31:
270:
377:
On April 1, 1920, the quintet were expelled from the
Assembly, despite vociferous public protest. All five were re-elected at a special election on September 16, and appeared to take their seats at the beginning of the special session on September 20. The next day, DeWitt and Orr were permitted to
878:
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
300:
polled 2,673 votes, and
Claessens polled 1,207. Able to campaign effectively both in Yiddish and English, Claessens won easy election in November 1917 in the 17th Assembly District. Claessens subsequently won election twice, being a member of the State Assembly in
450:
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.
223:
Well equipped by his Rand School training, Claessens was soon engaged as a public speaker and organizer on behalf of the organization, touring coast to coast. He also was a frequent speaker at public meetings of the
425:
478:
Gus
Claessens was twice married. His first wife, the former Hilda Goldstein, was a union organizer who died in 1932. His second wife, the former Anna Glassman, survived him at the time of his death.
186:, on June 17, 1885. He was raised by his mother and a step-father, the latter of whom worked as a house painter. His family emigrated to America in 1890 and he grew up in New York, educated in both
899:
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.
261:
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.
1043:
1058:
834:
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.
242:
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,
443:
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.
466:-dominated faction which had gained control of the ALP. Failing to win control of that organization, Claessens and his associates withdrew that same year and established the
324:
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
220:
and becoming proficient in Yiddish by 1909. Claessens would actively participate in the predominantly Jewish socialist movement in New York City for the rest of his life.
876:
New York State Legislature, Standing Committee on the Judiciary, Louis M. Martin, Louis Waldman, Samuel Aaron De Witt, August Claessens, Samuel Orr, Charles Solomon,
378:
take their seats, but Claessens, Solomon and Waldman were expelled again. Protesting against the re-expulsion of their comrades, DeWitt and Orr resigned their seats.
864:
1048:
951:
382:
1063:
941:
238:
In 1914, Claessens was employed as an instructor in public speaking at the Rand School. He also taught extension classes in Labor and Management for
416:
During the factional conflict within the Socialist Party during the 1930s, Claessens stood with the so-called "Old Guard" faction led by Hillquit,
1028:
497:
1033:
405:
852:
Understanding the Worker: Problems of Labor Organizations Analyzed in the Light of Social Psychology. Backgrounds in Trade Union History.
603:
1053:
1003:
628:
470:
as a rival organization. Claessens would be a Liberal Party candidate for the State Assembly several times, failing to win election.
288:
Claessens supported the majority of the Socialist Party in opposition to the war. He ran in the 26th District of New York County for
1018:
486:
161:, running on the Socialist ticket in 1914, 1924, and 1934. He later served as Executive Secretary and National Chairman of the
1038:
1013:
998:
922:
792:
A Manual for Socialist Speakers: A Brief Text Book on the Technique of Public Speaking and Socialist Propaganda Meetings.
162:
73:
1023:
386:
310:
306:
302:
756:
The Socialists in the New York Assembly: The Work of Ten Socialist Members During the Legislative Session of 1918.
397:
690:
816:
ABC of Parliamentary Law: A Brief Handbook on Rules of Order for Meetings Adapted to the Needs of Labor Groups.
401:
393:
297:
201:
437:
429:
333:
392:
Claessens again ran for Congress as a Socialist in the fall of 1924, once again falling to defeat. In the
1008:
490:
217:
193:
Claessens went to work at age 14 and worked variously as a newsboy, grocery clerk, and shipping clerk.
151:
575:
Bernard K. Johnpoll, "August Claessens (1885-1954)," in Bernard K. Johnpoll and Harvey Klehr (eds.),
467:
721:
822:
What Organized Labor Wants: A Popular Description of Trade Union Philosophy, Economics, and Ideals.
958:
929:
913:
654:
317:
289:
243:
143:
47:
278:
232:
158:
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Illustrations by Ryan Walker. New York: New York Call, 1922. (Also translated into Slovenian).
607:
993:
988:
463:
447:
367:
786:
Essentials of Socialism: A Brief Exposition of the Principal Elements of Modern Socialism.
8:
818:
With Rebecca Jarvis. New York: Rand School Press, n.d. . (Also translated into Japanese).
505:
225:
740:
371:
358:
239:
622:
433:
321:
251:
897:
421:
213:
903:
353:
349:
329:
277:
Gus Claessens made his first run for political office in 1914, when he stood for
147:
970:
890:
886:
882:
459:
187:
116:
766:
New York: Rand School of Social Science, n.d. . (Also translated into Polish).
758:
With William Morris Feigenbaum. New York: Rand School of Social Science, 1918.
982:
501:
455:
341:
205:
136:
400:; and in November 1927 for New York City Alderman from the 6th Ward. At the
777:
769:
761:
482:
325:
255:
197:
30:
779:
Is Socialism Inevitable? An Explanation of the Forces of Social Progress.
417:
285:
183:
810:
A Manual for Trade Union Speakers: A Brief Text Book on Public Speaking.
363:
345:
337:
293:
247:
771:
The Trinity of Plunder: A Cheerful Slam at Rent, Interest and Profit.
601:
Tamiment Library, "Guide to the August Claessens Papers, 1911-1955,"
485:
on December 9, 1954, in Brooklyn, New York. His body was interred at
209:
139:
668:
Tamiment Library, "Guide to the August Claessens Papers, 1911-1955."
881:
In Three Volumes. New York: J.B. Lyon Co., 1920. Available online:
846:
Didn't We Have Fun! Stories Out of a Long, Fruitful and Merry Life.
269:
543:
Didn't We Have Fun! Stores Out of a Long, Fruitful and Merry Life.
1044:
Socialist Party of America politicians from New York (state)
1059:
Members of the Social Democratic Federation (United States)
254:, race relations, socialist theory, contemporary politics,
179:
545:
New York: Rand School Press, 1953; dustjacket front panel.
528:
Solon DeLeon with Irma C. Hayssen and Grace Poole (eds.),
208:. While at the Rand School Claessens became interested in
865:
List of New York Legislature members expelled or censured
296:
polled 2,885 votes; the incumbent Progressive/Republican
691:"Election Notice: Borough of Brooklyn: Socialist Party,"
722:"August Claessens, 69, Dies; Ex-Socialist Assemblyman,"
454:
In 1944, Claessens joined with Socialist Party leaders
196:
Claessens took part in self-directed study through the
436:
comrades in an exodus from the party to establish the
348:— were represented in a trial before the Assembly by
782:
Chicago: Socialist Party of the United States, 1922.
498:
Tamiment Library and Robert F. Wagner Labor Archives
135:(June 17, 1885 – December 9, 1954) was a Swiss-born
980:
420:, and Louis Waldman. After the youthful radical
1049:Expelled members of the New York State Assembly
579:Westport, CT: Greenwood Press, 1986; pp. 69-71.
316:On the first day of the 1920 session, however,
281:as a candidate of the Socialist Party in 1914.
165:, a factional offshoot of the Socialist Party.
577:Biographical Dictionary of the American Left.
381:Claeesens contested the election of Democrat
571:
806:New York: New York Socialist Party, n.d. .
727:vol. 114, no. 339 (Dec. 10, 1954), pg. 13.
569:
567:
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406:New York's At-large congressional district
157:Claessens was three times a candidate for
142:politician, best known as one of the five
29:
1064:20th-century New York (state) politicians
840:Eugene Victor Debs: A Tribute, 1855-1926.
681:vol. 4, no. 18 (October 22, 1927), pg. 4.
717:
715:
696:vol. 94, no. 300 (Oct. 29, 1934), pg. 8.
268:
798:Social Attitudes Towards War and Peace.
548:
389:, and was seated on February 28, 1922.
1029:Members of the New York State Assembly
981:
627:: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (
532:New York: Hanford Press, 1925; pg. 42.
524:
522:
520:
906:. New York: Boni and Liveright, 1920.
735:
733:
712:
656:Manual for the Use of the Legislature
396:, he ran on the Socialist ticket for
1034:Swiss emigrants to the United States
741:"Politicians in Trouble: 1920-1929,"
332:. The five Assemblymen — Claessens,
842:New York: Rand School Press, n.d. .
836:New York: Rand School Press, n.d. .
517:
473:
264:
146:expelled from that body during the
13:
870:
854:New York: Rand School Press, 1954.
848:New York: Rand School Press, 1953.
830:New York: Rand School Press, 1940.
824:New York: Rand School Press, 1937.
812:New York: Rand School Press, 1936.
800:New York: Rand School Press, 1934.
794:New York: Rand School Press, 1933.
788:New York: Rand School Press, 1933.
730:
14:
1075:
1054:20th-century American legislators
1004:American male non-fiction writers
804:The Blue Eagle is Dead — So What?
231:a predominantly Yiddish-language
496:Claessens' papers reside at the
404:, Claessens ran for Congress in
387:145th New York State Legislature
1019:American anti-poverty advocates
962:New York County, 17th District
933:New York County, 17th District
699:
684:
398:Lieutenant Governor of New York
52:from the 17th New York district
671:
662:
648:
635:
595:
582:
535:
411:
233:fraternal benefit organization
1:
530:The American Labor Who's Who.
402:New York state election, 1934
394:New York state election, 1926
202:Rand School of Social Science
178:August Claessens was born in
173:
677:"Here Are Your Candidates,"
511:
462:in attempting to defeat the
446:Claessens was active in the
438:Social Democratic Federation
428:, passing an aggressive new
168:
163:Social Democratic Federation
150:for their membership in the
7:
858:
828:The Democratic Way of Life.
743:www.politicalgraveyard.com/
356:in an event which became a
10:
1080:
1039:Rutgers University faculty
1014:American political writers
999:American economics writers
491:Flushing, Queens, New York
218:Socialist Party of America
152:Socialist Party of America
967:
956:
948:
938:
927:
919:
912:
592:, dustjacket front panel.
468:Liberal Party of New York
126:
122:
110:
100:
89:
79:
67:
56:
44:
40:
28:
21:
1024:American Marxist writers
749:
426:1934 National Convention
273:August Claessens in 1919
959:New York State Assembly
930:New York State Assembly
914:New York State Assembly
763:The Logic of Socialism.
432:, Claessens joined his
430:Statement of Principles
290:New York State Assembly
258:, and sex and society.
244:parliamentary procedure
48:New York State Assembly
279:United States Congress
274:
159:United States Congress
133:August "Gus" Claessens
320:Speaker of the House
272:
487:Cedar Grove Cemetery
481:Claessens died of a
448:American Labor Party
190:and public schools.
144:New York Assemblymen
707:Didn't We Have Fun!
643:Didn't We Have Fun!
590:Didn't We Have Fun!
506:New York University
424:won the day at the
374:across the nation.
216:, both joining the
16:American politician
739:Larry Kestenbaum,
588:August Claessens,
541:August Claessens,
422:"Militant" faction
372:civil libertarians
275:
240:Rutgers University
1009:American Marxists
977:
976:
968:Succeeded by
952:Murray Felenstein
939:Succeeded by
383:Murray Felenstein
322:Thaddeus C. Sweet
252:social psychology
130:
129:
106:Murray Felenstein
35:Claessens in 1920
1071:
949:Preceded by
942:Nathan Lieberman
920:Preceded by
910:
909:
902:Introduction by
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737:
728:
719:
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688:
682:
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606:. Archived from
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573:
546:
539:
533:
526:
474:Death and legacy
338:Samuel A. DeWitt
298:Joseph Steinberg
265:Political career
229:(Arbeiter Ring),
226:Workmen's Circle
214:Yiddish language
113:
103:
94:
85:Nathan Lieberman
82:
70:
61:
50:
33:
23:August Claessens
19:
18:
1079:
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1074:
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904:Seymour Stedman
896:Louis Waldman,
873:
871:Further reading
861:
752:
747:
738:
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725:Brooklyn Eagle,
720:
713:
704:
700:
694:Brooklyn Eagle,
689:
685:
679:The New Leader,
676:
672:
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659:(1916; pg. 843)
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604:"Archived copy"
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354:Seymour Stedman
350:Morris Hillquit
334:Charles Solomon
330:First Red Scare
267:
176:
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148:First Red Scare
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971:Meyer Alterman
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610:on 2009-07-27
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502:Bobst Library
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489:, located in
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456:Harry Laidler
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361:
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359:cause célèbre
355:
351:
347:
343:
342:Louis Waldman
339:
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612:. Retrieved
608:the original
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584:
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495:
483:heart attack
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477:
453:
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326:Palmer Raids
315:
283:
276:
260:
256:anthropology
237:
228:
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198:Cooper Union
195:
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177:
156:
132:
131:
112:Succeeded by
91:
81:Succeeded by
58:
994:1954 deaths
989:1885 births
705:Claessens,
641:Claessens,
434:"Old Guard"
418:James Oneal
412:Party split
292:: Democrat
286:World War I
184:Switzerland
102:Preceded by
69:Preceded by
983:Categories
936:1918–1920
891:Volume III
645:, pg. 170.
614:2009-02-05
346:Samuel Orr
318:Republican
294:Meyer Levy
248:psychology
174:Early life
887:Volume II
512:Footnotes
464:Communist
210:socialism
169:Biography
140:socialist
96:1922–1922
92:In office
63:1918–1920
59:In office
883:Volume I
859:See also
623:cite web
368:radicals
364:liberals
212:and the
200:and the
137:American
440:(SDF).
385:to the
328:of the
284:During
370:, and
362:among
344:, and
965:1922
879:Body.
750:Works
629:link
458:and
352:and
311:1920
309:and
307:1919
303:1918
250:and
180:Bern
504:at
500:of
204:in
985::
889:,
885:,
732:^
714:^
625:}}
621:{{
550:^
519:^
508:.
493:.
408:.
366:,
340:,
336:,
313:.
305:,
246:,
235:.
182:,
154:.
893:.
631:)
617:.
Text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License. Additional terms may apply.
