‘Socialists Enjoy Lake Trip’ from the Chicago Socialist. Vol. 6 No. 383. July 7, 1906.

1200 Chicago Socialists Visit Milwaukee Comrades at the Boat Landing with Band, Banners and Badges of Welcome Thirteen Hours of Social Enjoyment.

In spite of the unfavorable weather and the opposition of the weather man last Sunday morning, it was found when the tickets were counted an hour after the Christopher Columbus left the dock, that there were 1,200 Socialists and their friends on board the “Whaleback.” How many more would have been there had it not been for the fact that for hours before the time for starting it had poured rain can only be conjecture, but it is probable that there would have been close to two thousand.

Shortly after ten o’clock the weather cleared up and a more ideal day for an outing on the lake would have been hard to find.

There is no place that affords so good an opportunity to study and observe the constituent elements that go to make up the Socialist movement as on our annual excursions on a spacious lake steamer.

On this occasion one has an opportunity to study the whole movement in groups at close range.

Of all the movements that have stirred the hearts and sentiments of mankind in its long and eventful march through the corridors of time and the avenues of history the Socialist movement is by far the most universal and cosmopolitan. If you had observed carefully the red button wearers that were on the Christopher Columbus last Sunday you would have learned that there was hardly a race or nationality that was not conspicuously represented there.

There were groups of fair-haired comrades from Norway, Sweden and mark, worthy descendants of the wild and roving Vikings that at one time rolled like an avalanche from the north Europe, and in contrast to our fair-haired, blue-eyed Norse comrades, wearing same button and inspired by the hope and causing the air to vibrate with the fiery strains of the Marseillaise, there were groups of dark-haired and black-eyed Italians, Greeks, etc., from southern Europe. There were other groups from other lands, from Siberia to California, all with the same gleam of hope of the coming day of proletarian triumph lighting their faces and breathing the spirit of universal brotherhood.

The “International Socialist Chorus” was much in evidence all day. To make sure that they would not get merged in the throng and lost to view, the members of this important group of our party workers had decked themselves out as farmers, and from the moment the boat started until it landed home at 11 o’clock that night there was none on board who doubted that they were having a “good time.” In Milwaukee they found a “farmer” with a hay rack and a load of grass waiting to show them the city in a realistic farmer fashion.

Fred Scholl, the “only Fred.” was in his glory. The lunch room of the steamer, over which he is the presiding genius, was decorated for the occasion. Conspicuously on the wall was placed a sign, “Read the Chicago Socialist. Read the Jungle.” Every waiter in Fred’s department was decorated with a red ribbon and a Socialist button. It was Socialist day on the Columbus.

Scotland, the land of Burns and barley bread. was represented by a group that was gathered by the peculiar strains of the “bagpipes.” When we first noticed this group the thought came to us that they belonged with our Irish friends, who also had an excursion to Milwaukee on the “Whaleback” last Sunday, But when we discovered the serious, solemn face of Comrade Valentine seated in their midst. faithfully performing the paternal duty of nursing a bouncing big baby boy that looked very much like him, we were soon convinced that even the ancient Gaelic musical instrument had been requisitioned by the Socialist party to marshal the proletarian clans for the coming social revolution.

In Milwaukee.

After a five-hour sail that had given unbounded opportunity for physical, social and mental recreation, the boat landed safely at the dock in Milwaukee. Our Milwaukee comrades were there in large numbers to receive us, As the boat approached the landing the Milwaukee Social Democratic band, with a great banner floating above their heads, marched onto the dock playing the “Marseillaise,” and behind them several hundred Milwaukee comrades wearing badges on were painted the words, “Welcome to our Chicago comrades.” The throng at the landing and the throng on the boat spontaneously took up the strains of the chorus of the world-wide proletarian marching song and the Socialists captured Milwaukee as easily as it is related Joshua captured Jericho some several thousand years ago. With the Social Democratic band at their head the Socialists of Milwaukee and their visitors from Chicago formed into line and marched several blocks to Frei Gemeinde Hall, where arrangements had been made to receive the Chicago comrades.

The address of welcome was delivered by Comrade Alderman Melms of Milwaukee. In a few well-chosen remarks he extended the hospitality of the Milwaukee Socialists to their visitors from Chicago. Then there was singing by the Social Democratic Singing Society and short speeches by Comrades Breckon, Saltiel, Simons and others.

The trip home was, if anything more enjoyable than the one going. There was not an unpleasant incident to record, and it was the verdict of one and all that our annual boat excursion is one of the bright spots in the stormy struggle of the proletarian sailing the sea of the class struggle on the voyage of life. Our next general social gathering will be on the occasion of our annual picnic, which will be held at Elliott’s Park, Aug. 5. Remember the date, and do not make any conflicting arrangements for that day. The financial result of the boat excursion will net the party about $400 profit.

The Chicago Socialist, sometimes daily sometimes weekly, was published from 1902 until 1912 as the paper of the Chicago Socialist Party. The roots of the paper lie with Workers Call, published from 1899 as a Socialist Labor Party publication, becoming a voice of the Springfield Social Democratic Party after splitting with De Leon in July, 1901. It became the Chicago Socialist Party paper with the SDP’s adherence and changed its name to the Chicago Socialist in March, 1902. In 1906 it became a daily and published until 1912 by Local Cook County of the Socialist Party and was edited by A.M. Simons if the International Socialist Review. A cornucopia of historical information on the Chicago workers movements lies within its pages.

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