The Socialist National Standard Bearers
The Socialist National Standard Bearers NORMAN THOMAS la nation ally known as a leader in the Socialist and labor movement in thia country. He is the author of a number of books and pamphlets,...
...Thomas in now suing for false arrest, asking $100,000 damages...
...Thomas has taken part in many free speech tights on labor's behalf, twice submitting to arrest and both times winning vindication at the hands of the law...
...We have now reached a stage in the decline of capitalism that even Socialists never foresaw...
...Released on bail, be was never brought to trial...
...He never served himself, he gave himself wholly to his class and in return he won their admiration, the devotion and their affection...
...Who would have ever predicted that...
...Prom that day to this every ounce of his energies was given to Socialism and the labor movement He served sixteen years as president of the State Federation of Labor, he served six years in the Pennsylvania Assembly and four years aa Finance Commissioner of his city...
...His father was a clergyman, as was his grandfather...
...When be was a boy, "I liked to loaf around the cinder-bank," he once said, "and listen to the yarns of the professional bums as they told me of their travels...
...His church connections kept him in constant contact with social work on which he placed great emphasis...
...He fathered tbe old age pension movement, be is a world-renowned expert on tbe subject of social legislation, he has traveled widely abroad as a student of labor conditions, and he is recognised as one of the ablest, the simplest and tbe sincerest man in public life In this country...
...Then began a career of work that included working in factories, cramping, even working as a comedian oa too stage...
...In many instances this property is useless to those who receive it...
...Previous to that he had frequently taken sides with labor on controversial issues...
...James Hudson Maurer was bora in poverty, he lived face-to-face with dire poverty and degradation, he worked hard and he worked himself up by sheer merit and courage, but the difference from the usual "success" story is that he worked himself up to a place of influence, of usefulness and of importance in the service of -bis .fellow-workers...
...Thomas was bora November 20, 1884, in Marion, Ohio...
...It has displayed more concern for big capitalist enterprises that are plunging into the red but even many of the half-wits...
...Let the apologists of capitalism defend these absurdities if they can...
...When the famous Passaic textile strike of 1926 broke out, Mr...
...Tbe property becomes a burden, a useless incumbrance which saps the vitality of tile new owner...
...It was not until he was 16 yuan old that he learned to road and write...
...There are many instances of owners of buildings and factories who are having them torn down...
...After attending the grammar and high schools of Marion, Mr...
...There la only one thing worse than a church party and that M OM that tries to be all things to all men...
...In 1911 he was graduated from the Union Theological Seminary with the degree of B. D. Before entering...
...He belped to organise the American Union against Militarism and the Fellowship of Reconciliation...
...la 1901 he ran for office for tbe first time, and poked 101 votes for Controller...
...Thomas' career as a Socialist and liberal laborite began 14 years ago...
...Thomas is a director of the League for Industrial Democracy, member of the executive Committee of the Civil Liberties Union, member of the Executive Commit tee of the American Fund for Paw-He Service, Chairman of the Emergency Committee for Strikers' Relief, Associate Editor of "The Nation" and "The New Leader," author of "The Conscientious Objector" for which the late Senator Robert M. LaFollette wrote an introduction, author of the "Challenge of War," and "What Is Industrial Democracy," and editor of the "New Tactics in Social Conflicts," and "Prosperity...
...The bank that takes over a farm cannot sell it and cannot farm it...
...And on has 16th birthday he Joined tbe labor la Ike Populist days he ran a paper called "The Kicker," and later he becasse a Socialist...
...Thomas was one of its staunchest supporters...
...the Union Theological Seminary, Mr...
...He mounted a tree and began addressing a large crowd of strikers...
...During the New Tork municipal elections of 1917, he supported a Socialist—Morris HHkrult...
...It is true that tbe Socialist party should not be a okarch with a fixed creed and a set of migiaa That would be to assume aa attitude of fixity la a constantly changing world...
...Through the Civil Liberties Union, he hired a lot near Passaic...
...Thomas soon after this Hill quit campaign, severed Ms connections with the church...
...He is the author of a number of books and pamphlets, and numerous magazine articles, interpreting current American economic problems...
...Ho was a working plumber at the time, and he was giving a groat deal of time to Socialism...
...This strike will be remembered for the violence against strikers and newspapermen practiced by the local police...
...He had spoken but a few minutes, when his meeting was broken up and he was placed under arrest Thomas spent the night in Hackensack, New Jersey, County Jail...
...Since then his record has been one of continuous fighting for better international relations, civil liberties, municipal reforms, strike relief and trade unionism...
...A Crazy Property System rlAT the depression is becoming worse Is apparent from the changing view of Congress...
...In those days, there were no compulsory education laws, no truant officers, no child labor laws, no mother's pensions...
...He was born in Reading, the city that he has brought so much distinction to, April 15, 1864, and he is therefore now 68 years old...
...Not old structures but substantial buildings...
...Thomas believed this action was illegal...
...Thomas made a round the world tour during which he had an opportunity to familiarise himself with national and racial problems abroad...
...Both on religious and economic grounds, he courageously opposed American entrance in the World War...
...With all my heart I protest against a system la which the lapdogs of the rich are the social superiors Of the children of the poor - Eugene V. Debs...
...He became a member of the local public school board and carried on widespread welfare activities for the poor and needy in his district...
...Wo never anticipated that owners of important forma of property would deliberatefy destroy them...
...Imagine this continuing on an ever expanding scale and we could forecast the capitalist class destroying its own buildings upon which its rule of society is based...
...He was the Socialist candidate for president in 1928...
...1 So here is a new phase of the most remarkable depression that has occurred in the history of capitalism...
...Thomas read the Declaration of ta dependence to them by candle light...
...Street Neighborhood House, a settlement in the heart of the New Tork tenement district Ha took up hie residence in Bast* Harlem there to become pastor of the Hast Harlem Presbyterian Church and head of the Federated Presbyterian agencies oa the upper Bast Bide, at that time populated by workers...
...Let us have aelther the church nor the kraut band, but a living and growing movement ever maintaining consistency in fundamentals and yet questioning our own position as Is required by' a changing world...
...He is of Pennsylvania Dutch ancestry, the son of .the official lamp-lighter of the city...
...of New Tork City, each time polling a lareg vote...
...They understand that something must be done to feed, house and clothe the starving masses...
...Maurer is no longer a young man...
...Meetings had been forbidden...
...So we have bills in Congress that are intended to bring some relief to the workers and farmers...
...The Socialist National Standard Bearers NORMAN THOMAS la nation ally known as a leader in the Socialist and labor movement in thia country...
...Thomas entered Princeton where he was graduated in 1905 at the age of 20 with the degree of Bachelor of Arts...
...More recently be has published "America's Way Out" and "As I See It" rE story of James H. Maurer, named for the second time for Vice-President on the Socialist ticket, is a typical American success story, but with a big difference...
...Socialists have been charged with dekiring to destroy property and capitalists themselves destroy it...
...Undeterred, Mr...
...If there is anything more insane than this we would like to have it called to our attention...
...Littlie Jimmie began his working career at the age of six as a bare-foot newsboy...
...Except for a few members tbat body has never exhibited any deep concern for the suffering masses...
...It M hke a kraut band which presents the aspect of 0 unit but emits discordant notes that reveal Mo true character...
...During the serious unemployment of 1914, he and his wife in cooperation with the Union Settlement ran one of the largest unemployment workrooms in the city...
...To this may be added the fact that farm property and much middle class property is passing into the hands of upper sections of the capitalist class...
...During the earlier textile strike of 1919, the police toned sat the lights M the hall where be was iwMraasMg the striker...
...It is merely further evidence that capitalistic property has difficulty to survive in its own regime...
...He joined the Socialist Party in 1918, and, in the short spaee of 10 years, has become one of its outstanding leaders...
...now recognize that it is five minutes to twelve...
...This is actually occurring...
...Unable to pay taxes on this property and unable to sell it the owners have it destroyed so that it will not continue to be a white elephant . on their hands...
...who made an historic race far Mayor...
...He has been a candidate, on the Socialist ticket, for Governor of New Tork State and Mayor...
...My one great ambition was that some day I too might grow up to be a bum...
...In 1906 and 1MT he was a worker in the Sprint...
Vol. 13 • May 1932 • No. 22
