Samuel Orr (1890–1981) was a socialist politician from New York City best remembered for being one of the five elected members of the Socialist Party of America expelled by the New York State Assembly during the Red Scare of 1919-1920.
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Orr was born on July 11, 1890 in Bronx, New York. He was educated and worked as a lawyer.
Orr was a candidate of the Socialist Party for the New York State Assembly from the 4th District of Bronx County in 1918. While 10 members of the Socialist Party were elected in that year, the high-water mark of the party's fortunes in the state, Orr was defeated.
In 1920, Orr was reelected to the Assembly, but on the first day of the session he was called before the speaker along with four of his Socialist colleagues — Louis Waldman, Charles Solomon, Samuel DeWitt, and August Claessens. The five were charged with being unfit for membership in the Assembly through their membership in the Socialist Party and were suspended from their seats by a vote of 140 to 6.[1]
A protracted political trial followed as to the fitness of the five Socialists to assume their seats, which ran throughout the winter and spring. The so-called "trial" began on January 20, 1920.[2] Morris Hillquit and Seymour Stedman were the lead attorneys in handling the case for the Socialist defendants. The group was formally expelled on April 1, 1920.
Samuel Orr was reelected to the New York State Assembly in 1921.
In 1922, Orr ran for the New York State Senate in the 22nd District. He lost the race. He ran again in 1928 in that district without success. In 1933, Orr ran in the 21st District and lost once again.[3]
Orr ran for US Congress in the 23rd District of New York in 1926, and again in 1930 and 1934. He lost each time.
Samuel Orr died on August 29, 1981.