[[Image:Intercollegiate Socialist Letter Letterhead Socialism is the Solution.jpg|thumb|250px|right|]]
The '''Intercollegiate Socialist Society''' was a leftist group founded in 1905 by writers [[Upton Sinclair]] and [[Jack London]], both of whom were members of the [[Socialist Party of America]]. It was active until 1921, when the word "socialist" had become a liability.<ref>{{cite book|last1=Martin|first1=Rose|title=Fabian Freeway: High Road to Socialism in the U.S.A.|date=1966|publisher=Western Islands|location=Belmont, Massachusetts|pages=208}}</ref>
The undersigned, regarding its aims and fundamental principles with sympathy, and believing that in them will ultimately be found the remedy for many far-reaching economic evils, propose organizing an association, to be known as the Intercollegiate Socialist Society, for the purpose of promoting an intelligent interest in Socialism among college men, graduate and undergraduate, through the formation of study clubs in the colleges and universities, and the encouraging of all legitimate endeavors to awaken an interest in Socialism among the educated men and women of the country.<ref name=rand />}}
The founding members include [[Upton Sinclair]], [[Jack London]], [[Clarence Darrow]], [[Charlotte Perkins Gilman]], [[James Graham Phelps Stokes|Graham Phelps Stokes]], [[William English Walling]], [[B. O. Flower]], [[Leonard D. Abbott]], [[Thomas Wentworth Higginson]], and [[Harry W. Laidler]].<ref name=rand>Rand School of Social Science, [httphttps://books.google.com/books?id=gpk7AAAAMAAJ&pg=PA156] The American Labor Year Book, Volume 1, 1916</ref>.
==Purpose and Criticism==
Upon its inception, the ISS faced criticism that it "aims to imbue the minds of the rising generation with socialistic doctrines".<ref name=higginson>{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=1rZCAQAAIAAJ&pg=PA1094|title=Harper's Weekly, Letters to the Editor|date=1905|publisher=Harper's Weekly|pages=1094}}</ref>.
Responding to this criticism, one of the Founding members, Thomas Higginson, wrote that the purpose of the Society was to ensure that "this tendency should be studied seriously and thoughtfully, not left to demagogues alone. For this purpose our foremost universities should take the matter up scientifically, as has been done for several years at Harvard University, where there is a full course on "Methods of Social Reform - Socialism, Communism, the Single Tax." etc., given by Professor T.N. Carver."<ref name=higginson />
One response to this explanation noted that at an International Congress of Socialist Students and Graduates, Professor [[Enrico Ferri]] from Palermo University of Italy stated the following: "We should introduce Socialism into the students' minds as a part of science, as the logical and necessary culmination of the biological and sociological sciences. No need of making a direct propaganda which would frighten many of the listeners. Without pronouncing the word Socialism once a year I make two thirds of our students conscious Socialists."<ref>{{cite book|title=The Origin of the Intercollegiate Socialist Society Disclosed|date=1905|publisher=National Civic Federation|pages=11-2011–20}}</ref>
==Development==
The society would bring in speakers for its members, such as Congressman [[Victor Berger]].<ref name=bourne /><ref>[http://query.nytimes.com/gst/abstract.html?res=9400E1D91231E233A2575AC2A9649D946096D6CF COLLEGE SOCIALISTS MEET.; Victor Berger and Other Leaders at Mrs. Finch's Reception.], [[The New York Times]]</ref>
Jessie Wallace Hughan was vice president of the ISS,<ref>{{cite book|title=The Arbitrator, Volume 3|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=MsscAQAAIAAJ&pg=PA58|pages=58}}</ref>, and a professor of economics at the [[Rand School of Social Science]].<ref>{{cite book|title=Bulletin ..., Issue 4|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=svugAAAAMAAJ&pg=PA9|pages=pages 8, 9}}</ref>
==Transformation==
In 1921, a vote was held to which [[Harry W. Laidler]] announced: "the members of the Intercollegiate Socialist Society had declared themselves in favor of the change in name and purpose."<ref name="call">{{cite news|title=I.S.S. Gives Way to New League for Democracy|work=[[New York Call]]|date=November 19, 1921}}</ref> In November,<ref name="call" /><ref name="clay">{{cite book|title=Brick and Clay Record: A Semi-monthly Record of the World's Progress in Clayworking..., Volume 68|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=gWE7AQAAIAAJ&q=%22Education+for+a+new+social+order+based+on+production+for+public+use%22&dq=%22Education+for+a+new+social+order+based+on+production+for+public+use%22&hl=en&sa=X&ei=VksfVbD-BYqGsAXx8IGADQ&ved=0CB0Q6AEwAA|pages=852}}</ref>, the organization officially became the LID and set its sights beyond college campi. They also presented their new guiding principle: "Education for a New Social Order Based on Production for Public Use and Not for Private Profit."<ref name="clay" /><ref>{{cite news |url=http://query.nytimes.com/gst/abstract.html?res=9F01E4DF1239E133A25752C0A9679C946395D6CF|title=PLAN TO WIN STUDENTS TO 'NEW SOCIAL ORDER'; League for Industrial Democracy Speaker Calls Agricultural 'Bloc' Communistic.|work=[[The New York Times]]|date=January 1, 1922}}</ref>
The League would later rename again, leading to the formation of SDS and the Weather Underground.
==Family Tree==
[[Intercollegiate Socialist Society]]<br />
↳ [[League for Industrial Democracy]] → → →<br />
↳ [[League for Industrial Democracy#1932|Student League for Industrial Democracy (1932)]] → [[American Student Union]]<br />