The industrial republic: a study of the America of ten years henceSinclair, Upton
History
The industrial republic: a study of the America of ten years hence
Sinclair, Upton
Socialism -- United States; United States -- Economic conditions -- 1865-1918; United States -- Social conditions -- 1865-1918
1st of the same year, the general strikes for the eight-hour work-day
broke out in various parts of the country. In 1884, Laurence Gronlund
published his “Coöperative Commonwealth.” In 1888 Edward Bellamy
published his “Looking Backward,” and it had a wonderful effect upon the
people. The editions ran into hundreds of thousands.”
The author then goes on to narrate his version of the Pullman strike of
1893. He declares that the American Railway Union, of which he was
president, had won, when the General Managers’ Association caused the
swearing in of “an army of deputies,” whom the Chief of Police of
Chicago declared to be “thieves, thugs and ex-convicts,” and that it was
these men who caused the violence which led to President Cleveland’s
action, and the breaking of the strike. He then continues the story of
the Socialist movement. _The Coming Nation_, started at Greensburg,
Indiana, by J. A. Wayland, in 1893, was the first popular propaganda
paper to be published in the interests of Socialism in this country. It
reached a large circulation, and the proceeds were used in founding and
developing the Ruskin coöperative colony in Tennessee. Later Mr. Wayland
began the publication of the _Appeal to Reason_, and it now numbers its
subscribers by the hundreds of thousands. It is not saying too much for
the _Appeal_ that it has been a great factor in preparing the American
soil for the seed of Socialism. Its enormous editions have been and are
being spread broadcast, and copies may be found in the remotest recesses
and the most inaccessible regions. The periodical and weekly press, so
necessary to any political movement, is now developing rapidly, and
there is every reason to believe that within the next few years there
will be a formidable array of reviews, magazines, illustrated journals,
and daily and weekly papers to represent the movement and do battle for
its supremacy. The last convention of the American Railway Union was the
first convention of the Social Democracy of America, and this was held
in Chicago, in June, 1897, the delegates voting to change the railway
union into a working-class political party. _The Railway Times_, the
official paper of the union, became the _Social-Democrat_, and later the
_Social-Democratic Herald_, and is now published at Milwaukee in the
interest of the Socialist Party. Since the election of 1900, there has
been greater activity in organising, and a more widespread propaganda
than ever before. In the elections of the past, it can scarcely be
claimed that the Socialist movement was represented by a national party.
It entered these contests with but few states organised, and with no
resources worth mentioning to sustain it during the campaign. It is far
different to-day. The Socialist Party is organised in almost every state
and territory in the American Union. Its members are filled with
enthusiasm and working with an energy born of the throb and thrill of
revolution.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
Reviews
Reviews
No reviews yet
Be the first to share your thoughts on this work.
Join the Discussion
Join the discussion
Sign in to leave a comment or review.
Sign InorCreate an account