FAQ First Letter

Margaret Haile, a socialist at the turn of the 20th century is affiliated with Eugene Debs and the Socialist Party.  Cindy is working on a historical fiction novel about this forward thinking woman titled In Solidarity, Margaret Haile. The story is based upon letters Cindy has acquired. 

Born in Canada, it is known that by 1894 Margaret was living in the United States, when she makes her debut appearance. She is the first woman allowed to have a woman’s column in an English language socialist publication. She writes an editorial column for ‘Justice’ out of Providence, Rhode Island. She remains active in the throes of the various socialist parties beyond the turn of the 20th century.  

Margaret must be one of the 3 women in the above picture as she attended the Indianapolis Social Unity Convention, held from Monday, July 29th through Thursday, August 1, 1901.  At this Unity Convention, the Social Democratic Party (SDP) officially united with the Socialist Labor Party (SLP) to form the Socialist Party of America (SPA).

Margaret is believed to have been the first woman to serve on a national committee of a American socialist organization. She was one of 9 members on the SDP Unity committee.