Cooperative Commonwealth, an organization which was attempting to establish socialist colonies in Washington state. At the end of 1900, Vail resigned his pastorate and accepted a job as the National Organizer of the Social Democratic Party of America, forerunner of the Socialist Party of America. In this capacity, Vail toured the United States speaking on various socialist topics for seven of the first nine months of 1901, traveling over 14,000 miles and visiting 19 states. He was accompanied by his wife Nina, who often shared the platform with him. On January 1, 1901, Vail was nominated by the Social Democratic Party of New Jersey as its candidate for Governor of New Jersey. He stepped down from his position as pastor of the First Universalist Church in Jersey City to pursue this political office, with the position filled by his wife Nina, amidst much publicity and comment on the novelty of a husband and wife team occupying a single pulpit. After resting for the month of September, Vail hit the campaign trail. In the immediate aftermath of the August assassination of President William McKinley by Leon Czolgosz, an anarchist, Vail faced hostile crowds and suffered cancelled meetings by those who confused the doctrines of socialism and anarchism. Vail refused to bow to intimidation and delivered 29 addresses during the course of the 1901 campaign. By the end of the year, Vail had toured 25 states and delivered 241 public lectures. Return to the pulpit During the first decade of the 20th century, Vail served in a succession of Universalist pastorates, including positions at Richfield Springs and Albion, New York. He would later accept a position at the Church of Good Tidings in Brooklyn. Vail continued to preach until his final years, serving as half-time pastor of a congregation in the small town of Merom, Indiana during the early 1920s. Death and legacy Charles H. Vail died at his home in Auburn, New York on June 16, 1924. Works National Ownership of Railways. New York: Humboldt Library, 1897. Modern Socialism. New York: Commonwealth Co., 1897. Principles of Scientific Socialism. New York: Commonwealth Co., 1899; Reissued by Kerr, 1908. The Industrial Evolution. New York: Commonwealth Co., 1899. Mission of the Working Class. Chicago: Charles H. Kerr & Co., 1899. The Trust Question: Its Political and Economic Aspects. Chicago: Charles H. Kerr & Co., 1900. The Socialist Movement. Chicago: Charles H. Kerr & Co.,