So rapidly did it gain in membership and influence that by 1892 it was able to present itself as an organized national party appealing to public opinion for confidence and support, submitting its claims to public discussion, and stating its case upon reasonable grounds.

Although its membership was small in comparison with that of the old parties, the disparity was not so great as it seemed, since the Socialists represented active intelligence while the other parties represented political inertia.

From this time on, Socialist views spread among college students, artists, and men of letters, and the academic Socialist became a familiar figure in American society.
Probably more significant than the Socialist movement, as an indication of the popular demand for radical reform in the government of the country, was the New York campaign of Henry George in 1886.

He was a San Francisco printer and journalist when he published the work on "Progress and Poverty" which made him famous.

Upon the petition of over thirty thousand citizens, he became the Labor candidate for mayor of New York City.