Fifty Years for Socialism in America

The current issue of the Western Socialist, joint journal of the Socialist Party of Canada and the World Socialist Party of the United States, marks the 50th anniversary of the founding in America of a party based on the principles of scientific socialism. In July, 1916, 19 members of the Detroit local of the so-called Socialist Party of America resigned and, with others, formed a party based on the same principles as the Socialist Party of Great Britain. This party, after various name changes, is now the WSP.

Those interested in the history of socialism and pseudo-socialism in America will find much useful material: a history of the ups and downs of the WSP; a discussion of the failure of the SP of A. the Communist Party, the trotskyists, the De Leonists and the IWW who all had “short cuts” to Socialism; the War Manifestos of both world wars. There are also articles on socialist activity in Western Canada 50 years ago and a statement of the WSP attitude to the present war in Vietnam.

The Western Socialist can be had from our Head Office for 9d. (including postage). One year’s subscription for this bi-monthly journal is 4s. 6d.