Challenge (1933)
Encyclopedia
Challenge was a tabloid-sized monthly newspaper established in Chicago in April 1933 which served as the official organ of the Young People's Socialist League
, youth section of the Socialist Party of America
. The publication was subsequently renamed The Challenge of Youth and continued in existence through 1946.
(YPSL) was made at the 1932 National Convention of the YPSL. In April 1933, this publication was launched, a 4-page tabloid called The Challenge. Throughout its first year, the publication campaigned against the threat of international war, fascism
, child labor
, and deficiencies in the American education system and lobbied on behalf of efforts to politically organize unemployed workers and to expand the trade union
movement.
The first issue of The Challenge featured a lengthy masthead
, including Arthur G. McDowell as Editor, James Quick, Bob Parker, Jack Jaffe, Aaron Levenstein, and Paul Rasmussen as Associate Editors, Hy Fish as Business Manager, and a Socialist Party all-star list including Norman Thomas
, Powers Hapgood
, Upton Sinclair
, and Oscar Ameringer as "Contributing Editors."
Editor Syd Devin, later quit in order to finish his studies. Devin was replaced by Melos Most, who had previously been a delegate to the Executive Committee meeting of the Socialist Youth International
, held in Belgium in 1934. Most was later named as editor of the youth page of the New York weekly, The Socialist Call.
The Challenge
Editor: Arthur G. McDowell. Associate Editors: James Quick, Bob Parker, Jack Jaffe, Aaron Levenstein, Paul Rasmussen. Business Manager: Hy Fish. Editorial Office: 549 Randolph Street, Chicago, Illinois.
Editor: Arthur G. McDowell. Associate Editors: James Quick, Bob Parker, Jack Jaffe, Aaron Levenstein. Business Manager: Hy Fish. Editorial Office: 549 Randolph Street, Chicago, Illinois.
Editor: Arthur G. McDowell. Associate Editors: James Quick, Bob Parker, Ben Fischer, Aaron Levenstein. Editorial Office: 549 Randolph Street, Chicago, Illinois.
Editor: Arthur G. McDowell. Associate Editors: James Quick, Bob Parker, Ben Fischer, Aaron Levenstein. Business Manager: Sid Devin. Editorial Office: 549 Randolph Street, Chicago, Illinois.
Editor: Arthur G. McDowell. Associate Editors: James Quick, Ben Fischer, Aaaron Levenstein. Business Manager: Sid Devin. Editorial Office: 549 Randolph Street, Chicago, Illinois.
The Challenge of Youth
Managing editor: Melos Most. Editorial Office: 549 Randolph Street, Chicago, Illinois.
Responsible Editorial Board: Ernest Erber, Ben Fischer, Hy Fish. Managing Editor: Melos Most. Editorial Office: 549 Randolph Street, Chicago, Illinois.
Responsible Editorial Board: Ernest Erber, Ben Fischer. Managing Editor: Melos Most. Editorial Office: 549 Randolph Street, Chicago, Illinois.
Editor: Ernest Erber. Editorial Office: 549 Randolph Street, Chicago, Illinois.
Young People's Socialist League (1907)
The Young People's Socialist League , founded in 1907, was the official youth arm of the Socialist Party of America. Its political activities tend to concentrate on increasing the voter turnout of young democratic socialists and affecting the issues impacting that demographic group.- Foundation and...
, youth section of 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...
. The publication was subsequently renamed The Challenge of Youth and continued in existence through 1946.
Establishment
The decision to launch a new official newspaper of the Young People's Socialist LeagueYoung People's Socialist League
The Young People's Socialist League , founded in 1989, is the official youth arm of the Socialist Party USA. The group's membership consists of those democratic socialists under the age of 30, and its political activities tend to concentrate on increasing the voter turnout of young democratic...
(YPSL) was made at the 1932 National Convention of the YPSL. In April 1933, this publication was launched, a 4-page tabloid called The Challenge. Throughout its first year, the publication campaigned against the threat of international war, fascism
Fascism
Fascism is a radical authoritarian nationalist political ideology. Fascists seek to rejuvenate their nation based on commitment to the national community as an organic entity, in which individuals are bound together in national identity by suprapersonal connections of ancestry, culture, and blood...
, child labor
Child labor
Child labour refers to the employment of children at regular and sustained labour. This practice is considered exploitative by many international organizations and is illegal in many countries...
, and deficiencies in the American education system and lobbied on behalf of efforts to politically organize unemployed workers and to expand the trade union
Trade union
A trade union, trades union or labor union is an organization of workers that have banded together to achieve common goals such as better working conditions. The trade union, through its leadership, bargains with the employer on behalf of union members and negotiates labour contracts with...
movement.
The first issue of The Challenge featured a lengthy masthead
Masthead (publishing)
The masthead is a list, published in a newspaper or magazine, of its staff. In some publications it names only the most senior individuals; in others, it may name many or all...
, including Arthur G. McDowell as Editor, James Quick, Bob Parker, Jack Jaffe, Aaron Levenstein, and Paul Rasmussen as Associate Editors, Hy Fish as Business Manager, and a Socialist Party all-star list including Norman Thomas
Norman Thomas
Norman Mattoon Thomas was a leading American socialist, pacifist, and six-time presidential candidate for the Socialist Party of America.-Early years:...
, Powers Hapgood
Powers Hapgood
Powers Hapgood was an American Trade Union Organizer and Socialist Party leader known for his involvement with the United Mine Workers in the 1920s.-Early years:...
, Upton Sinclair
Upton Sinclair
Upton Beall Sinclair Jr. , was an American author who wrote close to one hundred books in many genres. He achieved popularity in the first half of the twentieth century, acquiring particular fame for his classic muckraking novel, The Jungle . It exposed conditions in the U.S...
, and Oscar Ameringer as "Contributing Editors."
Editor Syd Devin, later quit in order to finish his studies. Devin was replaced by Melos Most, who had previously been a delegate to the Executive Committee meeting of the Socialist Youth International
Socialist Youth International
Socialist Youth International was an international union of socialist youth organisations. It was founded in Hamburg 1923, through the merger of the Young Workers' International and the International Community of Socialist Youth Organisations...
, held in Belgium in 1934. Most was later named as editor of the youth page of the New York weekly, The Socialist Call.
First hiatus
After shutting down for the summer of 1936, The Challenge of Youth returned in September. It was issued very irregularly, however, with an apologetic notice printed in the 4-page February 1937 issue noting that "the reason for it not appearing has been financial." It was noted that the newspaper received no publication subsidy from the Socialist Party, with all its costs borne by the YPSL organization, which was holding evening festivities in Chicago in an effort to raise funds to insure the publication's survival. Ernest Erber, National Secretary of the YPSL, had taken sole charge of the editorial task.List of issue dates and key contents
- All articles unsigned unless otherwise noted.
The Challenge
Editor: Arthur G. McDowell. Associate Editors: James Quick, Bob Parker, Jack Jaffe, Aaron Levenstein, Paul Rasmussen. Business Manager: Hy Fish. Editorial Office: 549 Randolph Street, Chicago, Illinois.
- Vol. 1, No. 1 — April 1933
- "US Army Plan Exposed: War Department Ready to Move Against Unemployed When Relief Breaks Down"; "Germany, A Lesson in Politics" (editorial); "The Decline of American Trade Unionism," by Andrew Biemiller; "Thugs Battle With Striking Miners" (Illinois); "Defeat Militarization of Unemployed Youth; Labor Camps Menace."
Editor: Arthur G. McDowell. Associate Editors: James Quick, Bob Parker, Jack Jaffe, Aaron Levenstein. Business Manager: Hy Fish. Editorial Office: 549 Randolph Street, Chicago, Illinois.
- Vol. 1, No. 2 — May 1933
- "Youth Meet at Congress" (Continental Congress on Reconstruction); "Red Briefs for Reds, Says Socialist Lawyer" (Darlington HoopesDarlington HoopesDarlington Hoopes was the candidate of the Socialist Party of America for President of the United States in the 1952 and 1956 presidential elections.-Early years:...
bio); "Takes Action on Chicago Situation: Statement on Disciplining of Chicago City YPSL"; "Youth Platform of Young People's Socialist League of America, Proclaimed on May Day of 1933"; "Yipsels Act in Chicago School Strikes"; "Young Socialist Groups Participate in Athletics."
- Vol. 1, No. 3 — June 1933
- "Youth Spreads Strikes"; "Yipsels Help Unions Fight Sweatshops"; "YPSL Acts in Anti-Military Fight: Picket World War Picture in Bridgeport"; "Hapgood, Harvard Graduate, Forsakes Eliot's Advice" (Powers HapgoodPowers HapgoodPowers Hapgood was an American Trade Union Organizer and Socialist Party leader known for his involvement with the United Mine Workers in the 1920s.-Early years:...
bio); "Pick Reading for Site of Seventh Annual Convention"; "New York Yipsels Aid Bakery Strike"; "Abolish Child Labor Forevermore" (YPSL declaration).
- Vol. 1, No. 4 — July 1933
- "Abolish Child Labor Forevermore," declaration of the YPSL of A; "Needle Trades Choose Krzycki"; Leo Kryzycki biography; "Cleveland Young Socialists Organize Press Punch Operators Out on Strike"; "Yipsels Help to Organize Labor Bloc" (ACWU).
- Vol. 1, No. 5 — August-September 1933
- "Reading Strikes Make History"; "Yipsels Aid New Strikes in St. Louis"; "Dixie Strike Leader Jailed," by Norman Thomas; "Veteran Sarah Limbach Remains Vigilant Fighter on Labor's Battle Front" (Sarah Z. Limbach bio); "YPSL Convention, Reading, Aug. 26-27: Gathering to Make Plans for Future," by Winston "Win" Dancis; "Chicago General School Strike Looms".
Editor: Arthur G. McDowell. Associate Editors: James Quick, Bob Parker, Ben Fischer, Aaron Levenstein. Editorial Office: 549 Randolph Street, Chicago, Illinois.
- Vol. 1, No. 6 — October 1933
- "Labor Revolt Sweeps America"; "Defend the Free Public Schools"; "Young Socialist Meet Shows Unity: Upholds vote of NEC on Chicago YPSL"; "New York Yipsels Organize Vanguard; Acts as Colorful Unit in Mass Action: blue Shirts and Red Emblems Worn by Young Socialists"; "Socialist Youth InternationalSocialist Youth InternationalSocialist Youth International was an international union of socialist youth organisations. It was founded in Hamburg 1923, through the merger of the Young Workers' International and the International Community of Socialist Youth Organisations...
Fights War".
- Vol. 1, No. 7 — November 1933
- "NIRA Fails Youth and Farmer"; Open Letter to Bernarr Macfadden; "No Hope for Young Worker in 'New Deal'"; "YPSL Conducts Anti-Militarism Demonstration"; "Salute!" (Morris Hillquit Obituary); "Roosevelt! The Genial Jingo"; "Owners Dig in to Resist Control: NRA Strike Breaking is Boss' Hope" (Federated Press); "Anti-Fascist Student Unite to Organize" (Student League Against Fascism).
Editor: Arthur G. McDowell. Associate Editors: James Quick, Bob Parker, Ben Fischer, Aaron Levenstein. Business Manager: Sid Devin. Editorial Office: 549 Randolph Street, Chicago, Illinois.
- Vol. 1, No. 8 — December 1933
- "Nazi Propaganda Poisons US"; "Expose Civilian Conservation CorpsCivilian Conservation CorpsThe Civilian Conservation Corps was a public work relief program that operated from 1933 to 1942 in the United States for unemployed, unmarried men from relief families, ages 18–25. A part of the New Deal of President Franklin D...
as Military Unit: Train Youth for Future Mass Killing"; "Trace History of Labor and Socialism in US" (Historical sketch part 1, 1872-1900); "Yipsels! Help Build the Young Falcon Movement"; "Federated Press Correspondent Bids Farewell in US Labor History Article," by Laurence Todd.
- Vol. 1, No. 9 — January 1934
- "War Makers See Their Hopes in CCC: Assistant War Secretary Aspires to Enrollment of Million by Next Summer"; "Hoopes Defeats Reactionaries"; "YPSL National Committee Maps Campaign for 1934"; "Trace Growth of Socialist Movement in United States" (Historical sketch part 1, 1901-1918); "New Primer of Socialism (part 1)" by Ben Horowitz.
- Vol. 1, No. 10 — February 1934
- "Student Revolt Against Militarism Growing"; "Seven Ohio State Expulsions Call for New Protest" (refusal to participate in military drill; "To War or Not," by Henry Margulies; "Trace Growth of Socialist Movement in US Since War" (Historical sketch part 3, 1919-date); "New Primer of Socialism (part 2)" by Ben Horowitz; "German Boycott by Workers" (editorial); "St. Louis Yipsels Builds Youth's Antiwar Front".
- Vol. 1, No. 11 — March 1934
- No copy available for review. "New Primer of Socialism (part 3)" by Ben Horowitz.
Editor: Arthur G. McDowell. Associate Editors: James Quick, Ben Fischer, Aaaron Levenstein. Business Manager: Sid Devin. Editorial Office: 549 Randolph Street, Chicago, Illinois.
- Vol. 2, No. 1 — April 1934
- "Students in the War Against War and War Makers"; "College Armories and Forest Camp New Youth Traps"; "Youth Can End War: A Message to the Bravest of American Youth" (manifesto of NEC of YPSL of A); "Labor Revolt Grows Despite Auto Retreat"; "New Primer of Socialism (part 4)" by Ben Horowitz; "Announce Jamboree and Camp Plans for the Summer of 1934".
- Vol. 2, No. 2 — May 1934
- "Organize Youth Against Fascism: May Day Manifesto Announces New Anti-Fascist Youth Group"; "Soviet Leningrad and Nazi Hamburg: A Study in Contrasts," by Lenora Greory (New Clarion reprint); "Young Socialist National Committee Maps New Work"; "Soviet Russia 1934" (editorial); "May Day Finds Austrian Socialists Fighting On"; "Free Press Outcry Veils Child Labor Evil: Newspaper Code's child Labor Clause OKs Crime School," by S.L. Devin.
The Challenge of Youth
Managing editor: Melos Most. Editorial Office: 549 Randolph Street, Chicago, Illinois.
- Vol. 3, No. 7 — October 1935
- "Britain, Italy Near War"; "Desertions from Anti-War Ranks Begin"; "Drive Against Hearst Films Planned"; "War Dange May Cause Union of Student Groups (Student League for Industrial DemocracyStudent League for Industrial DemocracyThere have been two organization by this name, both were the student affiliates of the adult League for Industrial Democracy.*A group known originally as the Intercollegiate League for Industrial Democracy, existing as an autonomous section of the League for Industrial Democracy during the early...
and National Student LeagueNational Student LeagueThe National Student League was a Communist led organization of college and high school students in the United States.-Origins:The organizations founding came about as a result of a case of censorship on the campus of the City College of New York in 1931. The Social Problems Club had begun...
); "The Rise of an American Student Union," by Al Hamilton; "Terror in Terre Haute," by Powers HapgoodPowers HapgoodPowers Hapgood was an American Trade Union Organizer and Socialist Party leader known for his involvement with the United Mine Workers in the 1920s.-Early years:...
; "Do You Believe in Violent Revolution?" by Maynard Krueger; "The Russian Revolution Lives On," by Ernest Erber; "The Story of a Revolution" (Spain, part 1), by Melos Most; "Thomas Supports War Stand" (letter), by Norman ThomasNorman ThomasNorman Mattoon Thomas was a leading American socialist, pacifist, and six-time presidential candidate for the Socialist Party of America.-Early years:...
.
- Vol. 3, No. 8 — November 1935
- "World War in 60 Days"; "Young Socialists Move to 'Drive Hearst from Movies'"; "Sports Internationals in United Front Pact"; "Text of Socialist Party's War Resolution"; "NEC Discusses War Question, YPSL Headway"; "Youth Gets a Handout" (forthcoming pamphlet), by Larry Brown; "William Randolph HearstWilliam Randolph HearstWilliam Randolph Hearst was an American business magnate and leading newspaper publisher. Hearst entered the publishing business in 1887, after taking control of The San Francisco Examiner from his father...
," by Labor Research Front; "Behind Mussolini's War Venture," by Vincezo Vacirca; "Two Ways to Defend the Soviet Union," by Harold DraperHal DraperHal Draper was an American socialist activist and author who played a significant role in the Berkeley, California, Free Speech Movement and is perhaps best known for his extensive scholarship on the history and meaning of the thought of Karl Marx.Draper was a lifelong advocate of what he called...
; "The Story of a Revolution" (Spain, part 2), by Melos Most.
- Vol. 3, No. 9 — December 1935
- "Students Vote on Union" (SLID/NSL); "300,000 Students in War Resistance 'Mobilization,'" by George Edwards; "YCL to Go Under Knife: Communist Youth International to Be Dissolved, League Depoliticized..."; "Red Falcolns 'March on Chi,' Get National Office"; "The National Youth AdministrationNational Youth AdministrationThe National Youth Administration was a New Deal agency in the United States that focused on providing work and education for Americans between the ages of 16 and 24. It operated from 1935 to 1939 as part of the Works Progress Administration . Following the passage of the Reorganization Act of...
is a Danger!"; "What We Want of a Student Union"; "The Story of a Revolution" (Spain, part 3), by Melos Most; "Where We Stand" (includes Browder-Thomas Debate).
- Vol. 3, No. 10 — January 1936
- No copy available for review.
Responsible Editorial Board: Ernest Erber, Ben Fischer, Hy Fish. Managing Editor: Melos Most. Editorial Office: 549 Randolph Street, Chicago, Illinois.
- Vol. 3, No. 11 — February-March 1936
- "American Youth Act Up Before Conress"; "Expect 350,000 to Strike" (April 22, 1936 action); "Socialism, Communism Debated by US Youth," articles by Leon Zitver and Florence Haikin; "Impressions of the American Class Struggle," by Maxine Miller; "An Explanation of the Dictatorship of the Proletariat," by Morris HillquitMorris HillquitMorris 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:...
; "The German Socialist Youth," by Karl LiebknechtKarl Liebknechtwas a German socialist and a co-founder with Rosa Luxemburg of the Spartacist League and the Communist Party of Germany. He is best known for his opposition to World War I in the Reichstag and his role in the Spartacist uprising of 1919...
; "The American Student Union," by Al Hamilton.
- Vol. 4, No. 1 — April 1936
- "Youth Act Hearing Held"; "Socialist Revolution Due Soon in Spain; Masses are Restless," by Melos Most; "The Revolutionary Position and the Immediate Problems of War," by Gus TylerGus TylerAugust "Gus" Tyler was an American socialist activist of the 1930s, a labor union official, author, and newspaper columnist...
; "The Early 'Challenge'"; "The Challenge Today," by E. Ewald; "Beyong the AYA," by Ben Fischer; "Schools Empty April 22," by Eleanora Deren; "Students Protest Loyalty OathLoyalty oathA loyalty oath is an oath of loyalty to an organization, institution, or state of which an individual is a member.In this context, a loyalty oath is distinct from pledge or oath of allegiance...
Bill"; "High Hopes Confirmed by Growth" (American Student UnionAmerican Student UnionThe American Student Union was a national left-wing organization of college students of the 1930s, best remembered for its protest activities against militarism. Founded by a 1935 merger of Communist and Socialist student organizations, the ASU was affiliated with the American Youth Congress...
), by Joseph P. LashJoseph P. LashJoseph P. Lash was an American radical political activist, journalist, and author. A close friend of Eleanor Roosevelt, Lash won the Pulitzer Prize for Biography and the National Book Award in 1972 for Eleanor and Franklin, the first of two volumes he wrote about the former First Lady.-Early...
; "Jim Crow in US Education," by Lyonel Florant.
- Vol. 4, No. 2 — May-June 1936
- No copy available for review.
- Vol. 4, No. 3 — July 1936
- "Thomas, Nelson to Run on Platform Endorsing Youth-Help Act"; "3,000 Meet at Youth Congress" (3rd American Youth CongressAmerican Youth CongressAmerican Youth Congress was an early youth voice organization composed of youth from all across the country to discuss the problems facing youth as a whole in the 1930s. It met several years in a row - one year it notably met on the lawn of the White House. The delegates are known to have caused...
); "Christian Youth Throw Vote to Socialist Party"; "Build the American Youth Congress!" by Harry Fleischman; "Convention Address of Ernest Erber"; "Organize the Unemployed Union," by Milton Arons.
Responsible Editorial Board: Ernest Erber, Ben Fischer. Managing Editor: Melos Most. Editorial Office: 549 Randolph Street, Chicago, Illinois.
- Vol. 4, No. 4 — "Late September" 1936
- "See Record Vote for Socialists"; "US Socialist Youth Leader Sent to Spain" (Erber); "American Youth Congress Upset Brings Bureau Behind Socialist Stand for Unity"; "Red Youth Battle Fascism" (Spain); "What Happened at the Third American Youth Congress?" by Ben Fischer; "Our Schools Go On Closing," by Harry Shields; "The Soviet Trial: An Editorial Statement" (Zinoviev).
Editor: Ernest Erber. Editorial Office: 549 Randolph Street, Chicago, Illinois.
- Vol. 5, No. 1 — "Late February" 1937
- "Debs Column Fighters Sail to Fight Fascists"; "Appeal to Workers Only Hope in Spain," by Ernest Erber; "New Berne Necessary to Unite Youth Against Imperialist War," by Ben Fischer; "Challenge Notes"; "The Party Convention" (editorial); "Communist Hooliganism" (editorial); "PacifismPacifismPacifism is the opposition to war and violence. The term "pacifism" was coined by the French peace campaignerÉmile Arnaud and adopted by other peace activists at the tenth Universal Peace Congress inGlasgow in 1901.- Definition :...
" (letter to the Editor), by Al Hamilton.