Hellraisers Journal: Convention of Social Democracy of America Ends in Fracture; Debs, Keliher, Mailly, and Others Bolt

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Hellraisers Journal, Monday June 13, 1898
Chicago, Illinois – Debs Rejects Utopian Colonization Scheme

The Social Democracy of America was founded just one year ago in the same city where now that party is torn asunder as the result of a bitter disagreement between those who prefer to purchase themselves a refuge from the oppression of Capitalism and those who are willing to remain in thick of the fight against the forces of Capitalism.The latter group of Socialists includes Eugene Debs who has always and ever stood shoulder to shoulder with working class men, women and children,-injunctions, gunthugs, and prison bars be damned.

From The Chicago Chronicle of June 12, 1898:

Debs Goes Out:
Social Democracy is Split into Two Factions

Eugene V. Debs left the Social Democracy of America, which he founded and of which he was President, at 2:30 o’clock yesterday morning [June 11th] and the men who seceded under his leadership formed the Social Democratic Party of America. In one year’s experience he had determined that the colonization scheme which he had fathered was chimerical and that political action should be the purpose of the organization. When the convention in Ulhich’s Hall, after a night of bitter debate, upheld colonization by a vote of 52 to 36, Debs and his followers walked out and in the Revere House organized a new society and adopted a new platform.

While the old Social Democracy will embark at once on the establishment of its first cooperative community in the mining industry at Green Mountain Falls, Colorado, the Social Democratic Party will confine its work to propagating the principles of socialism by the use of the ballot. The division extends to the old leaders. Of the men who were imprisoned in Woodstock Jail in consequence of the great railroad strike of 1894 E.V. Debs and Sylvester Keliher are in the seceding faction, while W.E. Burns, James Hogan, Roy Goodwin, and J.F. Lloyd adhere to the old party. In both organizations the officers are new, but the former leaders are the ruling spirits.

Form a New Party.

The Debs faction opened its meeting at 3 o’clock, and at daybreak organization had been effected and a plan of work outlined. The final session was held at Hull House, where a platform was adopted and committees were appointed. The leaders claim 4,000 members left the Social Democracy for the new organization.

In the meeting at Hull House at 10 o’clock speakers denounced the Uhlich’s Hall contingent as anarchists and paid henchmen of political parties. Feeling ran so high that when a resolution to decorate the anarchists’ graves at Waldheim was introduced, which Delegate [James F.] Carey fought steadfastly, it was not considered.

Jesse Cox was made temporary chairman and William Mailly secretary. The following Executive Committee was appointed: E.V. Debs, Seymour Stedman, Victor Berger, Jesse Cox, and Fred Heath. It was announced that Mr. Debs would be unable to act as chairman owing to other duties. Secretary Keliher was reported as a delegate, but was not present. Details of organization were left to the Executive Committee, and A.S. Edwards was selected as national organizer.

Platform in Two Divisions.

The platform of the new party is in two divisions, one for application in cities and the other for farmers.

* * *

The new party has the representatives of 66 branches of the old organization in the New England states, New York, Tennessee, Wisconsin, Colorado, and Missouri. A national central committee was appointed consisting of one delegate from each state. It was instructed to secure headquarters in a city other than Chicago.

The convention adjourned sine die.

———-

Plan to Form a Colony:
Last Session of Social Democracy Convention
is Bitter and Busy

The secession caused gloom in Uhlich’s Hall, where the Social Democracy met for its last session yesterday morning [June 11th]. Of the supporters of political activity Secretary Keliher alone was present. He wished to reply to remarks impugning his honesty made Friday [June 10th]. Vice President [William E.] Burns was in the chair. Secretary Keliher in answering James Hogan’s accusation in regard to the purchase of 50,000 membership cards, said they had been bought at the lowest possible figure for an organization without credit. The secretary said Hogan had been given as large an allowance as the finances of the organization permitted. He declared he had held as secretary a thankless position for years and had tried to do all his work conscientiously.

Secretary Keliher had a letter from Edwards, Deutsch, and Heitman, who printed the cards, which corroborated his statements. The letter said the extra work on charters and cards not contracted for amounted to the difference between the agreed price and the larger amount paid for the order. The firm says no commission was paid the secretary.

The statements of Secretary Keliher did not satisfy the delegates, and when he announced his intention of resigning there was a clamor. Delegate Frank shouted that he was resigning because he knew he could not gain reelection. Secretary Keliher left the hall.

In the report of the committee on constitution Chairman Frank said the new constitution differs from the original in several particulars. Instead of central authority vested in one man the election of an Executive Council of nine members is provided for. Three organizations, economic, political, and educational, are made. Each commission may select its own headquarters and the whole council will decide upon national headquarters. The constitution also declares against amalgamating with any political body.

The Colonization Commission again outlined its plan to establish a mining colony at Green Mountain Falls, Colorado. This was adopted. An Executive Council was elected as follows: J.F. Lloyd, James Hogan, Isaac Frank, Col. Richard J. Hinton, Leroy Goodwin, L.L. Hopkins, J.C Borlund, Cyrus Field Willard, and G.C. Clemens. No chairman was chosen, this being left to the decision of the council. Vice President Burns had declared his intention to refuse and office, and his name was not offered. He said, however, he is heart and soul with the colonization platform and will work for its success.

Some ill feeling was felt among the colonizationists when it was announced that James Hogan had frustrated an attempt of the opponents to dispose of the furniture of the organization. Delegate [Seymour] Stedman of the seceders tried to foreclose on $40 due him by having a constable remove the furniture from the Social Democracy headquarters. A warrant for this purpose was obtained in Justice Bowman’s court and the constable had taken out a desk and a typewriter when Mr. Hogan came. The claim of $40 was paid and the property restored. Most of the delegates left the city in the evening for their homes

From The Buffalo Express of June 8, 1898:

DEBS OPPOSES WAR
—–
Social Democracy Friendly to Spain.
—–

RANTS ABOUT CAPITALISTS
—–

NOTORIOUS EX-CONVICT CLAIMS HE HAS 10,000 FOLLOWERS
IN THIS COUNTRY WHO ARE OPPOSING THE WAR
FOR HUMANITY AND LIBERTY.
—–

Special to The Buffalo Express.

Chicago, Ill., June 7.-Eugene V. Debs is not for war. For once he is arrayed on the peace side, although the notorious labor leader is not for peace at any price, and has different reasons from the others on that side of the fence for his stand.

When the annual convention of the Social Democracy of America assembled this morning in Uhlich’s Hall, Debs looked about him.

[He said:]

So far as I know, not one of the 10,000 members of the Social Democracy
has enlisted to fight in this war.

Then he explained. A year ago Debs declared he was for war-but it was to be a war of labor against capital. Now that an international war has been declared, he is against it, because he thinks the wrong men will be killed. Incidentally, he paid his respects to President McKinley’s co-adjutators who are conducting the war.

[He said:]

Social Democrats are against war. The socialists of America have friendly relations with those of Spain, and do not cherish the slightest enmity toward them. Communications of friendship have passed between them, not officially, but as individuals.

This is not a war of humanity—far from it. It is true that people have been starving in Cuba by the thousands, but why? The original cause is because the capitalists of Spain and of this country ground them down and enslaved them to add to their wealth. We pitied them, and declared war ostensibly to save them from starvation. What do we do? Do we send food to relieve them, and do we kill off the capitalists who are responsible for the condition?

No; we establish a blockade so that more of the reconcentrados are starved than ever, leaving scarcely any by the time get down into Cuba to do anything for them. We send over a fleet to capture the Philippines, and we give a lot of contractors a chance to grow richer than ever equipping the army.

We send a lot of workingmen down to kill a lot of Spanish workingmen who had nothing to do with creating the conditions and are in no way responsible for them. Meanwhile, the capitalists grow fat on the situation. They lend money, secure valuable concessions, and altogether have a pleasant time out of it all.

If the people want to relieve the starving, why don’t they begin at home? I can show them thousands of men in the coal camps and in other parts of America who lack food for themselves and their families. Why don’t the people take care of them?

There is only one remedy, and that is Social Democracy. I don’t believe in taking a man’s personal property, but I do believe that all the means of production should be used for the common good—each man doing his share of the work and receiving his share of the returns.

The first annual convention of the Social Democracy of America, since its foundation from the remains of the American Railway Union, a year ago, was opened in its birthplace, Uhlich’s Hall, today.

From The Chicago Daily Tribune of June 9, 1898:

DEBS’ PROTESTS ARE IGNORED.
—–
Social Democracy Convention Adopts Motions
Opposed by Its Chief Executive Officer
—–

President [Chairman] Debs at yesterday’s session of the Social Democracy convention reiterated his refusal to accept any office in the organization. At the morning session he seemed to be losing his hold on the body, as two motions were passed in spite of his protest. The eleven Chicago delegates objected to by Secretary Keliher were seated by vote of the convention, and it was also decided to give a delegate a vote for every branch he represented. These motions were carried after considerable violent argument, in which the Secretary was severely criticised.

The general sentiment of the convention seemed to be working around to the colonization scheme, and the political faction was in the minority for a time. It was decided to grant home rule to local branches in political matters.

The afternoon was devoted to the selection of committees. The Platform committee, the most important, is largely in favor of political action and it is believed it will have a material effect on the sentiment of the convention.

[Mr. Debs said:]

I have been in this work a long time and I want a rest.

The Democracy can get on just as well, and I shall work as a private in the ranks. But before that I shall have a vacation—perhaps go to Europe. It is not consistent with our ideas to elect a President and other officers. The government will probably be left to an Executive board. But I shall not even belong to that. I shall accept no office of any kind.

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1897 Circular of The Social Democracy of America:

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SOURCES

Debs Internet Archive, 1898
(Check out Archive links below for notes which accompanied the articles.)
https://www.marxists.org/archive/debs/index.htm#1898

Chicago Chronicle
(Chicago, Illinois)
-June 12, 1898
https://www.marxists.org/archive/debs/works/1898/980612-chicagochronicle-twoconventions.pdf

The Buffalo Express
(Buffalo, New York)
-June 8, 1898
https://www.newspapers.com/image/345247920/
https://www.marxists.org/archive/debs/works/1898/980607-debs-introductoryremarks.pdf

The Chicago Daily Tribune
(Chicago, Illinois)
-June 9, 1898
https://www.newspapers.com/image/349853988/
https://www.marxists.org/archive/debs/works/1898/980608-debs-declinationofoffice.pdf

IMAGES
EVD, SDA Fdg Conv, Chg 6-15-97, wiki, Chg Chc, June 16, 1897
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Social_Democracy_of_America
SDA Flyer re National Co-operative Commonwealth, after June 15, 1897
-Published in the back of Robert Blatchford, Merrie England, “Social Democracy Edition.” Chicago: Charles H. Kerr & Co., 1897
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Social_Democracy_of_America

See also:

The Bending Cross
A Biography of Eugene Ve Debs
-by Ray Ginger
Haymarket Books, 2007
(See page 197-199, for SDA Convention of 1898, and Founding of SDP.)
http://ouleft.org/wp-content/uploads/TheBendingCross_BiographyofDebs.pdf
This is a must-have book, and can be purchased Here:
https://www.haymarketbooks.org/books/839-the-bending-cross

Social Democracy of America, 1897-1900
(Scroll down to list of names-with links-for more info on
many of the individuals mentioned above.)
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Social_Democracy_of_America

Declaration of Principles of The Social Democracy of America:
Adopted at the Special Convention
Held Under the Auspices of the American Railway Union,
-June 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, and 21, 1897.
by Social Democracy of America
https://archive.org/details/DeclarationOfPrinciplesOfTheSocialDemocracyOfAmericaAdoptedAtThe

Debs Internet Archive, 1897
https://www.marxists.org/archive/debs/index.htm#1897

Social Democratic Party of America, 1898-1901
(Scroll down to helpful list of names-with links-for more info.)
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Social_Democratic_Party_of_America

Merrie England
-by Robert Blatchford
Clarion Office, 1896
(Sadly, 1897 edition seems not to be available for full view.)
https://books.google.com/books?id=hqFjtQEACAAJ

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