Intense planning as thousands travel to a comrade’s farm outside Olalla, Washington for a full weekend of Socialist fun.

‘Socialist Encampment at Olalla’ by Aaron Fisherman from The Washington Socialist (Everett). No. 233. June 24, 1915.

SOCIALIST ENCAMPMENT TO BE HELD AT OLALLA JULY 3, 4, 5.

What promises to be the most pretentious undertaking and the possible bases of a permanent institution and annual event of Socialist education, recreation and propaganda, is the “First Annual Western Washington Socialist Encampment,” to be held at Olalla, July 3, 4, 5, by the Socialists and Socialist parties of King and Kitsop counties, with Pierce, Snohomish counties and the state office promised support and co-operation in boosting and aiding it in every way possible, and the comrades and locals of Thurston county doing their share. When the signal of opening shall flash forth, Socialist pilgrims from all these counties and possibly others, will greet, make acquaintanceships with one another and commence the celebration as never before in the history of Western Washington.

The encampment ground is situated about half way between Seattle and Tacoma in Kitsap county. Commanding a beautiful and enchanting view of West Pass and surroundings, rising above the bluff in a chestlike spreading manner and extending over 2,000 acres partly orchard, forest and clear, and covered with tall grass. The main part of the encampment, where the pavilion will be erected and an open air auditorium built, is on the farm owned by the untiring worker for the cause, comrade W.E. Westerman.

To make the encampment the establishing bases of a permanent institution, an annual mecca, the Jerusalem of the Socialists and friends of Western Washington. The committee absolutely ignored the monetary gains or losses. Every facility necessary to the means of subsistence, entertainment, pleasure, education, etc., has been provided for. Tents and housing quarters will be at actual cost. There will be speaking and dancing every day and evening during the season; a symposium where the “common” rank and file will tell one another and the “higherups,” what they have done and will do for the party and movement and of things in in general; games and sports of all kinds, clam bakes, eats and refreshments.

The following is the incomplete program:

Saturday–Sports, games, baseball, dancing; Saturday, 7:30 p.m., speaking, Mary L. Geffs, speaker; dancing, 9 p.m.

Sunday–Outing sports, etc., 10 to 12 noon symposium; 1:30 to 3:30 p.m., baseball and dancing; 3:30 to 5:30 p.m., speaking, Kate Sadler, speaker; 5:30 to 7 p.m., baseball, dancing, etc.; 7 to 9 p.m., speaking, Emil Herman, speaker; 9 p.m., dancing, clam bake, etc.

Monday–Outing, sports, games, etc.; 10 to 12 p.m., speaking, Carl Ulonska, speaker; 1:30 to 3:30 p.m., baseball, dancing, etc.; 3:30 to 5:30 p.m., speaking, Glenn E. Hoover, speaker; 5:30 p.m., sports, dancing, baseball, clam bake, etc.

Baseball Teams

Saturday, July 3rd, Vashon Island vs. Olalla.

Sunday, July 4th, Bremerton Navy vs. Olalla.

Monday, July 5th, Springfield vs. Olalla.

HERE’S SOMETHING BIG!

Bangor, Wash., June 14, 1915. Washington Socialist, Everett, Dear Comrades: Kitsap and King counties are launching an experiment in efficient propaganda that will need the hearty co-operation of every Socialist within our borders to achieve the success it merits. It is the First Annual Encampment of the Socialists and sympathizers of Western Washington at Olalla, near the southern border of Kitsap county on the West Passage around Vashon island, between Tacoma and Seattle.

The spot selected–the farm of comrade W.E. Westerman, adjoining the boat landing; an ideal picnic place. An orchard, gently sloping to tidewater with some virgin forest background. As romantic as youthful hearts in love with nature and each other could desire.

The grounds face the beach where clams can be secured in abundance, and the evening old-fashioned clam bake on the eve of July 4, will be one of the festive events of Western Washington that each participant will long remember.

A huge dancing pavilion will be constructed just in the forest edge, where “tripping the night fantastic toe” can be indulged in by all parties so inclined. An orchestra of five pieces will be chartered for the entire three days, and dancing can be indulged in at regular intervals during daytime as well as evenings.

An old-time “chicken dinner”–like your mother used to make, will be served by the comrades on Sunday and Monday. Substantial refreshments will be served all comers at reasonable rates, at all times during the encampment.

A match baseball game is a special feature for each day from 1:30 to 3:30 p.m. Olalla will strive to retain their erstwhile and present honors against Vashon Island on Saturday, July 3rd. Bremerton Navy on Sunday, July 4th; Springfield (Pierce Co.) on Monday, July 5th.

Many other sports and games and feats of strength and skill will be interspersed between lectures from several of the best propaganda speakers of the Socialist movement.

Mary L. Geffs, of whom splendid reports come from all sources, will be the opening speaker from 7 to 9 o’clock p.m., on July 3rd.

Emil Herman, now making an organizing tour of Kitsap county, will deliver a splendid effort from 3:30 to 5:30 p.m. on July 4th. A symposium, short talks a few minutes each free for all will be the agreeable feature from 10 a.m. to 12 of the same day. The evening oration will be given by that thrilling propagandist, comrade Kate Sadler, our national committee member.

Comrade Carl Ulonska, the most efficient organizer, orator and county secretary of Snohomish county, will address the encampment from 10 a.m. to 12 noon on Monday, the 5th. Comrade Glenn Hoover, of the Herald staff, closes with his best effort, from 3:30 to 5:30 in the afternoon.

The sports and games interspersed between talks, etc., will give splendid zest and afford diversion from too much intellectuality. Questions about and discussions of all addresses will be in order, to bring to the surface all salient points and how best to apply the helpful suggestions announced.

It is hoped that every Socialist and sympathizer, together with many of our political opponents may be present during the entire session.

The profits, if any, are to be divided between the King and Kitsap county organizations, and as we have several annoying, down-dragging debts to liquidate, let us hope that the amount may exceed our most sanguine expectations. Each should “add their mite,” that we may make our little island-like county shine as the best in Washington.

Pierce and Snohomish counties will send large excursions, doubtless to swell the throng. It is also expected that special excursions will be arranged from Bremerton and Poulsbo and vicinity for July 4 and 5, to carry all who wish to attend.

So, comrades, if you have dimes or $$ to spend on “The Glorious Fourth,” come to Olalla, and spend every cent of it in the Comradeship Circle, where every penny of profit will go into the propaganda purse to carry on the cause of our class, to its successful fruition in the Social Revolution. It will be the grandest propaganda effort Washington has ever witnessed. DON’T MISS IT.

Yours in Revolt, E.E. MARTIN, Co. Secy. Kitsop Co. S.P.

The Washington Socialist was a weekly newspaper of the Socialist Party of Snohomish County published in Everett, Washington and edited by Maynard Shipley. Closely aligned with the Industrial Workers of the World, who were strong in the Pacific Northwest’s lumber industry, the paper ran for only 18 months when it was renamed The Northwest Worker with Henry Watts as editor in June, 1915, and again Co-Operative News with Perter Husby as editor in October, 1917. Like virtually all of the left press, the Co-Operative News was suppressed in June 1918 under the Federal Espionage Act.

PDF of full issue: https://www.marxists.org/history/usa/pubs/washington-socialist/233-jun-24-1915-WS-LAST.pdf