Benjamin Hanford
Benjamin Hanford (1861–1910) was an American politician during the late 19th and early 20th centuries. He made two unsuccessful runs for the post of Vice President of the United States, as Eugene Debs' running mate as a candidate of the Social Democratic Party, in 1904 and 1908.[1]
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Biography [edit]
Benjamin Hanford was born in Cleveland, Ohio, the son of George Byington Hanford and Susan Elizabeth (Martini) Hanford. Susan died in Benjamin's infancy, and his father married Frances Jane Thompson, who influenced Benjamin by helping him develop a taste for literature. He later married Alice M. Burnhand. While working in Marshalltown, Iowa, for the newspaper the Republic, Hanford learned the trade of printing.[2][3]
Hanford later moved to Chicago, Illinois, where he became a member of the Chicago Typographical Union.
During his political career, Hanford was a three-time Social Democratic Party candidate for governor of the state of New York. Hanford ran unsuccessfully in 1898, 1900, and 1902. During this time, he was also the Socialist Democratic party candidate for mayor of New York City in 1901, although he was unsuccessful.[4]
Hanford was later the Vice-Presidential running mate to Eugene Debs during the 1904 and 1908 United States presidential elections. During his middle and later life, Hanford was known to take about three months out of each year to tour the United States and make political addresses. When not on the political trail, Hanford was known for using his printing background to further aid the Socialist cause; Hanford's printing press were said to have been distributed in the millions.[3] In 1909, Hanford produced a book titled Fight for Your Life!: Recording Some Activities of a Labor Agitator.
Death and legacy [edit]
Ben Hanford died at his home in Brooklyn, New York on Monday, January 24, 1910.
Footnotes [edit]
- ^ Lawrence Kastenbaum, "Benjamin Hanford," The Political Graveyard, www.politicalgraveyard.com/
- ^ James Gaven Field, "Ben Hanford," Who's Who in America, Volume 1, 1897-1942.
- ^ a b Benjamin Hanford and Joshua Wanhope, Fight for your Life! New York: Wilshire Book Co., 1909.
- ^ "Social Democrats' Choice for City Offices: Benjamin Hanford Selected as Candidate for Mayor: Platform Denounces the Party in Power as Hostile to Labor: Prof. Herron Attacks Capitalists," New York Times, June 23, 1901.
Works [edit]
- McKinley, Bryan or Debs? New York : G. Speyer, 1900
- What workingmen's votes can do Chicago : National Committee of the Socialist Party, 1904
- The labor war in Colorado New York: Socialistic Co-operative Pub. Association, 1904 (Volkszeitung library Vol. VI #4)
- Speeches of acceptance of Eugene V. Debs and Ben. Hanford: candidates of the Socialist Party for President and Vice-President; delivered at the National Convention of the Socialist Party held at Chicago, May 1-6, 1904. Chicago: National Committee of the Socialist Party, 1904
- Fight for your life! Recording some activities of a labor agitator. New York, Wilshire Book Co., 1909
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