Darwin Meserole (2 results)

A pamphlet issued by the New York Call, the daily Socialist newspaper affiliated with the Socialist Party of America, reprinting the Welsh-Slater and Stivers Acts that were passed by the New York legislature and signed into law by Governor Whitman (they became a precursor to teh federal Selective Service Act of 1917). This series of unprecedented "militarist laws" were passed during the "Prepardness Movement" leading up to U.S. entry into WWI and mandated military training for all boys age 16-19. There were also implications for labor unions included in the Stivers Act, which allowed the drafting of any worker age 18-45 and the ability for the state militia to suppress strikes. The American Union Against Militarism, which was founded in late 1915 and was the forerunner of the ACLU, was the primary pacifist organization that opposed the laws, and Darwin J. Meserole, President of the New York branch contributes an introductory essay titled, "The Challenge Must Be Met!" Also included is an essay by New York Call editor, Chester Wright, "If You Do Not Want Chains, Then Join the Fight for Liberty." The rest of the pamphlet reprints the various acts. Stapled wrappers, 16 pp. Stamp of notable Socialist organizer Fred Schwartkopf to the top of the front wrapper. Wrappers split along the spine below the first staple, wear and creasing, a good copy of a scarce pamphlet. No record for this title in WorldCat, although a copy exists in the records of the American Union Against Militarism at Swarthmore. Postal authorities often stopped circulation of the AUAM's publications, so it's possible that this title was among those proscribed.

No Binding. Condition: Very Good. 23 letters, 55 pages (typed and manuscript), dated 6 January 1944 - 20 April 1952, (no mailing envelopes). The letters are written by Meserole to Graves and include several retained copies of letters: one to Pearl S. Buck, one from Pearl S. Buck, one to the "Trustees of the Jean Field Case Funds," and one to the Premier of Iran. Also included are three pieces of ephemera pertaining to Meserole. Darwin J. Meserole was born in 1868. He was the son of Jeremiah Vanderbilt Meserole, president of the Williamsburg Savings Bank and a New York City surveyor. During the Civil War General Meserole was a colonel of the 47th Regiment (New York). His son Darwin became a stock broker and was a one time member of the New York Stock Exchange. He also was a graduate of the New York Law School. While he was listed as a broker, he tended to be something of a gadfly spending much of his time traveling in Europe. His carefree lifestyle led to an incident during which he shot and killed a man. The man had beaten a prostitute that Meserole was involved with. The incident created scandalous headlines in New York City in 1891. Darwin's father helped him beat the charge by pleading self-defense. Meserole appears to have turned his back on banking, finance, and the stock exchange. During the 1920s and 1930s he was the president of the National Unemployment League (NUL) and a champion of the Socialist philosophy. The NUL sought relief of unemployment through public works programs by the Federal, State, and Municipal governments. Meserole was a Socialist party candidate for various offices in New York State, but was never successful. He ran for the position of Judge of the Court of Appeals on the Socialist party ticket for the 1936 elections. Previously he had run for Attorney General in 1920, for Chief Judge in 1926, and for associate judge of the Court of Appeals in 1930, 1933, and 1934. Meserole died on 22 May 1952, as he was about to board the Staten Island Ferry, he was 84 years old, and lived at the George Washington Hotel at 23 Lexington Avenue in New York City. Meserole was friends with the Socialist, Norman Thomas (1884-1968), the poet Edwin Markham (1852-1940), amongst other well known persons of the day. Meserole's letters are written to Miss Anna Melissa Graves (1875-1964) of Maryland. She was born in Baltimore, was an author, teacher, world traveler, and internationalist. Graves assisted in relief work after World War I, in Europe, Asia, Africa, and South America. She became active in leftist political circles, and was the friend and benefactor of Victor Raul Haya de la Torre, a Peruvian political leader. Graves was a member of the Women's International League for Peace and Freedom and served on its Executive Board for a time. She published several books based on her correspondence with various people around the world, pacifists and internationalists. She was well known in the leftist circles of her day, she corresponded with W. E. B. DuBois, Bertram David Wolfe, Bertrand Russell, Pearl Buck, amongst others. Merserole writes 22 letters to Graves, dated between 1944 and his death in 1952. In one letter, dated 3 October 1947, he learns that he and Graves are related, "5th cousin, twice removed," which he celebrates. In the same letter he writes: "I appreciate the word from my friend Norman Thomas am glad he met you. The last time - 1944 - I saw him and his wife in Gramercy Park I said, "Well, Norman, despite your attitude toward Russia, I'm going to vote for you for President, as usual." He said, "Thank you." You must have enjoyed your visit with Pearl Buck. I hope she will be able to help the Germans in whom you are interested. I can understand the feeling of your German Mother whose son died because of the treatment received in an American prison. My own feeling is, also, at times, almost "bitter" when I think of the injustices, and crimes, of our people. Handwritten.