Real growth in the two years since their foundation as the Scandinavian Socialist Federation reports publishing two weekly papers with over 1000 members in 30 branches.

‘Report of Scandinavian Section to the Socialist Party National Convention’ by N. Juel Christensen from Proceedings of the National Convention of the Socialist Party, 1912. John Spargo, Editor. Chicago, 1912.

Organization.

The Scandinavian Socialist Federation was organized at a convention held for this purpose in the city of Chicago, July 2, 3, 4, 1910.

At the beginning of the year 1911 the Federation consisted of seven branches with a membership of 216. During the year of 1911 the number of branches was increased to 20 with a membership of 784, and today it has thirty branches with a membership of over 1,000. Outside of the Federation are still a few Scandinavian branches not yet affiliated, mostly on account of technicalities and other hindrances, but it is believed that these obstacles will be overcome in the near future.

Our relation to the national and state organizations has, with a few exceptions, been the very best. The Federation has decided that all its branches shall be affiliated with the state and county organizations, and cooperate with them at all elections and otherwise.

Agitation.

The work of agitation has been carried on to as large a degree as the resources of the Federation would allow. At the beginning of 1911 we had only one small branch in the East, namely: Kearney Branch No. 3, New Jersey, and for a long time it seemed to be impossible for us to make any headway in that part of the country, mostly on account of the strong SLP movement among the Scandinavians in the East, but the opposition seems now to be broken. The comrades out there have been working hard and steady and today we have eight active branches in the eastern states. We expect that this number shall be more than doubled as the result of an extensive organizing tour which Comrade Frithjof Werenskjold now is making under the direction of our Federation and with the assistance of the National Office.

During the months of November and December 1911, the National Office routed Comrade E. Sibiakoffsky through the middle states, which resulted in the organization of ten new branches.

In the western states where the Scandinavian population is largest there are at present very few branches of the Federation, but our National Committee has now decided to send Comrade Werenskjold out there as soon as his work in the East is completed.

Our agitation among women has been neglected until a few months ago, but now the number of women members in our organization is steadily increasing.

Press.

The Scandinavian Socialist Federation is publishing two weekly propaganda papers: The Svenska Socialisten in the Swedish language and The Social Demokraten in the Danish language. These two papers are owned and controlled by the Federation directly. The only certificate that gives a voice and vote in deciding their policy and management is a paid up membership book. Fake advertisements, such as patent medicine, land and mining schemes as well as advertisements from saloons and liquor dealers have never been accepted by these papers, and, in spite of financial difficulties, our members are determined to never compromise on these points. The circulation of the papers has increased rapidly during the last few months, which to a large degree is due to the work of the Lyceum Course. Their present combined circulation is a little over 5,000. If the increase of their circulation continues at the present rate, then they will be self-supporting before the year is gone.

Press Fund.

In order to meet the deficit of our papers, the Federation has provided for a press fund. This fund gets its income from special assessments, contributions, picnics, etc.

Literature.

The Federation has established its own literature department, which was begun on February 1, 1912. Several thousand pamphlets have already been published and sold, and we intend to develop this department to such an extent that we shall be able to meet all demands for Socialistic literature in the Scandinavian languages.

Information Bureau for Immigrants.

In order to assist the immigrants from the Scandinavian countries, helping them to find work and keep in touch with the American labor movement, etc. we are at present negotiating with the Socialist and other organizations in these countries for the purpose of establishing some kind of cooperation in this direction. We have always urged strongly upon our membership to become citizens in order to acquire their political rights, and in this work we have been very successful.

Conclusion.

During the childhood of the Scandinavian Socialist Federation it has been nobly assisted by the Finnish comrades as well as the National Office of the Socialist Party, thus making it possible for the young organization to survive the hardships it had to pass through and to carry on the work it has undertaken to do.

We cannot boast, ourselves, of any great achievement, but we believe that a good solid foundation for the organization has been laid, and if it is allowed to develop unhindered, and in the future will be met with the same good understanding as in the past, then the Scandinavian Socialist Federation will surely be able to fulfill the mission for which it has organized.

By order of the Executive Committee, Fraternally submitted,

N. Juel Christensen Translator-Secretary

PDF of full book: https://archive.org/download/nationalconvention00soci/nationalconvention00soci.pdf