Delightful advice for a, sadly, lost Socialist tradition once widely practiced in the U.S.

‘Conducting Socialist Encampments’ by Oles Stofer from The Party Builder (Bulletin of the Socialist Party). No. 56. November 29, 1913.

Socialist picnics and encampments, of from one to six days’ duration, have become a fixed annual affair in many parts of Oklahoma and Texas. Crowds attending number from two to ten thousand each day. From this one can see their immense propaganda value.

This article is written with the hope that comrades in all parts of our nation will recognize the educational value of the encampment and arrange to establish one in their vicinity.

A successful encampment depends on many details, all of which must be executed in a thorough manner. I recommend the organization of encampment associations, separate from the locals, for the reason that several locals can, or will, join in one movement.

It is well to begin preparations early, several months before the time for the encampment. The Otter Valley Encampment Association, of which I am secretary-treasurer, has already set the dates of their 1914 encampment, August 5 to 9, inclusive. They are also now arranging for speakers of national reputation.

Officers. The officers of an association should be: Chairman, secretary-treasurer, a manager of concessions, a finance committee, and any other committees local conditions might suggest or demand. The secretary must expect to sacrifice considerable time, as he is usually the head of the whole affair, and on him depends much of the success of the undertaking.

Place. A good grove, with plenty of water and spacious camp grounds, is very essential, although in some localities successful encampments have been held on the open prairie, shade being provided either by building arbors or by the use of large tents.

Time of Year. If the encampment is held in an agricultural section, a time in the summer when the farmers have the least to do should be selected.

Duration of Encampments. Three days seems to be the favorite time. In localities where there is good shade, and the encampment has become a fixed annual affair, five or six days is not too long.

Cost. An encampment may cost anywhere from $100 to $1,000, depending on the length of time, number and cost of speakers, music, advertising, etc.

Finances. If the finances are rightly managed, the encampment will pay its own way. As soon as organization is effected let the secretary open a subscription book for the comrades. We ask $1.00 of each comrade who feels able to contribute. In this way we raise $60 to $75. If the encampment is to be held near or in a town, a bonus may be had from the merchants. Some of our Oklahoma towns have contributed as much as $200. The sale of concessions is the best method of raising finance. association this season obtained $217 in this way. Another plan is to sell literature. Sometimes we pass the hat and take collections, sell socialist bulletins, pennants, badges, etc.

Our Advertising. If you would have big crowds and lots of concessions to help pay expenses, do plenty of advertising. Advertise in the local and county papers, by hand bills and large posters. Use want ads in the city papers for concession buyers.

Concessions. A very important individual is the concession man. He must have good business ability. First, he should make a schedule of prices to cover the various kinds of privileges, such as drink stands, hamburger stands, doll racks, pounding machines, merry-go-rounds, show, etc. Then he should plat his grounds, setting stakes where each concession may be located. When he sells a concession he should give the purchaser a contract which states the nature of the concession, price, terms, etc. This precaution will save trouble. Collect your concession money early. Don’t wait until the show is over, for if you do many will refuse to pay.

Daily Program. The main purpose of encampments is propaganda among the non-Socialists. We have three lectures each day- forenoon, afternoon and evening. Secure the best speakers possible. Try to have one speech each day by some national speaker. For the other two you may use your state talent. Have an abundance of literature for free distribution. Be prepared to take subscriptions to any Socialist paper. Push The Party Builder. Much interest and enjoyment can be added to each lecture session by opening with a thirty-minute program of singing, reading or music by a string band. Usually, local talent can be had to furnish this part of the program without cost. A printed program should be provided for free distribution. Select a capable comrade to act as chairman of each session. His duty will be to introduce the speakers, make announcements, conduct the book sales and superintend the collections.

Education of the Socialists. Realizing the need of educating our own comrades, especially in party tactics, we expect to employ hereafter some comrade well fitted to conduct a school of instruction each day of the encampment for the benefit of the Socialists. After the encampment require the secretary to make a detailed report of the finances. The secretary-treasurer should insist on an auditing committee to check up his accounts. All comrades interested have a right to know where all the money comes from and for what expended.

Encampment Circuits. So many encampments are held in Oklahoma that many conflicting dates are made. Because of this, we organized this year the Southwest Oklahoma Encampment Association, covering about twelve counties. For this association we have one officer- a secretary-treasurer- whose endeavor is to arrange the circuit in a way to avoid duty it is to co-operate with each local association conflicting dates. He may also superintend the routing of one or more speakers, and by making dates at each encampment very much reduce the cost of speakers.

For instance, under the plan of each encampment for itself, a speaker coming, say, from Chicago or Milwaukee, for one date, would cost about $100, while under the plan of co-operation we arrange ten, twenty or thirty consecutive dates for a speaker at a cost of from $10 to $25 per date. By co-operation this season, we arranged twenty-nine consecutive dates for Comrade Kate Richards O’Hare in ten counties.

We hope to organize an encampment circuit in each congressional district in. Oklahoma for next year.

A Few Don’ts.

Don’t hire a brass band, unless you have money to waste. Better spend the money for literature.

Don’t allow the sale of any noise-makers, as they interrupt the speakers.

Don’t allow stands, or the merry-go-round, near the speaker’s stand.

Don’t believe the “hard luck” stories of the professional privilege man. Make your own prices and terms and stand by them.

Don’t make your estimate of expenses too low. Figure on a good healthy surplus. It’s mighty convenient to close an encampment with every demand paid and money in the treasury.

For a variety of reasons, the national Socialist Party of America did not have an official publication until May 1904 when the national convention mandated the monthly Socialist Party Official Bulletin as a way for the Party to communicate to its members. The name was changed to Socialist Party Monthly Bulletin in October 1911. The Party Builder became the name in 1913 and also became a subscription paper and a weekly. In 1914 the Socialist Party replaced The Party Builder with a regular propaganda newspaper, The American Socialist. These Party paper contain National Committee and National Executive Committee minutes, National Secretary reports, membership figures, financial statements, letters from party members, articles by prominent party leaders, and the figures for election of party officers and internal questions.

PDF of issue: https://www.marxists.org/history/usa/pubs/spa-bulletins/131129-partybuilder-w56.pdf