Solomon Stanwood Menken
Encyclopedia
Solomon Stanwood Menken was an attorney
in the United States
best known for having founded the National Security League
.
Menken was born in Memphis, Tennessee
in 1870 to Mr. and Mrs. Nathan Menken, who owned a dry goods store. The family moved to New York City
when Menken was a boy. He attended the City College of New York
but transferred to Cornell University
, graduating in 1890. He later received a Bachelor of Laws
from Columbia University
.
Although his parents were Jewish
, Menken converted to Christianity
and started using his middle name, Stanwood. He married a wealthy New York City socialite; they had one son, Arthur, who became a successful newsreel cameraman for Paramount Pictures
and a noted war correspondent (having filmed the Nanking Massacre
and the Spanish Civil War
).
Menken became a successful corporate lawyer with the firm of Philbin, Beckman and Menken, whose clients included J.P. Morgan.
Menken became active in progressive
politics. He helped found New York City's Reform Club and supported the "single tax
" movement. He ran for office in New York City in 1896 on a ticket with noted politician Henry George
. A longtime Democrat
, he helped found the Democratic League of New York in September 1909, and for many years raised money and helped support the party in elections.
He began supporting liberal Republicans
and Progressives in 1912, and campaigned for Theodore Roosevelt
and Robert M. La Follette, Sr.
.
A noted Anglophile, he was in Great Britain
when World War I
began, and was deeply distressed by Britain's inability to mobilize quickly for war.
In December 1914, he helped form the National Security League
, a nonprofit, nonpartisan
organization dedicated to higher military budgets, universal conscription
and tight regulation
of the economy. He became the organization's first executive director from January 1915 ot May 1917. He took over as president from May 1917 to June 1918, but was forced out after the League became involved in a congressional electoral scandal.
During his time with the League, Menken advocated a centralized economy protected by high tariff
s and taxes and an activist, expanded role for the federal government. He favored the creation of a Federal Reserve Bank
and the creation of state-run public corporation to produce and deliver essential goods and services such as milk and coal production and the provision of electricity.
After his departure, the League turned dramatically rightward politically. In November 1921, Menken and other centrists took control of the League again. As president, he attempted to guide it toward more centrist policies, but was largely unsuccessful.
Menken resigned from the League in February 1925, and turned over the presidency and executive directorship to Robert Lee Bullard
. Afterward, he devoted most of his time to his corporate practice. Bullard stripped him of his League membership in 1930 when Menken advocated diplomatic recognition of the Soviet Union
.
He spent the remainder of his life practicing law, and staying somewhat active in Democratic politics. He died in 1954.
Lawyer
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...
in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
best known for having founded the National Security League
National Security League
The National Security League was a nationalistic, militaristic, and eventually quasi-fascist nonprofit, nonpartisan organization that supported the naturalization and Americanization of immigrants, Americanism, a strong military, universal conscription, meritocracy and government regulation of the...
.
Menken was born in Memphis, Tennessee
Memphis, Tennessee
Memphis is a city in the southwestern corner of the U.S. state of Tennessee, and the county seat of Shelby County. The city is located on the 4th Chickasaw Bluff, south of the confluence of the Wolf and Mississippi rivers....
in 1870 to Mr. and Mrs. Nathan Menken, who owned a dry goods store. The family 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...
when Menken was a boy. He attended the City College of New York
City College of New York
The City College of the City University of New York is a senior college of the City University of New York , in New York City. It is also the oldest of the City University's twenty-three institutions of higher learning...
but transferred to Cornell University
Cornell University
Cornell University is an Ivy League university located in Ithaca, New York, United States. It is a private land-grant university, receiving annual funding from the State of New York for certain educational missions...
, graduating in 1890. He later received a Bachelor of Laws
Bachelor of Laws
The Bachelor of Laws is an undergraduate, or bachelor, degree in law originating in England and offered in most common law countries as the primary law degree...
from Columbia University
Columbia University
Columbia University in the City of New York is a private, Ivy League university in Manhattan, New York City. Columbia is the oldest institution of higher learning in the state of New York, the fifth oldest in the United States, and one of the country's nine Colonial Colleges founded before the...
.
Although his parents were Jewish
American Jews
American Jews, also known as Jewish Americans, are American citizens of the Jewish faith or Jewish ethnicity. The Jewish community in the United States is composed predominantly of Ashkenazi Jews who emigrated from Central and Eastern Europe, and their U.S.-born descendants...
, Menken converted to Christianity
Christianity
Christianity is a monotheistic religion based on the life and teachings of Jesus as presented in canonical gospels and other New Testament writings...
and started using his middle name, Stanwood. He married a wealthy New York City socialite; they had one son, Arthur, who became a successful newsreel cameraman for Paramount Pictures
Paramount Pictures
Paramount Pictures Corporation is an American film production and distribution company, located at 5555 Melrose Avenue in Hollywood. Founded in 1912 and currently owned by media conglomerate Viacom, it is America's oldest existing film studio; it is also the last major film studio still...
and a noted war correspondent (having filmed the Nanking Massacre
Nanking Massacre
The Nanking Massacre or Nanjing Massacre, also known as the Rape of Nanking, was a mass murder, genocide and war rape that occurred during the six-week period following the Japanese capture of the city of Nanjing , the former capital of the Republic of China, on December 13, 1937 during the Second...
and the Spanish Civil War
Spanish Civil War
The Spanish Civil WarAlso known as The Crusade among Nationalists, the Fourth Carlist War among Carlists, and The Rebellion or Uprising among Republicans. was a major conflict fought in Spain from 17 July 1936 to 1 April 1939...
).
Menken became a successful corporate lawyer with the firm of Philbin, Beckman and Menken, whose clients included J.P. Morgan.
Menken became active in progressive
Progressivism
Progressivism is an umbrella term for a political ideology advocating or favoring social, political, and economic reform or changes. Progressivism is often viewed by some conservatives, constitutionalists, and libertarians to be in opposition to conservative or reactionary ideologies.The...
politics. He helped found New York City's Reform Club and supported the "single tax
Georgism
Georgism is an economic philosophy and ideology that holds that people own what they create, but that things found in nature, most importantly land, belong equally to all...
" movement. He ran for office in New York City in 1896 on a ticket with noted politician Henry George
Henry George
Henry George was an American writer, politician and political economist, who was the most influential proponent of the land value tax, also known as the "single tax" on land...
. A longtime Democrat
Democratic Party (United States)
The Democratic Party is one of two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Republican Party. The party's socially liberal and progressive platform is largely considered center-left in the U.S. political spectrum. The party has the lengthiest record of continuous...
, he helped found the Democratic League of New York in September 1909, and for many years raised money and helped support the party in elections.
He began supporting liberal Republicans
Republican Party (United States)
The Republican Party is one of the two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Democratic Party. Founded by anti-slavery expansion activists in 1854, it is often called the GOP . The party's platform generally reflects American conservatism in the U.S...
and Progressives in 1912, and campaigned for Theodore Roosevelt
Theodore Roosevelt
Theodore "Teddy" Roosevelt was the 26th President of the United States . He is noted for his exuberant personality, range of interests and achievements, and his leadership of the Progressive Movement, as well as his "cowboy" persona and robust masculinity...
and Robert M. La Follette, Sr.
Robert M. La Follette, Sr.
Robert Marion "Fighting Bob" La Follette, Sr. , was an American Republican politician. He served as a member of the U.S. House of Representatives, was the Governor of Wisconsin, and was also a U.S. Senator from Wisconsin...
.
A noted Anglophile, he was in Great Britain
Great Britain
Great Britain or Britain is an island situated to the northwest of Continental Europe. It is the ninth largest island in the world, and the largest European island, as well as the largest of the British Isles...
when World War I
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
began, and was deeply distressed by Britain's inability to mobilize quickly for war.
In December 1914, he helped form the National Security League
National Security League
The National Security League was a nationalistic, militaristic, and eventually quasi-fascist nonprofit, nonpartisan organization that supported the naturalization and Americanization of immigrants, Americanism, a strong military, universal conscription, meritocracy and government regulation of the...
, a nonprofit, nonpartisan
Nonpartisan
In political science, nonpartisan denotes an election, event, organization or person in which there is no formally declared association with a political party affiliation....
organization dedicated to higher military budgets, universal conscription
Conscription
Conscription is the compulsory enlistment of people in some sort of national service, most often military service. Conscription dates back to antiquity and continues in some countries to the present day under various names...
and tight regulation
Regulation
Regulation is administrative legislation that constitutes or constrains rights and allocates responsibilities. It can be distinguished from primary legislation on the one hand and judge-made law on the other...
of the economy. He became the organization's first executive director from January 1915 ot May 1917. He took over as president from May 1917 to June 1918, but was forced out after the League became involved in a congressional electoral scandal.
During his time with the League, Menken advocated a centralized economy protected by high tariff
Tariff
A tariff may be either tax on imports or exports , or a list or schedule of prices for such things as rail service, bus routes, and electrical usage ....
s and taxes and an activist, expanded role for the federal government. He favored the creation of a Federal Reserve Bank
Federal Reserve Bank
The twelve Federal Reserve Banks form a major part of the Federal Reserve System, the central banking system of the United States. The twelve federal reserve banks together divide the nation into twelve Federal Reserve Districts, the twelve banking districts created by the Federal Reserve Act of...
and the creation of state-run public corporation to produce and deliver essential goods and services such as milk and coal production and the provision of electricity.
After his departure, the League turned dramatically rightward politically. In November 1921, Menken and other centrists took control of the League again. As president, he attempted to guide it toward more centrist policies, but was largely unsuccessful.
Menken resigned from the League in February 1925, and turned over the presidency and executive directorship to Robert Lee Bullard
Robert Lee Bullard
Robert Lee Bullard was a United States General.General Bullard attended the United States Military Academy and graduated in 1885...
. Afterward, he devoted most of his time to his corporate practice. Bullard stripped him of his League membership in 1930 when Menken advocated diplomatic recognition of the Soviet Union
Soviet Union
The Soviet Union , officially the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics , was a constitutionally socialist state that existed in Eurasia between 1922 and 1991....
.
He spent the remainder of his life practicing law, and staying somewhat active in Democratic politics. He died in 1954.