Samuel Orr
Encyclopedia
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.
.
In 1920, Orr was reelected to the Assembly, but on the first day of the session he was called before the speaker
along with four of his Socialist colleagues — Louis Waldman
, Charles Solomon
, Samuel DeWitt
, and August Claessens
. The five were charged with being unfit for membership in the Assembly through their membership in the Socialist Party and were suspended from their seats by a vote of 140 to 6.
A protracted political trial followed as to the fitness of the five Socialists to assume their seats, which ran throughout the winter and spring. The so-called "trial" began on January 20, 1920. Morris Hillquit
and Seymour Stedman
were the lead attorneys in handling the case for the Socialist defendants. The group was formally expelled on April 1, 1920.
Samuel Orr was reelected to the New York State Assembly in 1921.
In 1922, Orr ran for the New York State Senate in the 22nd District. He lost the race. He ran again in 1928 in that district without success. In 1933, Orr ran in the 21st District and lost once again.
Orr ran for US Congress in the 23rd District of New York in 1926, and again in 1930 and 1934. He lost each time.
Politician
A politician, political leader, or political figure is an individual who is involved in influencing public policy and decision making...
from 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...
best remembered for being one of the five elected members 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...
expelled by the New York State Assembly
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...
during the 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...
of 1919-1920.
Early years
Orr was born on July 11, 1890 in Bronx, New York. He was educated and worked as a lawyerLawyer
A lawyer, according to Black's Law Dictionary, is "a person learned in the law; as an attorney, counsel or solicitor; a person who is practicing law." Law is the system of rules of conduct established by the sovereign government of a society to correct wrongs, maintain the stability of political...
.
Political career
Orr was a candidate of the Socialist Party for the New York State Assembly from the 4th District of Bronx County in 1918. While 10 members of the Socialist Party were elected in that year, the high-water mark of the party's fortunes in the state, Orr was defeated.In 1920, Orr was reelected to the Assembly, but on the first day of the session he was called before the speaker
Speaker (politics)
The term speaker is a title often given to the presiding officer of a deliberative assembly, especially a legislative body. The speaker's official role is to moderate debate, make rulings on procedure, announce the results of votes, and the like. The speaker decides who may speak and has the...
along with four of his Socialist colleagues — 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:...
, 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....
, and August Claessens
August Claessens
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...
. The five were charged with being unfit for membership in the Assembly through their membership in the Socialist Party and were suspended from their seats by a vote of 140 to 6.
A protracted political trial followed as to the fitness of the five Socialists to assume their seats, which ran throughout the winter and spring. The so-called "trial" began on January 20, 1920. 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...
were the lead attorneys in handling the case for the Socialist defendants. The group was formally expelled on April 1, 1920.
Samuel Orr was reelected to the New York State Assembly in 1921.
In 1922, Orr ran for the New York State Senate in the 22nd District. He lost the race. He ran again in 1928 in that district without success. In 1933, Orr ran in the 21st District and lost once again.
Orr ran for US Congress in the 23rd District of New York in 1926, and again in 1930 and 1934. He lost each time.
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.