 50% increase). Although his total slipped to 45,187 in 1964, Hass outpolled all other third party candidates - the only time this happened to the SLP. Aggregate nationwide totals for U.S. Senate nominees increased throughout the late 1960s, hitting 112,990 in 1972. Eric Hass was a four-time candidate for United States President of the Socialist Labor Party of America. ...

The increased interest in the SLP in the late 1960s was not a permanent growth spurt. New recruits subscribed to the anti-authoritarian views of the time and wanted their voices to have an equal status with the old-time party workers. Newcomers felt that the party was too controlled by a small clique, resulting in widespread discontent. In 1976, the SLP nominated its last Presidential candidate and has run few campaigns since then. Year 1976 Pick up sticks(MCMLXXVI) was a leap year starting on Thursday (link will display full calendar) of the Gregorian calendar. ...

In 1980, members of the SLP in Minnesota, claiming that the party had become bureaucratic and authoritarian in its internal party structure, split from the party and formed the New Union Party. The New Union Party (NUP), was originally formed in 1974 as the New Unionists, several of whom had been members of Section Minneapolis of Socialist Labor Party of America (SLP). ...

They recently have been having trouble funding their newspaper, The People. Publication frequency was changed from monthly to bi-monthly in 2004, but continued.

The science fiction writer Mack Reynolds was an active member of the SLP and his fiction often deals with socialist reform and revolution as well as socialist Utopian thought. Science fiction is a form of speculative fiction principally dealing with the impact of imagined science and technology, or both, upon society and persons as individuals. ... Reynolds Mission to Horatius (1968), the first original novel based on the television show Star Trek Mack Reynolds (Dallas McCord Reynolds) (November 11, 1917 - January 30, 1983) was an American science fiction writer. ... See Utopia (disambiguation) for other meanings of this word Utopia, in its most common and general meaning, refers to a hypothetical perfect society. ...

Presidential candidates

• 1892 - Simon Wing
• 1896 - Charles H. Matchett
• 1900 - Joseph F. Malloney
• 1904 - Charles H. Corregan
• 1908 - August Gillhaus
• 1912 - Eugene V. Debs
• 1916 - Arthur E. Reimer
• 1920 - William Wesley Cox
• 1924 - Frank T. Johns
• 1928 - Verne L. Reynolds
• 1932 - Verne L. Reynolds
• 1936 - John W. Aiken
• 1940 - John W. Aiken
• 1944 - Edward A. Teichert
• 1948 - Edward A. Teichert
• 1952 - Eric Hass
• 1956 - Eric Hass
• 1960 - Eric Hass
• 1964 - Eric Hass
• 1968 - Henning A. Blomen
• 1972 - Louis Fisher
• 1976 - Jules Levin

August Gilhaus, American Socialist. ... Eugene Victor Debs (November 5, 1855 – October 20, 1926) was an American labor and political leader, one of the founders of the International Labor Union, the Industrial Workers of the World (IWW), and five-time Socialist Party of America candidate for President of the United States. ... Arthur Elmers Reimer was a United States Socialist, member of the Socialist Labor Party of America. ... William Wesley Cox (1865-October 29, 1948) was a Presidential Vice-Presidential and perennial U.S. Senate candidate of the Socialist-Labor Party. ... Eric Hass was a four-time candidate for United States President of the Socialist Labor Party of America. ... Eric Hass was a four-time candidate for United States President of the Socialist Labor Party of America. ... Eric Hass was a four-time candidate for United States President of the Socialist Labor Party of America. ... Eric Hass was a four-time candidate for United States President of the Socialist Labor Party of America. ... Henning A. Blomen was a candidate for United States President of the Socialist Labor Party of America in 1968 and for Vice President of the United States in 1964. ... Louis Fisher (March 20, 1913 — November 28, 2001) was the Socialist Labor Party of America candidate for United States President in the 1972 Presidential election and he was the partys top vote-getting presidential candidate. ... Julius Jules Levin (born 3 February 1922, died 16 May 1988) was the Socialist Labor Party of America candidate for United States President in the 1976 Presidential election; his running mate was Constance Blomen. ...

See also

• Arm and Hammer
• List of political parties in the United States
• Socialist Labour Party (1903-1980)
• Socialist Studies

Arm and Hammer (actually, Arm & Hammer) is a registered trademark of Church and Dwight, an American manufacturer of household products. ... Federal courts Supreme Court Circuit Courts of Appeal District Courts Elections Presidential elections Midterm elections Political Parties Democratic Republican Third parties State & Local government Governors Legislatures (List) State Courts Local Government Other countries Atlas  US Government Portal      This list of political parties in the United States contains past and present... The Socialist Labour Party was a socialist political party in the United Kingdom. ... Socialist Studies was a series of publications published by the Socialist Labor Party of America. ...

References

1. ^ ^{a b c d e f g h} Kenneth T. Jackson: The Encyclopedia of New York City: The New York Historical Society; Yale University Press; 1995. P. 1083.

Sources

• Frank Girard and Ben Perry, Socialist Labor Party, 1876-1991: A Short History, 108 pages (1 May 1991, Livra Books) ISBN 0-9629315-0-0.
• L. Glen Seratan, Daniel Deleon: The Odyssey of an American Marxist, (1979,Harvard University Press) ISBN 0-674-19121-8.
• from bound volume #8 of Workers Vanguard,(Spartacist Publishing, Box 1377 GPO, New York, NY 10116):
  • "Was De Leon a DeLeonist?" and "SWP Invites SLP to Build Party of the Whole Swamp," 10 February 1978 Workers Vanguard #192
  • "The SLP and the Russian Question" and letter from former SLPer 24 February 1978 Workers Vanguard #194
  • "The Dictatorship of the Proletariat," 10 March 1978 Workers Vanguard #196

is the 121st day of the year (122nd in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1991 (MCMXCI) was a common year starting on Tuesday (link will display the 1991 Gregorian calendar). ... Also: 1979 by Smashing Pumpkins. ... The Harvard University Press is a publishing house, a division of Harvard University, that is highly respected in academic publishing. ... The International Communist League (Fourth Internationalist), popularly referred to as the Spartacist League and by its critics as The Sparts, is a Trotskyist international organisation based primarily in the United States. ... is the 41st day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1978 (MCMLXXVIII) was a common year starting on Sunday (link displays the 1978 Gregorian calendar). ... is the 55th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... March 10 is the 69th day of the year (70th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ...

External links

• Socialist Labor Party of America official website. Retrieved April 26, 2005.
• The People official bimonthly paper of the SLP. Retrieved April 26, 2005.

SLP Publications

• Bulletin of the Socialistic Labor Movement Vol 1. No. 14 Dec-Jan 1881
• Socialism and Anarchism: Antagonistic Opposites PDF document. First published as a pamphlet by the National Executive Committee of the Socialistic Labor Party, New York, 1886. Republished on line at Early American Marxism website. Retrieved May 3, 2005.

• The Socialist Movement: Brief Outline of its Development and Differences in This Country PDF document. Published as "Arm and Hammer Pamphlet no. 2" by the Socialist Labor Party, 1915. Republished on line at Early American Marxism website. Retrieved April 26, 2005.

• Brandon, Joseph. The Workers Party vs. The Socialist Labor Party PDF document. First published in The Weekly People, Aug. 1, 1925. Reprinted as "Arm & Hammer Pamphlet no. 8", 1925. Republished on line at Early American Marxism website. Retrieved April 26, 2005.

• Reynolds, Verne L. The Party’s Work PDF document. Published as a pamphlet by the Socialist Labor Party, 1925. Republished on line at Early American Marxism website. Retrieved April 26, 2005.

Non-SLP links

• Cresswell, Stephen. A Socialist Treasure Trove: Cache of Cards from the Socialist Labor Party'. Issue 20 of Buttons and Ballots, in Winter 1999.

• Ellis, Ken. Left Wing Lies: What a Worker Found in his Quest for a Definition of Socialism. A highly critical polemic on the SLP in the 1970s by a former party staffer. Retrieved August 12, 2005.