Elmer Allison
Encyclopedia
Elmer T. Allison was an American socialist political activist and newspaper editor. He is best remembered as the longtime editor of The Cleveland Socialist and The Toiler, forerunners of the official organ of the Communist Party, USA, The Daily Worker
.
, the son of Nathaniel Allison and Mattie (Johnson) Allison. His education was mostly through self-instruction, having been pulled out of elementary school
when he was in the 5th grade so that he could go to work to help support his family.
In 1899 the Allisons moved to Washington state
where Elmer found employment as a shingle weaver
, a millhand who created cedar
roofing shingles
by means of an automated saw — a very exhausting and extremely dangerous profession.
(SPA) in 1901, the year of its formation, and was active in the activities of its state affiliate, the Socialist Party of Washington
. He was also a member of the Industrial Workers of the World
(IWW) No. 500 after that revolutionary union emerged in 1905.
In 1905, Elmer's sister, Hortense Allison, married his friend and party comrade Alfred Wagenknecht
, an active leader of the radical Pike Street Branch directed by newspaper publisher Hermon F. Titus
. Elmer Allison and Alfred Wagenknecht would remain close political associates for the next two decades, which saw the formation of the American communist movement.
Together with Wagenknecht, Allison was briefly jailed in 1907 during the free speech fight between Seattle's Socialists and the city administration over the right to speak from soapboxes
on public sidewalks.
Allison was elected the Secretary of Local Seattle, Socialist Party in 1908. That same year, he married his first wife, the former Anna Theresa Swanson.
Together with the Wagenknechts, Allison moved to Cleveland, Ohio
in 1917, where he was chosen as editor of The Cleveland Socialist, the weekly newspaper published by Local Cuyahoga County. The name of this paper was later changed to The Toiler and this was made an official publication of the Communist Labor Party
(CLP) when this group was formed in a split from the SPA in August 1919. Allison continued to fulfill the role of editor for this publication for some time, yielding the chief editorial post to James P. Cannon in August 1920 he arrived in Cleveland. The paper was moved to New York City
in the fall of 1921, with Allison following in its tow. The Toiler, it should be noted, was never an "illegal" publication, despite the forced move of the CLP into a shadowy secret existence due to ongoing raids by the U.S. Department of Justice during the first years of the 1920s.
In 1921, Allison was elected Secretary of the American Labor Alliance, headquartered in New York, an auxiliary of the underground Communist Party of America which advocated an open, legalized existence and participation in political campaigns.
Allison also worked as the Business Manager of The Toiler — the paper which he used to edit — from 1921. He continued in this role in 1922 when the paper changed its name to The Worker to emphasize its connection to the new "legal political party" of the American communist movement, the Workers Party of America
(WPA). The group's founding convention, held in New York City in the first days of January 1922, elected Allison to the governing Central Executive Committee of the new organization.
In 1922, the divorced
Allison married his second wife, the former Rose Rosen.
In October 1922, Allison was elected to the 7 member "Administrative Council" of the WPA, a body akin to an Executive Committee in many other organizations. He was not long in this capacity, however, as in 1923 he was made the Business Manager of the Lyceum and Literature Department of the WPA.
Allison made at least one campaign for elective political office, running for New York State Senate
in the 14th District on the ticket of the Workers (Communist) Party in 1926.
in the early 1920s, where he lived for many years. He worked as a factory worker in Danbury into his 80s, when he finally retired.
After his retirement, Allison spent summers in a summer home he had constructed in Southbury, Connecticut
, spending his time writing poetry
which was published in a number of small Connecticut
newspapers.
. He was 98 years old at the time of his death. His body was buried at Woodbine Cemetery in Puyallup, Washington
.
Daily Worker
The Daily Worker was a newspaper published in New York City by the Communist Party USA, a formerly Comintern-affiliated organization. Publication began in 1924. While it generally reflected the prevailing views of the party, some attempts were made to make it appear that the paper reflected a...
.
Early years
Elmer T. Allison was born December 5, 1883 in Houstonia, MissouriHoustonia, Missouri
Houstonia is a city in Pettis County, Missouri, United States. The population was 275 at the 2000 census.-Geography:Houstonia is located at ....
, the son of Nathaniel Allison and Mattie (Johnson) Allison. His education was mostly through self-instruction, having been pulled out of elementary school
Elementary school
An elementary school or primary school is an institution where children receive the first stage of compulsory education known as elementary or primary education. Elementary school is the preferred term in some countries, particularly those in North America, where the terms grade school and grammar...
when he was in the 5th grade so that he could go to work to help support his family.
In 1899 the Allisons moved to Washington state
Washington State
Washington State may refer to:* Washington , often referred to as "Washington state" to differentiate it from Washington, D.C., the capital of the United States* Washington State University, a land-grant college in that state- See also :...
where Elmer found employment as a shingle weaver
Shingle weaver
A shingle weaver is an employee of a wood products mill who engages in the creation of wooden roofing shingles or the closely related product known as "shakes." In the Pacific Northwest region of the United States, historically the leading producer of this product, such shingles are generally made...
, a millhand who created cedar
Thuja plicata
Thuja plicata, commonly called Western or pacific red cedar, giant or western arborvitae, giant cedar, or shinglewood, is a species of Thuja, an evergreen coniferous tree in the cypress family Cupressaceae native to western North America...
roofing shingles
Shake (shingle)
A shake is a basic wooden shingle that is made from split logs. Shakes have traditionally been used for roofing and siding applications around the world. Higher grade shakes are typically used for roofing purposes, while the lower grades are used for siding purposes...
by means of an automated saw — a very exhausting and extremely dangerous profession.
Political career
Allison joined the Socialist Party of AmericaSocialist 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...
(SPA) in 1901, the year of its formation, and was active in the activities of its state affiliate, the Socialist Party of Washington
Socialist Party of Washington
The Socialist Party of Washington was the Washington state section of the Socialist Party of America , an organization originally established as a federation of semi-autonomous state organizations...
. He was also a member of the Industrial Workers of the World
Industrial Workers of the World
The Industrial Workers of the World is an international union. At its peak in 1923, the organization claimed some 100,000 members in good standing, and could marshal the support of perhaps 300,000 workers. Its membership declined dramatically after a 1924 split brought on by internal conflict...
(IWW) No. 500 after that revolutionary union emerged in 1905.
In 1905, Elmer's sister, Hortense Allison, married his friend and party comrade Alfred Wagenknecht
Alfred Wagenknecht
Alfred Wagenknecht was an American Marxist activist and political functionary. He is best remembered for having played a critical role in the establishment of the American Communist Party in 1919 as a leader of the Left Wing Section of the Socialist Party...
, an active leader of the radical Pike Street Branch directed by newspaper publisher Hermon F. Titus
Hermon F. Titus
Hermon Franklin Titus was an American socialist activist and newspaper publisher. Originally a Baptist minister before becoming a medical doctor, Titus is best remembered as a factional leader of the Washington state affiliate of the Socialist Party of America during the first decade of the 20th...
. Elmer Allison and Alfred Wagenknecht would remain close political associates for the next two decades, which saw the formation of the American communist movement.
Together with Wagenknecht, Allison was briefly jailed in 1907 during the free speech fight between Seattle's Socialists and the city administration over the right to speak from soapboxes
Soapbox
A soapbox is a raised platform on which one stands to make an impromptu speech, often about a political subject. The term originates from the days when speakers would elevate themselves by standing on a wooden crate originally used for shipment of soap or other dry goods from a manufacturer to a...
on public sidewalks.
Allison was elected the Secretary of Local Seattle, Socialist Party in 1908. That same year, he married his first wife, the former Anna Theresa Swanson.
Together with the Wagenknechts, Allison moved to Cleveland, Ohio
Cleveland, Ohio
Cleveland is a city in the U.S. state of Ohio and is the county seat of Cuyahoga County, the most populous county in the state. The city is located in northeastern Ohio on the southern shore of Lake Erie, approximately west of the Pennsylvania border...
in 1917, where he was chosen as editor of The Cleveland Socialist, the weekly newspaper published by Local Cuyahoga County. The name of this paper was later changed to The Toiler and this was made an official publication of the Communist Labor Party
Communist Labor Party
The Communist Labor Party of America was one of the organizational predecessors of the Communist Party USA. The group was established at the end of August 1919 following a three-way split of the Socialist Party of America...
(CLP) when this group was formed in a split from the SPA in August 1919. Allison continued to fulfill the role of editor for this publication for some time, yielding the chief editorial post to James P. Cannon in August 1920 he arrived in Cleveland. The paper was moved to 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...
in the fall of 1921, with Allison following in its tow. The Toiler, it should be noted, was never an "illegal" publication, despite the forced move of the CLP into a shadowy secret existence due to ongoing raids by the U.S. Department of Justice during the first years of the 1920s.
In 1921, Allison was elected Secretary of the American Labor Alliance, headquartered in New York, an auxiliary of the underground Communist Party of America which advocated an open, legalized existence and participation in political campaigns.
Allison also worked as the Business Manager of The Toiler — the paper which he used to edit — from 1921. He continued in this role in 1922 when the paper changed its name to The Worker to emphasize its connection to the new "legal political party" of the American communist movement, the Workers Party of America
Workers Party of America
The Workers Party of America was the name of the legal party organization used by the Communist Party USA from the last days of 1921 until the middle of 1929. As a legal political party the Workers Party accepted affiliation from independent socialist groups such as the African Blood Brotherhood,...
(WPA). The group's founding convention, held in New York City in the first days of January 1922, elected Allison to the governing Central Executive Committee of the new organization.
In 1922, the divorced
Divorce
Divorce is the final termination of a marital union, canceling the legal duties and responsibilities of marriage and dissolving the bonds of matrimony between the parties...
Allison married his second wife, the former Rose Rosen.
In October 1922, Allison was elected to the 7 member "Administrative Council" of the WPA, a body akin to an Executive Committee in many other organizations. He was not long in this capacity, however, as in 1923 he was made the Business Manager of the Lyceum and Literature Department of the WPA.
Allison made at least one campaign for elective political office, running for New York State Senate
New York State Senate
The New York State Senate is one of two houses in the New York State Legislature and has members each elected to two-year terms. There are no limits on the number of terms one may serve...
in the 14th District on the ticket of the Workers (Communist) Party in 1926.
Later years
Allison moved from New York City to Danbury, ConnecticutDanbury, Connecticut
Danbury is a city in northern Fairfield County, Connecticut, United States. It had population at the 2010 census of 80,893. Danbury is the fourth largest city in Fairfield County and is the seventh largest city in Connecticut....
in the early 1920s, where he lived for many years. He worked as a factory worker in Danbury into his 80s, when he finally retired.
After his retirement, Allison spent summers in a summer home he had constructed in Southbury, Connecticut
Southbury, Connecticut
Southbury is a town located in western New Haven County, Connecticut, USA. Southbury is located north of Oxford and Newtown; it also is east of Brookfield. Southbury's population was 18,567 at the 2000 census....
, spending his time writing poetry
Poetry
Poetry is a form of literary art in which language is used for its aesthetic and evocative qualities in addition to, or in lieu of, its apparent meaning...
which was published in a number of small Connecticut
Connecticut
Connecticut is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States. It is bordered by Rhode Island to the east, Massachusetts to the north, and the state of New York to the west and the south .Connecticut is named for the Connecticut River, the major U.S. river that approximately...
newspapers.
Death and legacy
Elmer Allison died July 18, 1982 in Olympia, WashingtonOlympia, Washington
Olympia is the capital city of the U.S. state of Washington and the county seat of Thurston County. It was incorporated on January 28, 1859. The population was 46,478 at the 2010 census...
. He was 98 years old at the time of his death. His body was buried at Woodbine Cemetery in Puyallup, Washington
Puyallup, Washington
Puyallup, Washington is a city in Pierce County, Washington about five miles east of Tacoma. The population was 37,022 at the 2010 Census. Named after the Puyallup Tribe of Native Americans, Puyallup means "the generous people."-History:...
.
See also
- Socialist Party of WashingtonSocialist Party of WashingtonThe Socialist Party of Washington was the Washington state section of the Socialist Party of America , an organization originally established as a federation of semi-autonomous state organizations...