Socialists Sweep in Reading
Hofses, Raymond S.
By Raymond S. Hofses Socialists Sweep in Reading Hoopes and Mr*. Wilson Re-elected to Legislature — Magnificent Straight Vote for Socialism. D HADING, Pa. — Darlington *V Hrrpes and Lilith M....
...The net result of the election is the establishment of the Socialists an a permanent factor in local politics...
...the bulk of the $3,942,764,614 the Government spends this year is in the nature of fixed charges that cannot be touched, and that if such a cut was to be made, appropriations for the army and navy would have to be seriously affected...
...The fourteenth anniversary of the Armistice that ended ths "last" war is a good lime to re> member...
...Old Party Combine Seen Soon after the early precincts reported their totals it became evident that the old parties had resorted to a last-minue combination as the only method of keeping the Socialists from sweeping Berks County...
...The prophecy which the election foretells is that the entire county is ready to swing with ths city in the elections of the future...
...In the 16th A. D. Harry Haskel repeated his achievement of last year in running' second for Assembly, both years defeating the Republican candidate...
...Morris Rosenbaum, 2nd A. D...
...Every nation (except forcibly disarmed Germany) is spending more money today on armaments than ever before...
...This sentiment will be there after election day...
...The gigantic and unprecedentedly large mass meetings indicate to me, more than anything else, receptivity to our appeal, availability for our organization, our party...
...The Congressional vote in Reading was: Hofses (S...
...and Republicans gave their support to Richardson, the Democratic candidate for Congress...
...I know also that the reason for this is that we lacked'the organization with which adequately to exploit extraordinarily favorable opportunities for Socialist building...
...I do not know what our vote will be, and frankly I do not think it is of foremost importance...
...The United States is spending this year (836,940,302 for "security" against a broken and bankrupt world, and not even the desperate state of the national finances was permitted to stand in the way of that enormous expenditure...
...EVANSTON, 111...
...The Socialists are elated at the relatively solid vote that was cast, and strong organisation results are confidently expected...
...Even with that last-minute tactic, the old party politicians were forced to wait until a late hour before daring to announce that the Socialists had been defeated for county offices...
...Organize...
...Socialists Celebrate Throughout the entire night members and friends of the Socialist Party crowded the party headquarters and cheered the figures which resulted in the re-election of their | state lawmakers...
...By Charles Solomon If We Do Not Organize, Our Efforts Are Wasted I AM writing this before the re* turns beging coming in...
...With but one precinct missing out of 78 city districtej&the totals for the Socialist legislative candidates were: Hoopes...
...Under the vigorous leadershin of Km 11 Bromberg and Joseph Tuvim, the campaign set a high in Socialist enthusiasm...
...We cannot achieve results or success without it unless there is a tidal wave in our direction...
...11,711 Wilson______ 10,260 Howard Dippery, the high Republican candidate who was runner-up for the Socialist legislative candidates, had 10,097 votes, and there is no possibility of bridging the gap which separated him from election...
...In addition, the Reading Socialists have been conducting a radio campaign for the past year which has educated thousands of people as to the real 'character of the Capitalist system...
...The vote for State Senate was Williams (S...
...Indeed, so effectively have the Socialists assailed the supremacy of the old parties that it is probable that they will not risk a future election without resorting to open combination throughout Berks County, as they combined in Reading a year ago...
...Richards (D...
...In the final week of the campaign the Democrats secured the services of one Grady who had been an engineer in Soviet Russia until ordered out of the Soviet Republic...
...and we should not sit around •nd wait 'for tidal waves...
...Norton (R...
...Vladeck Polls Record Vote in Brooklyn District •yHK largest Socialist vote for * any district candidate was polled for B. C. Vladeck, candidate for Congress in the 8th District, taking in the 2nd, 9th and 16th A. D.t the largest congressional district in the state, with a population of close to a million and 265,000 registered voters...
...10,893...
...There was not a meeting in which I urged joining the party, and pointed out the necessity for doing so, in which this appeal did not result in a substantially increased party membership...
...Harry Haskel, 16th A. D.J "7 11,442 4,019 The 8th C. D. campaign wai one of the most spirited in the city...
...That the Socialists maintained their standing aa the strongest political party in Reading in the face of audi attacks testifies to the effectiveness of the party's year 'round educational activities...
...Vladeck received 32,668 votes, as compared with 23,662 in 1980...
...The election was one of the most hotly contested in the history of Reading...
...Grady spoke of the "horrors" of "Socialism" under Soviet rule and warned the people that Russia'is an example of what might be expected here if the Socialists gain power...
...Darlington *V Hrrpes and Lilith M. Wilson were re-elected to the General Assembly of Pennsylvania in an election which swept every city oflue into the Socialist columns and swelled the party's totals in rural Berks beyond any previous election figures...
...11,144...
...Months before last Tuesday the Socialists began their drive for votes in a campaign which carried the Socialist message to every city and county...
...However, both Hofses and Williams were defeated by narrow margins by the underground fusion of Republican and Democratic votes in the rural districts...
...Another speaker who joined the Democratic ranks was Daniel F. McKenna, a prominent official of the Knights of Columbus, who charged the Socialists with wishing to destroy religion, the constitution and the flag...
...9,783...
...Isn't It dreadful," said the wife of a prominent Northwestern University professor, "that there should be so much unemployment Just when we have the depression to contend with...
...Otherwise, all the enthusiasm notwithstanding, I have my doubts...
...12,808 Charles Kanowits, In ths 16th A. I), the Republican polled 9,898 vote...
...Ringler (D...
...What I do know is this: Whatever it is it will not be as large as it should and could have been...
...FOURTEEN YEARS AFTER 'PHIS striking drawing by 0. * Grosz, the brilliant German artist who has taken up his abode in the United States, is a grim reminder to the world fourteen years after the close of the "last" war...
...The three Socialist Assembly candidates in the district polled the following votes Wm...
...In all probability it will grow...
...And that was the end of Roosevelt'* »uggettiont that there might be economy I The danger of war is REAL...
...The local party alto published a monthly propaganda paper called "The Pioneer" which waa distributed monthly to every home in the city and county for the past 12 month...
...With a vast territory to cover, the party workers in Bensonhurst, Mid wood, Brighton Beach, Coney Island, Bay Ridge, Borough Park, Sheepahead Bay and sections of Brownsville and Canarsie, Gerritson Beach and other places, dug in with a will and distributed three quarters of a million pieces of literature...
...11,358...
...Rhodes (R...
...Vote Grew in Rural Berks While the vote in the rural sections was sufficiently anti-Socialist to win for the old party candidates, practically every section surrounding Reading showed an increase in the former recordbreaking Socialist votes...
...Big Thosaas and Manrer Vote The city vol* for Thomas and Maurer with one precinct missing was 8,476, as against 11,067 for Hoover and 9,777 for Roosevelt...
...We have splendid workers, unequalled candidates, inspired propagandists, seething enthusiasm...
...At the time and in the same district William M. Feigenbaum received 27,156 votes for State Senator, as compared with 18,910 two years ago...
...As high as 60 meetings in a single week were held in city and rural communities...
...Democrats were instructed to vote for Norton (R...
...9th A. D...
...There was not a meeting that I addressed la this campaign where there wag not a ready and enthusiastic response to the appeal for party organization...
...So I urge upon you to Identify yourself with the Socialist party, to maVe it stronger, richer in human and financial resources, so that we may go forward to the full exploitation of the great opportunity Immediately available, and the still greater opportun ties that lie directly ahead...
...As far as I am concerned, if my candidacy has contributed to the realization of this goal, it has beeti worth while...
...That the party should carry the city in a presidential election was considered the most decisive victory yet achieved by the Reading Socialists...
...The significance of this vote can not be understood without knowing about the desperate efforts which the employing class of Reading and their political tools made to lead the votera astray on false issues...
...What we lack and must have if we are to get anywhere are organizers and organisation...
...We must do one thing before anything else—build our party...
...8,963...
...And war is not a parade with bands and flags and pretty girls —it is death...
...ran a poor third...
...Raymond S. Hofses, editor of the Reading "Labor Advocate" and for the past five years a member of the School Board of Reading, received the high vote for Congress in the city ano Miles N. Williams, candidate for State Senate, also defeated the Democratic and Republican candidates in the city...
...Meetings were held in all the schools and halls, and countless street meetings and rallies were held...
...Indeed, when President-elect Roosevelt in hia campaign suggested a 25% cut in national expenditures his warmest newspaper supporters pointed out tha...
Vol. 14 • November 1932 • No. 20
