1. The First Workers' Congress
(Continuing from here.)
…Unlike the old system, where a President would nominate his cabinet to be approved by the Senate, the commissars would be elected in a competitive race in the House after nomination by the Chamber or the existing Central Committee (which consisted solely of Premier Debs and Deputy Premier Jones). With the SLP wielding a majority in both houses, however, only SLP candidates had a real shot at the nomination. The only wartime Commissar to not return was Daniel DeLeon, whose health was once again on the decline. He was replaced as Commissar for Industry by William Trautmann[1]…
…The summer of 1920 would also bring about a new set of Commissariats. The Commissariat for the Treasury under Fred Hardy[2] would oversee government finances (although the GDC had had a treasurer since its inception. The Commissariat for the Interior under Joe Hill[3] would oversee natural resources and protecting the environment, as well as deal directly with the commonwealths…
…There was some controversy around the idea of a Commissariat for Labor. Many thought that labor relations issues would be handled by the industrial unions. Representative Sam Rayburn (P-TX) brought progressive support to the idea that the executive branch needed to check the IUs and ensure that they were fairly representing all of their members. Under Commissar Frances Perkins[4], the Commissariat for Labor would also assist with the transition to a cooperative model of business…
…In the short term, however, the most important of the Commissariats would be the one tasked with rebuilding the nation. Some among the Progressives believed that a temporary commission should be empaneled, not a permanent addition to the Central Committee. The RSP, on the other hand, pushed vociferously for a Commissariat, pointing to longstanding issues in urban housing. This was echoed by many African-American representatives and delegates, who added their concerns about housing in minority communities. The result was the Commissariat for Housing under Preston Taylor[5]…
…Theoretically, the 1st Workers’ Congress had the SLP in the majority while the Progressives led the opposition with the RSP and Federalists. In practice, the RSP often sided with the SLP. Both Speaker of the House Victor Berger (SL-WI)[6] and General Secretary of the Chamber Benjamin Schlesinger (SL-TLW)[7][8] sought to prevent the RSP from finding common cause with the Progressives. Berger also appealed to the Rayburnites who made up the left wing of the Progressive Party.
…The 1st Workers’ Congress was also noteworthy for something it refused to do. Absent from the original ASU Code passed by the GDC were any restrictions on immigration. During the war and immediately after it, America had seen more people leaving than entering for the first time in its history. Some wanted to bring back restrictions on immigration, particularly progressives from the West Coast who were concerned about Californians. However, the high proportion of immigrants among the SLP (including both the Speaker and the General Secretary) led to a rather forceful rejection of any limits. The Border Control Act of 1920 did establish the American Customs Service to prevent illicit goods or individuals believed to be dangerous (mostly suspected spies) from entering the country, but anyone who was not specifically barred could enter the American Socialist Union and work immediately…
- From A New Union: A Political History of the American Socialist Union by Hillary Rodham
[1] IOTL, Trautmann was the founding general secretary of the IWW. ITTL, he was elected to Congress from Pennsylvania, then became Governor, and finally took command of the Army of Manhattan during the Revolution after Bronstein was promoted to command the Red Army.
[2] Both IOTL and ITTL, Hardy served as general secretary-treasurer of the IWW. ITTL, his term included the Second American Revolution.
[3] IOTL, Joe Hill was a famous IWW activist and songwriter. ITTL, after avoiding his OTL death, he led Red troops in Utah during the Second American Revolution.
[4] IOTL, Frances Perkins was a key organizer of the International Ladies Garment Workers Union after the Triangle Shirtwaist Factory Fire, and later became the first woman to be appointed to a position on the US Cabinet, serving as Secretary of Labor under FDR. ITTL, she was radicalized by the failure of the New York State government to push strong reforms after the fire and became Debs’ running mate in the 1912 election.
[5] IOTL, Taylor was a prominent African-American preacher and community leader in Nashville. ITTL, he ends up leading the Army of Memphis after the Memphis Uprising.
[6] IOTL, Victor Berger served three nonconsecutive terms in the House of Representatives from Wisconsin and was the first Socialist in Congress. ITTL, he is reelected until the Revolution (and also afterwards). He was born in Austria.
[7] IOTL, Benjamin Schlesinger was elected nine times as President of the International Ladies Garment Workers Union. He was born in Lithuania.
[8] When giving the abbreviation of party and commonwealth/industrial union, the “P” in party is dropped. Schlesinger is a delegate for the Textile and Leather Workers Industrial Union.
…Unlike the old system, where a President would nominate his cabinet to be approved by the Senate, the commissars would be elected in a competitive race in the House after nomination by the Chamber or the existing Central Committee (which consisted solely of Premier Debs and Deputy Premier Jones). With the SLP wielding a majority in both houses, however, only SLP candidates had a real shot at the nomination. The only wartime Commissar to not return was Daniel DeLeon, whose health was once again on the decline. He was replaced as Commissar for Industry by William Trautmann[1]…
…The summer of 1920 would also bring about a new set of Commissariats. The Commissariat for the Treasury under Fred Hardy[2] would oversee government finances (although the GDC had had a treasurer since its inception. The Commissariat for the Interior under Joe Hill[3] would oversee natural resources and protecting the environment, as well as deal directly with the commonwealths…
…There was some controversy around the idea of a Commissariat for Labor. Many thought that labor relations issues would be handled by the industrial unions. Representative Sam Rayburn (P-TX) brought progressive support to the idea that the executive branch needed to check the IUs and ensure that they were fairly representing all of their members. Under Commissar Frances Perkins[4], the Commissariat for Labor would also assist with the transition to a cooperative model of business…
…In the short term, however, the most important of the Commissariats would be the one tasked with rebuilding the nation. Some among the Progressives believed that a temporary commission should be empaneled, not a permanent addition to the Central Committee. The RSP, on the other hand, pushed vociferously for a Commissariat, pointing to longstanding issues in urban housing. This was echoed by many African-American representatives and delegates, who added their concerns about housing in minority communities. The result was the Commissariat for Housing under Preston Taylor[5]…
…Theoretically, the 1st Workers’ Congress had the SLP in the majority while the Progressives led the opposition with the RSP and Federalists. In practice, the RSP often sided with the SLP. Both Speaker of the House Victor Berger (SL-WI)[6] and General Secretary of the Chamber Benjamin Schlesinger (SL-TLW)[7][8] sought to prevent the RSP from finding common cause with the Progressives. Berger also appealed to the Rayburnites who made up the left wing of the Progressive Party.
…The 1st Workers’ Congress was also noteworthy for something it refused to do. Absent from the original ASU Code passed by the GDC were any restrictions on immigration. During the war and immediately after it, America had seen more people leaving than entering for the first time in its history. Some wanted to bring back restrictions on immigration, particularly progressives from the West Coast who were concerned about Californians. However, the high proportion of immigrants among the SLP (including both the Speaker and the General Secretary) led to a rather forceful rejection of any limits. The Border Control Act of 1920 did establish the American Customs Service to prevent illicit goods or individuals believed to be dangerous (mostly suspected spies) from entering the country, but anyone who was not specifically barred could enter the American Socialist Union and work immediately…
- From A New Union: A Political History of the American Socialist Union by Hillary Rodham
[1] IOTL, Trautmann was the founding general secretary of the IWW. ITTL, he was elected to Congress from Pennsylvania, then became Governor, and finally took command of the Army of Manhattan during the Revolution after Bronstein was promoted to command the Red Army.
[2] Both IOTL and ITTL, Hardy served as general secretary-treasurer of the IWW. ITTL, his term included the Second American Revolution.
[3] IOTL, Joe Hill was a famous IWW activist and songwriter. ITTL, after avoiding his OTL death, he led Red troops in Utah during the Second American Revolution.
[4] IOTL, Frances Perkins was a key organizer of the International Ladies Garment Workers Union after the Triangle Shirtwaist Factory Fire, and later became the first woman to be appointed to a position on the US Cabinet, serving as Secretary of Labor under FDR. ITTL, she was radicalized by the failure of the New York State government to push strong reforms after the fire and became Debs’ running mate in the 1912 election.
[5] IOTL, Taylor was a prominent African-American preacher and community leader in Nashville. ITTL, he ends up leading the Army of Memphis after the Memphis Uprising.
[6] IOTL, Victor Berger served three nonconsecutive terms in the House of Representatives from Wisconsin and was the first Socialist in Congress. ITTL, he is reelected until the Revolution (and also afterwards). He was born in Austria.
[7] IOTL, Benjamin Schlesinger was elected nine times as President of the International Ladies Garment Workers Union. He was born in Lithuania.
[8] When giving the abbreviation of party and commonwealth/industrial union, the “P” in party is dropped. Schlesinger is a delegate for the Textile and Leather Workers Industrial Union.
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