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Fantasy Commentator, v. 1, issue 11, Summer 1946
Page 293
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FANTASY COMMENTATOR 293 XII The Decline of the SFL and ISA's Bid for Power The February, 1936 Arcturus announced the dissolution of the Eastern New York Science Fiction League chapter by a unanimous vote of the membership. In its place was to be a new organization, the Independent League for Science Fiction. Members listed the following reasons for their action, which was obviously an aftermath of the last SFL-ISA clash: First of all, they felt that the SFL was not altruistic, but purely commercial in nature. In the second place, it was a dictatorship headed by a single individual, with no machinery available for his removal or for the election of new officers, since there was no written constitution. Thirdly, the reputation of Wonder Stories was detrimental to any organization it sponsored. Fourthly, such chapter organs as Arcturus, The Fourteen Leaflet and The Brooklyn Reporter gave fuller, more helpful information about the League than the latter's own column in Wonder Stories. And lastly, because three members had been expelled before being given any opportunity to speak in their own defense. The Eastern New York chapter now termed itself the Brooklyn League for Science Fiction. Its members were Harold Kirschenblit, Donald A. Wollheim, Frederick Pohl, Herman Leventman, Milton White, Israel Brodsky, Morris Davis, R. Drucker, Morris Miller, Louis Heynick, Irving Kosow, William S. Sykora and Bernard Weldt. The Science Fiction League had now lost control of the last important New York chapter. And in the Independent League for Science Fiction it had a bone stuck permanently in its throat; the newly formed group was a constant reminder to fans of a battle the SFL had lost, a sure guarantee that formation of any new local chapter would be frustrated. Despite this, however, progress continued to be reported from elsewhere in the country, and for a short while it appeared that the ISA's victory was local in character. But that this was far from the truth soon became evident. In December, 1935 the SFL granted a charter to a group of Denver fans, all of active importance, Olon F. Wiggins, Fred J. Walsen and Mervyn Evans. When informed of the details behind the SFL-ISA fracas, however, they rescinded all League ties, and applied for a local ILSF charter, which was granted. Similarly the Albany chapter headed by A. E. Selikowitz, which included P. Schuyler Miller in its retinue, and the Nassau chapter headed by A. J. Aisenstein also resigned from the Science Fiction League, though small memberships prevented their being given charters from the ILSF. What further progress the organization might have made against the SFL is debatable, but in any event strife was broken off, for with dramatic suddenness Wonder Stories was sold. In an effort to counteract diminishing circulation, Hugo Gernsback had proposed a scheme whereby readers would receive copies of Wonder Stories directly from the company upon remitting the 15c cover price, thus eliminating the publisher's losses on useless unsold copies of the magazine that were returned from newsstands. But the handful of readers who cooperated was insufficient to keep the periodical in existence, even at a slight profit. Disappointed, Gernsback cast about for a purchaser who would take Wonder Stories off his hands, finally completing arrangements with Leo Margolies of Better Publications, Inc. For four months during mid-1936 the future of the SFL was therefore in doubt, and the very presence of doubt was enough to sever the comparatively tenuous links that bound the scattered chapters to the sponsoring home office. Most of the smaller ones disappeared permanently, and the larger groups---like the Los Angeles and Chicago chapters---marked time anxiously until their new status could be determined. Then word came through that Weisinger, veteran fan and co-editor of Fantasy Magazine, was to edit a rejuvenated Wonder Stories. Fans breathed a sigh
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FANTASY COMMENTATOR 293 XII The Decline of the SFL and ISA's Bid for Power The February, 1936 Arcturus announced the dissolution of the Eastern New York Science Fiction League chapter by a unanimous vote of the membership. In its place was to be a new organization, the Independent League for Science Fiction. Members listed the following reasons for their action, which was obviously an aftermath of the last SFL-ISA clash: First of all, they felt that the SFL was not altruistic, but purely commercial in nature. In the second place, it was a dictatorship headed by a single individual, with no machinery available for his removal or for the election of new officers, since there was no written constitution. Thirdly, the reputation of Wonder Stories was detrimental to any organization it sponsored. Fourthly, such chapter organs as Arcturus, The Fourteen Leaflet and The Brooklyn Reporter gave fuller, more helpful information about the League than the latter's own column in Wonder Stories. And lastly, because three members had been expelled before being given any opportunity to speak in their own defense. The Eastern New York chapter now termed itself the Brooklyn League for Science Fiction. Its members were Harold Kirschenblit, Donald A. Wollheim, Frederick Pohl, Herman Leventman, Milton White, Israel Brodsky, Morris Davis, R. Drucker, Morris Miller, Louis Heynick, Irving Kosow, William S. Sykora and Bernard Weldt. The Science Fiction League had now lost control of the last important New York chapter. And in the Independent League for Science Fiction it had a bone stuck permanently in its throat; the newly formed group was a constant reminder to fans of a battle the SFL had lost, a sure guarantee that formation of any new local chapter would be frustrated. Despite this, however, progress continued to be reported from elsewhere in the country, and for a short while it appeared that the ISA's victory was local in character. But that this was far from the truth soon became evident. In December, 1935 the SFL granted a charter to a group of Denver fans, all of active importance, Olon F. Wiggins, Fred J. Walsen and Mervyn Evans. When informed of the details behind the SFL-ISA fracas, however, they rescinded all League ties, and applied for a local ILSF charter, which was granted. Similarly the Albany chapter headed by A. E. Selikowitz, which included P. Schuyler Miller in its retinue, and the Nassau chapter headed by A. J. Aisenstein also resigned from the Science Fiction League, though small memberships prevented their being given charters from the ILSF. What further progress the organization might have made against the SFL is debatable, but in any event strife was broken off, for with dramatic suddenness Wonder Stories was sold. In an effort to counteract diminishing circulation, Hugo Gernsback had proposed a scheme whereby readers would receive copies of Wonder Stories directly from the company upon remitting the 15c cover price, thus eliminating the publisher's losses on useless unsold copies of the magazine that were returned from newsstands. But the handful of readers who cooperated was insufficient to keep the periodical in existence, even at a slight profit. Disappointed, Gernsback cast about for a purchaser who would take Wonder Stories off his hands, finally completing arrangements with Leo Margolies of Better Publications, Inc. For four months during mid-1936 the future of the SFL was therefore in doubt, and the very presence of doubt was enough to sever the comparatively tenuous links that bound the scattered chapters to the sponsoring home office. Most of the smaller ones disappeared permanently, and the larger groups---like the Los Angeles and Chicago chapters---marked time anxiously until their new status could be determined. Then word came through that Weisinger, veteran fan and co-editor of Fantasy Magazine, was to edit a rejuvenated Wonder Stories. Fans breathed a sigh
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