‘Strike-Children’s Relief Fund’ from The Party Builder (Bulletin of the Socialist Party). No. 56. November 29, 1913.

The Socialist Party Establishes a Permanent Relief Fund for the Children in Strike Districts

“We do not intend to permit the children of the working class to be sacrificed in the struggle between organized labor and capital in America, as is being done in Ireland.”

This is the manifesto sent forth from the Woman’s Department of the National Headquarters of the Socialist party.

“We are watching the struggle of the workers in the coal fields of Colorado and in the strike districts of the Great Lakes with keen interest. We know full well that the tactics which were used in Massachusetts and West Virginia will be used again if not prevented by some organized national movement for the protection of the children of these districts.

“Even now, before the winter has scarcely started, the babies of our comrades are suffering from cold and hunger.

“The Socialist party has ever stood for the working class in its struggle with the master class, and it is fitting that it should be the first national organization to establish a permanent relief fund for the children of strikers.

“Comrades of the Socialist Party, this is the supreme moment to prove that we are in truth representative of the interest of the struggling workers.

Immense mass meetings will be held in practically all cities, towns and school districts, Socialists, unionists and suffragists co-operating in making this day one of the most magnificent demonstrations of the solidarity of the working class upon the is- sues of child labor and child welfare.

Every man and woman who understand the struggles of labor, and who can stand before an audience and tell of these struggles and the hope which we hold for the coming generation, will be drafted into service to address these meetings.

In some places the meetings will be varied by programs rendered by the children, the Woman’s Department furnishing a complete program, including songs, readings, dialogues and recitations suit- able for such entertainments.

Socialist and Labor papers will issue special children’s editions Christmas week.

A special stamp, bearing the words “Strike-Children’s Relief Fund, has been issued by the National Office of the Socialist party. This stamp is a receipt for money paid into this fund, and is of a size and form suitable for placing in membership book or as a seal on letters and Christmas pack- ages or as a sticker to be placed in public places. All monies collected from the sale of these stamps or in connection with National Children’s Day meet Fund.

“Comrades of labor organizations, this is the supreme moment to show the master class that despite all differences of tactics, policies and politicsings will be turned into the Strike-Children’s Relief that we are a unit for the children of our class.

“Comrades of all movements for race betterment this is the supreme moment for you to prove to organized labor that despite your non-union, non-sectarian and non-political attitude that you are with us in our efforts to improve the conditions of our class to the end that poverty, disease and crime may not touch our children.”

This is the Plan.

Sunday, December 28, National Children’s Day, is the time set for the collection of this fund.

This fund is to be held in trust by the Socialist party and dispensed by the National Executive Secretary of the Socialist party, for the benefit of children in strike districts whenever a strike shall have become so vicious and of so long duration as to necessitate such assistance.

For information regarding Strike-Children’s Re- lief Fund, Children’s Day celebrations, Children’s Day programs and leaflets for distribution, address Winnie E. Branstetter, Socialist Party, 111 North Market St., Chicago.

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