August Claessens
Encyclopedia
August "Gus" Claessens was an American
socialist politician, best known as one of the five New York Assemblymen
expelled from that body during the First Red Scare
for their membership in the Socialist Party of America
. Claessens later served as Executive Secretary and National Chairman of the Social Democratic Federation, a factional offshoot of the Socialist Party.
in 1885. His family emigrated to America in 1890 and he grew up in New York, educated in both Roman Catholic and public schools. Claessens went to work at age 14 and worked variously as a newsboy, grocery clerk, and shipping clerk.
Claessens joined the Socialist Party of America
in 1909 and was soon engaged as a public speaker and organizer on behalf of the organization, touring coast to coast. In 1914 he was employed as an instructor in public speaking at the Rand School of Social Science
in New York City
. He also taught extension classes in Labor and Management for Rutgers University
and was a volunteer speaker and organizer for various New York trade union locals. Throughout his life he taught night school courses on an array of topics, including public speaking, parliamentary procedure
, psychology
and social psychology
, race relations, socialist theory, contemporary politics, anthropology
, and sex and society.
Early in his tenure as a teacher at the Rand School, Claessens met a student named Hilda Goldstein, who he subsequently married. The pair traveled the country together as Socialist speakers.
brought the five elected Socialist Assemblyman before the house and pushed through a resolution suspending them from the body pending a trial. Coming just a week after the infamous Palmer Raids
, this action was a part of the anti-radical hysteria that was sweeping the nation during this period. The five Assemblymen — Claessens, Charles Solomon
, Samuel DeWitt
, Louis Waldman
, and Samuel Orr
— were represented in a trial before the Assembly by Morris Hillquit
and Seymour Stedman
in an event which became a cause célèbre
among liberals, radicals
, and civil libertarians across the nation. On April 1, 1920, the quintet were expelled from the Assembly, despite vociferous public protest. Claessens was re-elected in a special election held in September 1920, but was again barred by Speaker Sweet from assuming his elected position.
In the fall of 1921, Claessens won re-election to the Assembly for its 1922. With anti-red hysteria on the wane at last, Claessens was finally seated without incident. In 1926, he ran on the Socialist ticket for Lieutenant Governor of New York
, and in 1934, for U.S. Representative-at-large
.
During the factional conflict within the Socialist Party during the 1930s, Claessens stood with the so-called "Old Guard" faction led by Hillquit, James Oneal
, and Louis Waldman. After the youthful radical "Militant" faction
won the day at the 1934 National Convention, passing an aggressive new Statement of Principles, Claessens joined his "Old Guard"
comrades in an exodus from the party to establish the Social Democratic Federation
(SDF).
Claessens was active in the American Labor Party
during its early years and stood for election to the New York Assembly as part of a joint ALP-Republican ticket in 1938. He was defeated in the effort along with all 14 of the other American Labor candidates of the ill-considered ALP-Republican slate.
In the middle 1930s, Claessens served as Executive Secretary of the SDF and was later elected to the position of National Chairman, a post which he held until his death in 1954.
of Bobst Library at New York University
.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
socialist politician, best known as one of the five New York Assemblymen
New York State Assembly
The New York State Assembly is the lower house of the New York State Legislature. The Assembly is composed of 150 members representing an equal number of districts, with each district having an average population of 128,652...
expelled from that body during the First Red Scare
First Red Scare
In American history, the First Red Scare of 1919–1920 was marked by a widespread fear of Bolshevism and anarchism. Concerns over the effects of radical political agitation in American society and alleged spread in the American labor movement fueled the paranoia that defined the period.The First Red...
for their membership in the Socialist Party of America
Socialist Party of America
The Socialist Party of America was a multi-tendency democratic-socialist political party in the United States, formed in 1901 by a merger between the three-year-old Social Democratic Party of America and disaffected elements of the Socialist Labor Party which had split from the main organization...
. Claessens later served as Executive Secretary and National Chairman of the Social Democratic Federation, a factional offshoot of the Socialist Party.
Early life
August Claessens was born in SwitzerlandSwitzerland
Switzerland name of one of the Swiss cantons. ; ; ; or ), in its full name the Swiss Confederation , is a federal republic consisting of 26 cantons, with Bern as the seat of the federal authorities. The country is situated in Western Europe,Or Central Europe depending on the definition....
in 1885. His family emigrated to America in 1890 and he grew up in New York, educated in both Roman Catholic and public schools. Claessens went to work at age 14 and worked variously as a newsboy, grocery clerk, and shipping clerk.
Claessens joined the Socialist Party of America
Socialist Party of America
The Socialist Party of America was a multi-tendency democratic-socialist political party in the United States, formed in 1901 by a merger between the three-year-old Social Democratic Party of America and disaffected elements of the Socialist Labor Party which had split from the main organization...
in 1909 and was soon engaged as a public speaker and organizer on behalf of the organization, touring coast to coast. In 1914 he was employed as an instructor in public speaking at the Rand School of Social Science
Rand School of Social Science
The Rand School of Social Science was formed in New York City by adherents of the Socialist Party of America in 1906. The school aimed to provide a broad education to workers, imparting a politicizing class-consciousness, and additionally served as a research bureau, a publisher, and the operator...
in New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
. He also taught extension classes in Labor and Management for Rutgers University
Rutgers University
Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey , is the largest institution for higher education in New Jersey, United States. It was originally chartered as Queen's College in 1766. It is the eighth-oldest college in the United States and one of the nine Colonial colleges founded before the American...
and was a volunteer speaker and organizer for various New York trade union locals. Throughout his life he taught night school courses on an array of topics, including public speaking, parliamentary procedure
Parliamentary procedure
Parliamentary procedure is the body of rules, ethics, and customs governing meetings and other operations of clubs, organizations, legislative bodies, and other deliberative assemblies...
, psychology
Psychology
Psychology is the study of the mind and behavior. Its immediate goal is to understand individuals and groups by both establishing general principles and researching specific cases. For many, the ultimate goal of psychology is to benefit society...
and social psychology
Social psychology
Social psychology is the scientific study of how people's thoughts, feelings, and behaviors are influenced by the actual, imagined, or implied presence of others. By this definition, scientific refers to the empirical method of investigation. The terms thoughts, feelings, and behaviors include all...
, race relations, socialist theory, contemporary politics, anthropology
Anthropology
Anthropology is the study of humanity. It has origins in the humanities, the natural sciences, and the social sciences. The term "anthropology" is from the Greek anthrōpos , "man", understood to mean mankind or humanity, and -logia , "discourse" or "study", and was first used in 1501 by German...
, and sex and society.
Early in his tenure as a teacher at the Rand School, Claessens met a student named Hilda Goldstein, who he subsequently married. The pair traveled the country together as Socialist speakers.
Political career
Claessens was first elected to the New York State Assembly in the fall of 1917 for the session of 1918. He won reelection the following year for the 1919 session and a third term in the fall of 1919 for the 1920 session. On the first day of the 1920 session, however, Republican Speaker of the House Thaddeus C. SweetThaddeus C. Sweet
Thaddeus Campbell Sweet was an American manufacturer and politician from New York. He represented New York's 32nd congressional district from 1923 to 1928.-Biography:...
brought the five elected Socialist Assemblyman before the house and pushed through a resolution suspending them from the body pending a trial. Coming just a week after the infamous Palmer Raids
Palmer Raids
The Palmer Raids were attempts by the United States Department of Justice to arrest and deport radical leftists, especially anarchists, from the United States. The raids and arrests occurred in November 1919 and January 1920 under the leadership of Attorney General A. Mitchell Palmer...
, this action was a part of the anti-radical hysteria that was sweeping the nation during this period. The five Assemblymen — Claessens, Charles Solomon
Charles Solomon (politician)
Charles "Charley" Solomon was a socialist politician from New York City, elected to the New York State Assembly in 1919 and expelled with four of his fellows on the first day of the legislative session, one week after the sensational Palmer Raids...
, Samuel DeWitt
Sam DeWitt
Samuel Aaron "Sam" DeWitt was a businessman, poet, playwright, and politician. He is best remembered as a New York State Legislator who represented Bronx's 7th district from 1919 until his expulsion from the Assembly in 1920....
, Louis Waldman
Louis Waldman
Louis Waldman was a leading figure in the Socialist Party of America from the late 1910s and through the middle 1930s, a founding member of the Social Democratic Federation, and a prominent New York labor lawyer.-Early years:...
, and Samuel Orr
Samuel Orr
Samuel Orr was a socialist politician from New York City best remembered for being one of the five elected members of the Socialist Party of America expelled by the New York State Assembly during the Red Scare of 1919-1920.-Early years:...
— were represented in a trial before the Assembly by Morris Hillquit
Morris Hillquit
Morris Hillquit was a founder and leader of the Socialist Party of America and prominent labor lawyer in New York City's Lower East Side during the early 20th century.-Early years:...
and Seymour Stedman
Seymour Stedman
Seymour Stedman was a prominent civil liberties lawyer and a leader of the Socialist Party of America. He is best remembered as the 1920 Vice Presidential candidate of the Socialist Party of America, when he ran for office on a ticket headed by Eugene V...
in an event which became a cause célèbre
Cause célèbre
A is an issue or incident arousing widespread controversy, outside campaigning and heated public debate. The term is particularly used in connection with celebrated legal cases. It is a French phrase in common English use...
among liberals, radicals
Political radicalism
The term political radicalism denotes political principles focused on altering social structures through revolutionary means and changing value systems in fundamental ways...
, and civil libertarians across the nation. On April 1, 1920, the quintet were expelled from the Assembly, despite vociferous public protest. Claessens was re-elected in a special election held in September 1920, but was again barred by Speaker Sweet from assuming his elected position.
In the fall of 1921, Claessens won re-election to the Assembly for its 1922. With anti-red hysteria on the wane at last, Claessens was finally seated without incident. In 1926, he ran on the Socialist ticket for Lieutenant Governor of New York
Lieutenant Governor of New York
The Lieutenant Governor of New York is a constitutional office in the executive branch of the government of New York State. It is the second highest ranking official in state government. The lieutenant governor is elected on a ticket with the governor for a four year term...
, and in 1934, for U.S. Representative-at-large
New York's At-large congressional district
Briefly from 1873 to 1875, and 1883-1885 with one representative respectively, and again from 1933 through 1945, after New York was apportioned two extra seats in the United States House of Representatives, the state elected representatives at-large, instead of from districts...
.
During the factional conflict within the Socialist Party during the 1930s, Claessens stood with the so-called "Old Guard" faction led by Hillquit, James Oneal
James Oneal
James "Jim" Oneal , a founding member of the Socialist Party of America , was a prominent socialist journalist, historian, and party activist who played a decisive role in the bitter party splits of 1919-21 and 1934-36.-Early years:...
, and Louis Waldman. After the youthful radical "Militant" faction
Militant faction
The Militant faction was an organized grouping of Marxists in the Socialist Party of America who sought to steer that organization from its orientation towards electoral politics and towards direct action and revolutionary socialism. The faction emerged during 1930 and 1931 and achieved practical...
won the day at the 1934 National Convention, passing an aggressive new Statement of Principles, Claessens joined his "Old Guard"
Old Guard faction
The Old Guard faction was an organized grouping of Marxists in the Socialist Party of America who sought to retain the organization's traditional orientation towards electoral politics by fighting generally younger party members who factionally organized to promote greater efforts at direct action...
comrades in an exodus from the party to establish the Social Democratic Federation
Social Democratic Federation
The Social Democratic Federation was established as Britain's first organised socialist political party by H. M. Hyndman, and had its first meeting on June 7, 1881. Those joining the SDF included William Morris, George Lansbury and Eleanor Marx. However, Friedrich Engels, Karl Marx's long-term...
(SDF).
Claessens was active in the American Labor Party
American Labor Party
The American Labor Party was a political party in the United States established in 1936 which was active almost exclusively in the state of New York. The organization was founded by labor leaders and former members of the Socialist Party who had established themselves as the Social Democratic...
during its early years and stood for election to the New York Assembly as part of a joint ALP-Republican ticket in 1938. He was defeated in the effort along with all 14 of the other American Labor candidates of the ill-considered ALP-Republican slate.
In the middle 1930s, Claessens served as Executive Secretary of the SDF and was later elected to the position of National Chairman, a post which he held until his death in 1954.
Death and legacy
August Claessens' papers reside at the Tamiment Library and Robert F. Wagner Labor ArchivesTamiment Library and Robert F. Wagner Archives
The Tamiment Library is a research library at New York University that documents radical and left history, with strengths in the histories of communism, socialism, anarchism, the New Left, the Civil Rights Movement, and utopian experiments. The Robert F. Wagner Archives, which is also housed in...
of Bobst Library at New York University
New York University
New York University is a private, nonsectarian research university based in New York City. NYU's main campus is situated in the Greenwich Village section of Manhattan...
.
Works
- The Socialists in the New York Assembly: The Work of Ten Socialist Members During the Legislative Session of 1918. With William Morris Feigenbaum. New York: Rand School of Social Science, 1918.
- The Logic of Socialism. New York: Rand School of Social Science, n.d. [c. 1921]. (Also translated into Polish).
- The Trinity of Plunder: A Cheerful Slam at Rent, Interest and Profit. Illustrations by Ryan Walker. New York: New York Call, 1922. (Also translated into Slovenian).
- Is Socialism Inevitable? An Explanation of the Forces of Social Progress. Chicago: Socialist Party of the United States, 1922.
- Essentials of Socialism: A Brief Exposition of the Principal Elements of Modern Socialism. New York: Rand School Press, 1933.
- A Manual for Socialist Speakers: A Brief Text Book on the Technique of Public Speaking and Socialist Propaganda Meetings. New York: Rand School Press, 1933.
- Social Attitudes Towards War and Peace. New York: Rand School Press, 1934.
- The Blue Eagle is Dead — So What? New York: New York Socialist Party, n.d. [c. 1935].
- A Manual for Trade Union Speakers: A Brief Text Book on Public Speaking. New York: Rand School Press, 1936.
- ABC of Parliamentary Law: A Brief Handbook on Rules of Order for Meetings Adapted to the Needs of Labor Groups. With Rebecca Jarvis. New York: Rand School Press, n.d. [c. 1936]. (Also translated into Japanese).
- What Organized Labor Wants: A Popular Description of Trade Union Philosophy, Economics, and Ideals. New York: Rand School Press, 1937.
- The Democratic Way of Life. New York: Rand School Press, 1940.
- Race Prejudice: A Description of the Various Factors in Racial Animosities, Discriminations, and Conflicts, and the Conditions under which These Antagonisms are Increased or Eliminated. New York: Rand School Press, n.d. [1943].
- Eugene Victor Debs: A Tribute, 1855-1926. New York: Rand School Press, n.d. [1946].
- Didn't We Have Fun! Stories Out of a Long, Fruitful and Merry Life. New York: Rand School Press, 1953.
- Understanding the Worker: Problems of Labor Organizations Analyzed in the LIght of Social Psychology. Backgrounds in Trade Union History. New York: Rand School Press, 1954.
Additional reading
- New York State Legislature, Standing Committee on the Judiciary, Louis M. Martin, Louis Waldman, Samuel Aaron De Witt, August Claessens, Samuel Orr, Charles Solomon, Proceedings of the Judiciary Committee of the Assembly: In The Matter Of The Investigation By The Assembly Of The State Of New York As To The Qualifications Of Louis Waldman, August Claessens, Samuel A DeWitt, Samuel Orr, And Charles Solomon To Retain Their Seats In Said Body. In Three Volumes. New York: J.B. Lyon Co., 1920. Available online: Volume I, Volume II, Volume III.
- Louis Waldman, Albany: The Crisis in Government: The History of the Suspension, Trial and Expulsion from the New York State Legislature in 1920 of the Five Socialist Assemblymen by Their Political Opponents. Introduction by Seymour StedmanSeymour StedmanSeymour Stedman was a prominent civil liberties lawyer and a leader of the Socialist Party of America. He is best remembered as the 1920 Vice Presidential candidate of the Socialist Party of America, when he ran for office on a ticket headed by Eugene V...
. New York: Boni and Liveright, 1920.