Workingmen's Party of New York
Encyclopedia
For other organizations with a similar name, see Workingmen's Party (disambiguation)
.
The Workingmens' Party or Working Men's Party was founded in 1829 in New York City
, inspired by the political views of Robert Dale Owen
who at the time edited the Free Enquirer in New York City.
, among them Samuel B. Romaine
, bribed assemblymen in Albany
to get a large number of banks chartered. These banks issued their own currency with which working men were paid but which was not well accepted by the commerce, and devaluated quickly. Contractors built houses, but did not pay the workers after delivering the house, without consequences.
s Society, was elected to the New York State Assembly
on the Workingmen ticket. Besides, the splitting of the votes among the several parties led to the election of many candidates opposed to Tammany Hall, mainly National Republicans. At the municipal election the Workingmen received about 6,000 votes, Tammany Hall
about 11,000. The result was the failure of Tammany to secure a majority in the Common Council
. Mayor Walter Bowne
(Grand Sachem of the Tammany Society in 1820 and 1831) stood for re-election. Fourteen Aldermen and Assistants were opposed to Bowne, and thirteen favored him. Bowne, who was not a member but as Mayor presided over the Council, said that the constitution permitted him to vote for the office of Mayor which led seven Alderman to walk out, leaving the Council without quorum
on December 29, 1829. They returned on January 6, 1830, and Bowne was elected by a majority of one vote. How this vote was obtained was a mystery. Fourteen members declared under oath that they had voted for Thomas R. Smith, Bowne’s opponent.
. The Tammany men immediately took it up as if it were their own, voted for it, and secured the credit of its adoption, when it became a law. Among other things, it required, under penalties, the owner of a building to retain from the contractor the amount to be paid to the workers.
for Governor. Root declined the nomination, and the Party later nominated Ezekiel Williams from Cayuga County
to run. He polled only 2332 votes.
Due to the adoption of some of the reforms by Tammany, and the beginning of political struggles inside the party, the movement broke up. At the municipal election in 1830 there appeared three separate tickets each of which purported to be the regular representation of the Party: the "Clay Workingmen" (with partisans of Henry Clay
, and big stock-holders among the candidates, polling about 7,000 votes), the rump "Workingmen's Party" led by Robert D. Owen (polling about 2,200), and the "Agrarian Party" (polling 116 votes). With the majority absorbed into mainstream politics, and no radicals elected, the party ceased to exist.
Workingmen's Party (disambiguation)
Workingmen's Party may refer to:*Working Men's Party, founded 1828 in Philadelphia*Workingmen's Party of New York, founded 1829 in New York City*Socialist Labor Party of America, founded 1876 as Workingmen's Party of America in Philadelphia...
.
The Workingmens' Party or Working Men's Party was founded in 1829 in 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...
, inspired by the political views of Robert Dale Owen
Robert Dale Owen
Robert Dale Owen was a longtime exponent in his adopted United States of the socialist doctrines of his father, Robert Owen, as well as a politician in the Democratic Party.-Biography:...
who at the time edited the Free Enquirer in New York City.
Background
In the late 1820s, corruption was rampant in the municipal administration of New York City. Public services, like street lighting, were rendered by friends of the politicians who got monopolies for almost no payment to the city. "Charter dealers"Lobbying
Lobbying is the act of attempting to influence decisions made by officials in the government, most often legislators or members of regulatory agencies. Lobbying is done by various people or groups, from private-sector individuals or corporations, fellow legislators or government officials, or...
, among them Samuel B. Romaine
Samuel B. Romaine
-Life:He was the son of Colonel Benjamin Romaine .Samuel Romaine was a member of the New York State Assembly in 1816-17 and from 1819 to 1822, and was Speaker in 1822.His son Benjamin Romaine, Jr...
, bribed assemblymen in Albany
Albany, New York
Albany is the capital city of the U.S. state of New York, the seat of Albany County, and the central city of New York's Capital District. Roughly north of New York City, Albany sits on the west bank of the Hudson River, about south of its confluence with the Mohawk River...
to get a large number of banks chartered. These banks issued their own currency with which working men were paid but which was not well accepted by the commerce, and devaluated quickly. Contractors built houses, but did not pay the workers after delivering the house, without consequences.
Convention
The party held a convention at Military Hall in New York City on October 19, 1829, and adopted resolutions against private and exclusive possession of the soil and hereditary transmission of wealth, against exclusive privileges, monopolies and exemptions. They denounced bankers as "the greatest knaves, impostors and paupers of the age." The party nominated a full ticket for the state and city elections in November.Elections
Ebenezer Ford, the President of the Journeymen CarpenterCarpenter
A carpenter is a skilled craftsperson who works with timber to construct, install and maintain buildings, furniture, and other objects. The work, known as carpentry, may involve manual labor and work outdoors....
s Society, was elected to 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...
on the Workingmen ticket. Besides, the splitting of the votes among the several parties led to the election of many candidates opposed to Tammany Hall, mainly National Republicans. At the municipal election the Workingmen received about 6,000 votes, Tammany Hall
Tammany Hall
Tammany Hall, also known as the Society of St. Tammany, the Sons of St. Tammany, or the Columbian Order, was a New York political organization founded in 1786 and incorporated on May 12, 1789 as the Tammany Society...
about 11,000. The result was the failure of Tammany to secure a majority in the Common Council
New York City Council
The New York City Council is the lawmaking body of the City of New York. It has 51 members from 51 council districts throughout the five boroughs. The Council serves as a check against the mayor in a "strong" mayor-council government model. The council monitors performance of city agencies and...
. Mayor Walter Bowne
Walter Bowne
Walter Bowne was the four term Mayor of New York from 1829 to 1833.Walter Bowne was born on Flushing, Long Island, the son of James Bowne and his wife Caroline Rodman....
(Grand Sachem of the Tammany Society in 1820 and 1831) stood for re-election. Fourteen Aldermen and Assistants were opposed to Bowne, and thirteen favored him. Bowne, who was not a member but as Mayor presided over the Council, said that the constitution permitted him to vote for the office of Mayor which led seven Alderman to walk out, leaving the Council without quorum
Quorum
A quorum is the minimum number of members of a deliberative assembly necessary to conduct the business of that group...
on December 29, 1829. They returned on January 6, 1830, and Bowne was elected by a majority of one vote. How this vote was obtained was a mystery. Fourteen members declared under oath that they had voted for Thomas R. Smith, Bowne’s opponent.
Achievements
Threatened by the new party’s strength, Tammany fought back by adopting partly the reform measures demanded by the Workingmen. In January 1830, a bill for the better security of mechanics and other laborers of New York City was introduced in the State Assembly by Silas M. StilwellSilas M. Stilwell
Silas Moore Stilwell was an American lawyer and politician.-Biography:He was the son of Stephen Stilwell, who had fought in the Revolutionary War and opened a glass factory in 1804 in Woodstock, New York...
. The Tammany men immediately took it up as if it were their own, voted for it, and secured the credit of its adoption, when it became a law. Among other things, it required, under penalties, the owner of a building to retain from the contractor the amount to be paid to the workers.
Decline
On April 16, 1830, the Workingmen's Party held a state convention at Albany and nominated Erastus RootErastus Root
Erastus Root was an American lawyer and politician from New York.-Life:He graduated from Dartmouth College in 1793 and became a teacher...
for Governor. Root declined the nomination, and the Party later nominated Ezekiel Williams from Cayuga County
Cayuga County, New York
Cayuga County is a county located in the U.S. state of New York. It was named for one of the tribes of Indians in the Iroquois Confederation. Its county seat is Auburn.- History :...
to run. He polled only 2332 votes.
Due to the adoption of some of the reforms by Tammany, and the beginning of political struggles inside the party, the movement broke up. At the municipal election in 1830 there appeared three separate tickets each of which purported to be the regular representation of the Party: the "Clay Workingmen" (with partisans of Henry Clay
Henry Clay
Henry Clay, Sr. , was a lawyer, politician and skilled orator who represented Kentucky separately in both the Senate and in the House of Representatives...
, and big stock-holders among the candidates, polling about 7,000 votes), the rump "Workingmen's Party" led by Robert D. Owen (polling about 2,200), and the "Agrarian Party" (polling 116 votes). With the majority absorbed into mainstream politics, and no radicals elected, the party ceased to exist.
Sources
- http://www.jstor.org/pss/2141055 The Workingmen's Party of New York City: 1829-1831 by Frank T. Carlton, in Political Science Quarterly {Vol. 22, No. 3 [Sep. 1907], pp. 401-415) (subscription required)
- http://www.gutenberg-e.org/greenberg/Chapter6JRG.html Advocating The Man - Masculinity, Organized Labor, and the Household in New York, 1800-1840 by Joshua R. Greenberg (Chapter 6 on the Working Men's Party) (on-line version)
- History of the Labor Movement in the United States: From Colonial Times to the Founding of the American Federation of Labor by Philip Sheldon Foner (International Publishers Co, 1979, ISBN 0717803767 , ISBN 9780717803767 ; pages 133f)