Benjamin Gitlow

Benjamin Gitlow, December 22, 1891 (Elizabethport, NJ) – July 19, 1965 (Crompond, NY)

VP candidate for Workers Party of America (aka Communist Party) (1924)
VP candidate for Workers (Communist) Party (aka Communist Party) (1928)

Running mate with nominee (1924, 1928): William Z. Foster (1881-1961)
Popular vote (1924): 38,669 (0.13%)
Popular vote (1928): 48,551 (0.13%)
Electoral vote (1924): 0/531
Electoral vote (1928): 0/531

The campaign (1924):

Lenin had died in January 1924 and the American Communists were already starting to divide over the events in the Soviet Union. Meanwhile, efforts to form a bloc with the Farmer-Labor Party had failed. And to top things off, Moscow had sent a Hungarian Communist named József Pogány aka John Pepper, to "manage" the Party but in reality all his efforts merely created more division. In this atmosphere the Workers Party of America nominated William Z. Foster and Benjamin Gitlow, representatives of two rival factions.

The campaign took place between Gitlow's two stints in prison 1920-1922 and 1925.

On the ballot in 15 states, their best showing was in Minnesota (0.54%)

The campaign (1928):

The Workers (Communist) Party inner strife continued to reflect the political power struggle taking place in the Soviet Union, including taking sides as either pro-Stalin or pro-Trotsky wings after the latter was expelled and exiled. In addition there was the good old fashioned American pattern of internecine warfare so prevalent in third parties. Once again Foster and Gitlow, by now more mortal enemies than ever, were on the same ticket.

With recorded votes in 35 states they placed fourth. The only state where they finished above 1% was Florida with 1.46% and most of those votes came from Alachua County which is something of a mystery.

Election history:
1917-1918 - New York State Assembly (Socialist Party of America)
1918 - New York State Assembly (Socialist Party of America) - Defeated
1921 - Mayor of New York City (Workers League) - Defeated
1926 - Governor of New York (Workers Party of America) - Defeated

Other occupations: retail clerk, garment cutter, journalist

Buried: ?

Notes:
His opponents for the 1926 Governor of NY election included Al Smith and his 1928 VP competitor
 Jeremiah D. Crowley of the Socialist Labor Party.
His parent were Jewish Russian immigrants in the late 1880s.
Joined the Socialist Party of America 1909, joined the Communists 1919.
Worked closely with John Reed.
Served in prison 1920-1922, 1925 charged with advocating "criminal anarchy."
Was arrested at the 1922 Bridgman Convention along with Caleb Harrison (who had been the
 Socialist Labor Party VP candidate in 1916)
Was expelled from the Communist Party in 1929 during a purge of "Right Oppositions" and then
 joined the misnamed Communist Party (Majority Group) aka Lovestoneites. Formed his owned
 Right-wing Communist party, the Workers Communist League aka Gitlowites in 1933.
Briefly rejoined the Socialists in 1934 and then became a very public outspoken conservative anti-
 Communist in the late 1930s.
Was associated with anti-Communist (and later disgraced over sex scandal charges) Rev. James
 Hargis.
The 1924 and 1928 campaigns showed us that charges of Russian meddling in American elections
 plus questionable votes from Florida have a history.

Caleb Leroy Harrison

Caleb Leroy Harrison, September 20, 1879 (Monocacy Station, Penn.) - June 8, 1938 (Chicago, Ill.)

VP candidate for Socialist Labor Party (1916)

Running mate with nominee: Arthur E. Reimer (1882–1969)
Popular vote: 15,295 (0.08%)
Electoral vote: 0/531

The campaign:

This was the first national election in which the Socialist Labor Party had to struggle without the sectarian leadership of Daniel De Leon, who died in 1914. His handpicked replacement, Danish-born Arnold Petersen, proved a durable choice as he led the Party until 1969.

The 1916 platform was another mini-essay, concluding with: "And we also call upon all other intelligent citizens to place themselves squarely upon the ground of Working Class interests, and join us in this mighty and noble work of human emancipation, so that we may put summary end to the existing barbarous class conflict by placing the land and all the means of production, transportation, and distribution into the hands of the people as a collective body, and substituting  the Co-operative Commonwealth for the present state of planless production, industrial war and social  disorder--a commonwealth in which every worker shall have the free exercise and full benefit of his faculties, multiplied by all the factors of modern civilization."

For such a tiny political party the campaign certainly attracted a considerable amount of fear and paranoia that would only increase in the coming years. Reimer was jailed in Butte, Mont. and Harrison in Homestead, Penn. for making speeches that were considered too radical.

On the ballot in 18 states, their best finish was in Maryland with 0.29%.

Election history:
1908 - Pennsylvania General Assembly (Socialist Labor Party) - defeated
1910 - US House of Representatives (Penn.) (Socialist Labor Party) - defeated
1911 - Berks County, Penn. County Controller (Socialist Labor Party) - defeated
1912 - US House of Representatives (Penn.) (Industrialist Party) - defeated
1914 - Governor of Pennsylvania (Industrialist Party) - defeated
1916 - Presidential nomination of the Socialist Labor Party - defeated

Other occupations: machinist, roller in a pipe mill

Buried: Acacia Park Cemetery and Mausoleum (Chicago, Ill.)

Notes:
Moved to Chicago from Wilkinsburg, Penn. 1915-1916. Was a resident of Wyomissing, Penn. until
 ca. 1913.
By 1920 had converted to communism, assuming a leadership role. Using the pseudonym Atwood, he
 helped unify the Canadian communist groups in 1921.
On Aug. 22, 1922 he was arrested with 16 others in the historic raid at a Bridgman, Mich. communist
 meeting.
Buried in the same cemetery as Mike Royko.
Vanished from the political radar after 1923 so far as I can ascertain.
[Update: Mar. 12, 2021. Cassidy Stephenson writes: "I am the great-great granddaughter of Caleb Harrison, the vice presidential candidate for the socialist labor party in 1916. I actually went to Acacia Park cemetery to see his grave two days ago and they said he was cremated and we have no idea who has the ashes or if anyone ever even picked him up."  -- If any of you readers out there can answer Cassidy's question please drop us a line]