Monthly report of the activities of the Socialist Party’s language federations with news from the Finnish, Italian, Scandinavian, Polish, Hungarian, South Slavic, Slovak, Bohemian, and German Federations.

‘The Foreign Federations’ from The Party Builder (Bulletin of the Socialist Party). No. 56. November 29, 1913.

Finnish. One new local has been organized by the Finns during the month of November–Bethel, Vt. with 18 new members. Five organizers are giving full time to the work, not alone working in new territory but visiting old locals regularly. The Finns are still subscribing money in liberal quantities in aid of the Michigan strikers.

Italian. Since last report this federation has organized two new branches, one at Rockford, Ill., with 12 members, the other at Gary, Ind., with 15 members. One organizer is now in the field–Comrade F. Becilacqua. He is now touring Connecticut.

Scandinavian. The Scandinavians have been busy this month in organization work, having had the services of two organizers. Seven new locals have been organized as follows: Quincy, Mass., 11 members; Virginia, Minn., 11; Washington, Pa., 21; Chicago, Grand Crossing, 22; Perth Amboy, N.J., 9; Pittsburgh, Pa., 7; Aurora, Ill., 11. Activity will continue all winter, organizers being. routed for the season. The Scandinavians are preparing to concentrate activity on Racine, Wis., next spring where one of the city aldermen is a member of the Scandinavian Federation. Racine is a city of 40,000 people of whom nearly one-half are Scandinavians. As preparation for the campaign, a special organizer has been there for a week’s work. Literature will be distributed liberally and subscribers for the Swedish and Danish Norwegian Socialist paper solicited.

Polish. Two new Polish locals have been organized since the last report. Ansonia, Conn., with 12 members and N. Towawanda, N.Y., with 16. One organizer is working this month, his work for the immediate future being in Massachusetts.

Hungarian. A strong branch, in Schenectady, N.Y., which has for a year not been identified with the Federation has reinstated with a membership of 50. This organization owns its own building. Comrade Loewy, translator secretary will visit this branch next month for the purpose of strengthening the organization. A new branch has been organized at Harlem, N.Y., with 20 charter members. woman’s branch will 15 members has been organized in Chicago. The Federation has been very active in the Michigan strike field, raising funds and agitating among the strikers.

German. The Germans have organized new locals during the month at the following places: Sacramento, Cal., 31 members; Portland, Oregon, 40; Port Angelus, Wash., 11; Bellingham, Wash, 10; Spokane, Wash., 12; Glen Ellin, N.D., 10; Grand Rapids, Mich., 10; Providence, R.I., 9. This is the second German branch in Providence. Several other charters are pending. The Scheidermann meetings are finished. They have been of great benefit to the cause. The German Federation is growing rapidly. Reports at this writing are not complete but it looks like a big increase in membership this month. In addition to Scheidermann, the Federation has routed Seidel, Bartel and Mosler. All tours are now ended. This is the first real agitation and organization work that the Federation has done. All expenses were paid and the Federation still has a surplus in its treasury. Commencing in January, Ernest Unterman, Emil Seidel and Oscar Ameringer will be toured.

Solvak. Since last report Solvak locals have been organized at McKees Rocks, with 20 members and at Pitlock, Pa., number of members not yet determined. The organizing tour reported in these columns last month has been finished. Another tour will be arranged later in the winter.

South Slavic. The following new locals have been organized since last report: Nakomis, Ill., 15 members: St. Louis, Mo., 19; Bessemer, Pa., 18; East Pittsburg, Pa., 12. No organizers are out at present, but funds are being collected for such work after January 1.

Bohemian. The Bohemian Federation is growing rapidly. New locals have been organized during the month at the following places: San Francisco, Cal., 6 members; Providence, R.I., 10 members; Berwin, III. No. 2, 16 members. Bellevue, Ill., has applied for charter. In the three years of the history of the Federation only one local has lapsed.

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