Meyer London (1871-1926), a Russian Jewish immigrant, settled in New York’s Lower East Side in 1891. He became a lawyer, labor activist, founding member of the Socialist Party of America, and a three term Congressman, advocating peaceful and gradual methods and refusing to take rigid doctrinal positions. Elected to Congress in 1914 as the lone Socialist he demonstrated political skill and courage. London urged unemployment, health and old age insurance, and fought attempts to restrict immigration. At the outbreak of World War I, he urged strict neutrality, voting against declarations of war on Germany and Austria-Hungary (but once the U.S. intervened, London supported the war). In 1918, a fusion candidate defeated London, questioning his
Americanism.
He returned to Congress in 1920, where in the face of the pro-business Harding Administration he continued to fight for economic and social justice. Defeated in 1922, London resumed his law practice, and once again became involved in union affairs. His untimely death in 1926 caused shock waves among his fellow Lower East Siders for whom the beloved London had become a folk hero.