Reports of events from across the country in commemoration of the Commune’s fifty-fifth anniversary in March, 1926.

Commemorating the Fifty-Fifth Anniversary of the Paris Commune from The Daily Worker. March, 1926.

Chicago Commune Celebration Will Be Grand Affair. March 13, 1926.

Chicago I.L.D. Prepares Splendid Program.

On Friday night, March 19, at the Ashland Blvd. Auditorium, Van Buren St. and Ashland Blvd., Chicago workers will commemorate the 55th anniversary of the Paris Commune. Never before have such extensive preparations been made in this city to bring to life the glory of the struggle of the Paris Commune.  A spectacular one-act drama, translated from the Russian, is to be given by a cast of eight under the direction of Ivan Sokoloff, well-known local actor. Special stage settings, including a scene portraying a barricaded Paris street, are being arranged by J. Mednis, who has achieved success in other local plays. Costumes and lighting effects are in charge of the famous artists, Fred Ellis, Lydia Gibson and Beatrice Ellis. Other features of the program include a stage pantomime by the “Omladina” society; prison songs by a group of Russian singers, and motion pictures of class war prisoners’ aid, all with orchestral accompaniment. The chief speakers will be Bishop W.M. Brown, the “heretic churchman,” Robert Minor, editor of the Saturday magazine section of The DAILY WORKER, and J.W. Johnstone, national secretary of the Trade Union Educational League. Tickets may be obtained in advance for 25 cents at the local I.L.D. office, 23 S. Lincoln St., The DAILY WORKER office, or at other newspaper offices or bookstores. Admission at the door will be 60 cents.

The Anniversary of the Commune. March 14, 1926.

THE 55th anniversary of the Paris Commune, March, 1926. What does It mean for the working class? Why should all workers remember it and join in the mass demonstration on Friday, March 19th, at the Ashland Boulevard Auditorium?

Why does the International Labor Defense call on all workers to commemorate the Commune?

First and most Important, because the Paris Commune, though suffering a bloody defeat, nevertheless gave the signal for all working class victories that followed. From the mistakes of the French workers in their attempt at self-government were garnered lessons that helped make the Russian Revolution triumph. The necessity of overthrowing the entire bourgeois state, its bureaucracy and its army was made apparent; and, likewise, the need for an alliance between workers and the peasantry. Thus, the Paris Commune raised the standard of a workers state; though this banner fell, it was raised again by the Russian Communists and is being carried on, unfurled before the world.

Secondly, the Paris Commune demonstrated dramatically how enemy states will drop their own differences when the existence of either is threatened by the working class. French and German bourgeois and soldier-hirelings united for a wholesale massacre of workers, despite the antagonisms war had just created between them.

Thirdly, the Paris Commune is commemorated by the International Labor Defense because this organization helps all persecuted workers, because it protests against all abuses of political power. Therefore it calls on workers of all nationalities to rally to defend their class when it is attacked. “The unions are the pillar* of the worker*’ power.”—Losovsky.

Pullman I.L.D. Will Commemorate Paris Commune. March 14, 1926.

PULLMAN, Ill., March 12. Workers of Pullman will commemorate the Paris Commune on Saturday night, March 27, at Strumel’s Hall, 158 East 107th St., with the production of the “Last Day of the Commune” and with motion pictures of class war prisoners’ aid in Europe and Labor Defense work in America. The demonstration will be in charge of Pullman branches of the International Labor Defense. Prominent speakers will tell the story of the Commune and explain its role in class war history.

Commune Celebrations. March 19, 1926.

Milwaukee to Celebrate Paris Commune.

MILWAUKEE, March 16. Bishop William Montgomery Brown will speak on “Religion and Labor’’ at the Paris Commune celebration arranged by the Milwaukee International Labor Defense at the Plankinton Hall, Auditorium, 253 Fifth street on Saturday evening, March 20 at 7:45 o’clock.

Denver Plans Paris Commune Celebration.

DENVER, March 16. The Denver branch of the International Labor Defense will celebrate the Parts Commune anniversary at the Labor Lyceum on West Colfax street, Sunday evening, March 21 at 8 o’clock.

Cleveland to Hold Bazaar.

CLEVELAND March 17. The Cleveland International Labor Defense will hold its annual bazaar and dance on Sunday, March 21, at Moose Hall, 1000 Walnut St., in celebration of the anniversary of the Paris Commune. This will be a unique occasion and it is believed that a thousand people anticipating the splendid program that has been arranged, will pack the hall. There will be several fine musical numbers by well-known singing societies and a speech by Walter Trumbull. The Cleveland Workers’ Drama League will present by special request the one-act pantomime entitled “The International,” under the direction of Sadie Amter, well known in New York and Cleveland for her talents in the theatrical field. The settings for this piece were made by Tillen and Feldman, league stage carpenters and represent stark factories against a glowing red sky. Supper will be served in the comfortable hall downstairs and the evening will be devoted to dancing. No one who enjoys a good time, fine music, supper and dancing can afford to miss an hour of this big entertainment.

Chicago Workers Demonstrate.

Chicago will hold a Paris Commune celebration at the Ashland Auditorium Ashland Ave. and Van Puren on Friday evening, March 19 at a o’clock with Bishop William Montgomery Brown, Robert Minor, editor of the New DAILY WORKER Magazine, J. W. Johnstone and others speaking. There will also be special moving pictures of the class-war prisoners’ aid in Europe and America.

Kansas City Celebrates.

KANSAS CITY, Mo., March 17. Kansas City local of the International Labor Defense is holding a meeting to celebrate the Paris Commune on Sunday evening, March 21, at 7:30 o’clock at the Musicians’ Hall, 1017 Washington street. One speaker will lecture on the Paris Commune and another will talk on “Labor’s Fight For Justice.”

Los Angeles Demonstrates.

LOS ANGELES, March 17. Los Angeles local of the International Labor Defense will hold its Paris Commune celebration at the Music-Arts Hall, 233 South Broadway, Sunday afternoon, March 28. There will be speakers, up excellent musical program and a spectacular drama of the last days of the Paris Commune. A diamond ring will be given away at the meeting to the one holding a lucky number.

Six Commune Meetings in Minnesota District.

MINNEAPOLIS, March 17. The international labor defense meetings to celebrate the Paris Commune in District No. 9 will be held on the following dates in these cities: Sunday, March 21,1 p.m., Chisholm, Minn. Sunday, March 21, 3 p.m., Hibbing, Minn. Monday, March 22, 8 p.m. Duluth, Minn. Tuesday, March 23, 8 p.m., Superior, Wise. The speaker at all of these meetings will be T. R. Sullivan of Minneapolis. Similar meetings will be held at St. Paul, Minn., on the 21st at 8 p.m. at Commonwealth Hall, 435 Rice street. The meeting for Minneapolis will be held on Thursday, March 25, at 8 p.m. at the Labor Lyceum, 1425 Sixth avenue North. At all of these meetings there will be a musical number and other interesting features suitable to the observance of the anniversary of the Paris Commune.

To Celebrate Paris Commune in New York.

NEW YORK, March 17. The lessons of the Paris Commune and their meaning to the American working class will be taken up at Central Opera House on Friday night, March 19, by Comrades Olgin, Gitlow and Zack with William W. Weinstone as chairman. Harry Fox will tell the meaning of the lessons of the Paris Commune to the young workers. An exceptional musical program includes songs by Anna Royek, dramatic soprano; selections on a French horn by A. Jagutkin, soloist of the New York Symphony Orchestra; Russian folk songs by Blanche Blum and Minnie Bleckschmidt with Lydia Mason as accompanist. An unusual feature of the program will be a children’s symphony orchestra of 50 with H. Kassel as director. The meeting is held under the auspices of the International Labor Defense, which, in the spirit of the Commune, protects the workers, regardless of race, creed or affiliation, that are victims of the class state and by protecting the workers’ vanguard protects their revolutionary efforts as well. Admission is 50 cents at the door.

Paris Commune Commemorated in New Jersey.

PERTH AMBOY, N.J., March 17. Perth Amboy workers will honor the fifty-fifth anniversary of the Paris Commune with a mass meeting on Sunday evening, March 21, at 7:30 p.m. sharp at the Workers’ House, 308 Elm St. The program will include English and Hungarian speakers. Music, recitations, etc. Admission free.

Fine “Movies” Obtained for Chicago Commune Night.

Drama, Pictures, Songs of Labor Struggle Pictures seldom seen in a capitalist “movie” show, scenes from the picket line, clashes between soldiers and the workers, events of European workers’ persecution, stories from recent American labor history, such pictures will be shown for the first time in Chicago Friday night, March 19, at Ashland Blvd; Auditorium as part of the splendid program prepared for the Paris Commune memorial meeting. A special feature will be photoplays which reproduce stirring events of French revolutionary times. “The Last Day of the Commune,” a one-act drama translated from the Russian, will be realistically staged, with a barricaded Paris street as the setting. No effort has been spared by the actors and their director, Ivan Sokoloff, to make this act representative of the period of the Commune in the days of 1871. Other episodes of workers’ life as set to music will be the prison songs, to be given by a group of Russian singers. The Lettish orchestra will play several numbers. Speakers of the evening are to be Bishop Wm. Montgomery Brown, Ralph Chaplin, Robert Minor, J.W. Johnstone, M.J. Loeb, Ida Rothstein and Corlenne Robinson. Tickets are now on sale at the I.L.D. office, local Chicago, for 25 cents; also at The DAILY WORKER, the Radical Book Store, Walden’s etc. Admission at the door will be 50 cents.

Commune Celebrated All Over Country. March 20, 1926.

Meetings Arranged from Coast to Coast.

Thousands of American working men and women will gather in demonstrations all thru the country In commemoration of the fifty-fifth anniversary of the Paris Commune this week and next. In every important city in the country meetings have been arranged at which pantomime drama, scenic features, moving pictures of class war prisoners, and speakers on the subject of the heroic Commune and the defense of class war prisoners will be the order.

The meetings, which are being held everywhere under the auspices of the International Labor Defense, are to be devoted not only to commemorating the great Commune but also to rallying American workers to the modern day fighters for the working class who have fallen victims to capitalist class justice. Labor defense and the story and lessons of the Commune will be bound together at these meetings. In Ohio and Pittsburgh, the recently- released class war prisoner, Walter Trumbull, will speak at Commune celebrations. In Chicago and nearby cities, Bishop William M. Brown, the famous heretic, will address gatherings to commemorate the first proletarian regime.

The following are some of the meetings: New York, Friday night, March 19, at the Central Opera House, with Olgin, Gitlow, Zack and Fox, and Weinstone as chairman. An excellent musical program has been arranged for. Admission is fifty cents.

Cleveland holds its meeting on Sunday, March 21, at Moose Hall, 1000 Walnut Sts., together with a bazaar and a dance. Walter Trumbull and Max Schactman will speak together with I. Amter. The Cleveland Workers’ Drama League will present a one-act pantomime under the direction of Sadie Amter.

Kansas City will celebrate at Musicians Hall, 1017 Washington St., on Sunday evening, March 21, at 7:30. There will be a speaker on the Commune and another will talk on “Labor’s Fight for Justice.”

The Music-Arts Hall, 233 S. Broadway, on Sunday afternoon, March 28, will house Los Angeles’ meeting, where an excellent musical program and a spectacular drama of the Commune’s last days will be shown.

The following meetings have been arranged in the Minnesota district: Sunday, March 21, 1 p.m., Chisholm, Minn. Sunday, March 21, 3 p.m., Hibbing, Minn. Monday, March 22, 8 p.m., Duluth, Minn. Tuesday, March 23, 8 p.m., Superior, Wis. Thursday, March 25, 8 p.m., Labor Lyceum, 1425 Sixth avenue North, Minneapolis, Minnesota. Saturday, March 20, 8 p.m., Labor Lyceum, St. Paul. At all these meetings T. R. Sullivan, well-known labor organizer, will speak.

Commune Commemoration Attracts Crowd. March 24, 1926.

Present Good Program at Carmen’s Hall

From all over the country come reports of good Paris Commune celebrations. Chicago itself led off with a crowd of several thousand at the Carmen’s Auditorium on Ashland boulevard last Saturday night, The splendid program was heartily enjoyed. The Lettish orchestra opened the affair with several selections, after which Bishop William Montgomery Brown addressed the gathering. He received quite an ovation, a tribute to his courage in facing the ostracism of his class to advocate the workers’ cause as he understands it. A unique feature was the presentation of the short one-act play of that revolutionary period entitled “The Last Day of the Commune.” Here the workers saw what barricade fighting in a civil war actually means. The dramatic episode depicted was effectively staged with the assistance of local Communist artists and the amateur company showed the results of conscientious drill in their portrayal of the spirit of the Commune. Robert Minor, in a short speech, declared that the Russian Bolshevik revolution incarnated the hopes of the Communards. From the experiences of Paris the militant workers had learned that it was only thru a proletarian dictatorship that power could be retained and the will of labor enforced. They had come also to recognize that the peasants must be considered and that every effort should be exerted to secure them as allies of the industrial workers. He emphasized the lesson that the revolutionary struggle could be carried on successfully only thru the instrumentality of a highly disciplined, centralized political party with the function of coordinating all efforts to the single end of overcrowding capitalism. Corinne Robinson followed him, calling upon the workers, Irrespective of color, race, or nationality, to join in the common revolutionary object. She was heartily applauded, representing as she does one of the most oppressed and discriminated against races. Russian Prison Songs. A very realistic touch was added in the singing of Russian prison songs by the Russian chorus. These plaintive laments voiced the sufferings of the people under the czars, sufferings which the workers of the European border states in particular are now experiencing. Moritz Loeb, business manager of the DAILY WORKER, made the collection appeal in behalf of the Labor Defense League, under whose auspices the meeting was held. Ralph Chaplin, the I.W.W. poet, was chairman. Showing of motion pictures depicting the sufferings of political prisoners and the outrages perpetrated upon the workers all over the world by the police and soldiers as the agents of the state’s repressive forces closed the evening’s program.

Minnesota Commemorations.

ST, PAUL, March 22—The Twin cities are celebrating the Paris Commune. St, Paul had a well-attended meeting Saturday at the Labor Temple. There was speaking, singing, etc., Minneapolis holds its rally Thursday evening, March 25, at the Labor Lyceum, 1426 Sixth avenue, north. T.R. Sullivan addressed a gathering at Chisholm and at Hibbing Sunday afternoon. Tonight he speaks at Duluth and tomorrow at Superior. All the meetings are under the auspices of the International Labor Defense.

Pullman Holds Commune Commemoration. March 26, 1926.

Movies, Drama, Orchestra, Good Speakers

Pullman is to have its Paris Commune commemoration meeting Saturday night, March 27, at Strumill’s hall, 158 East 107th street, under the auspices of International Labor Defense. All of the features recently attracting such favorable attention in Chicago will be given, including the one0act drama, “Last Day of the Commune,” “Prison Songs” by Russian singers, and motion pictures of workers’ persecutions at the hands of capitalistic states. Among the speakers will be John Holmgren, vice-president of the Railway Carmen’s Union, who is well-known in Pullman for his activities in behalf of organized labor. The situation of the strikers in Passaic, N.J., will be described by J. Louis Engdahl, editor of The DAILY WORKER, while Alex Reid, secretary of the Progressive Miners’ Committee, will speak on the Zeigler conviction cases, referring as well to the anti-labor laws pending against the foreign-born. B.K. Gebert, editor of Trybuna Robotnicza, will also speak. Music is to be supplied by a children’s orchestra. Admission will 35 cents.

Denver Celebrates the Paris Commune. March 27, 1926.

DENVER, Col., March 25—Although a blinding rain and snow storm raged all day and part of the evening, over 100 families attended the Paris Commune anniversary celebration held at the Labor Lyceum, under the auspices of the International Labor Defense. The chairman of the evening, James A. Ayres gave a short history of the revolutions of the past two centuries and compared them to the Paris Commune and the Russian revolution of 1917. A number of piano solos were rendered by members of the Young Workers (Communist) League. The Young Pioneer group sang a number of revolutionary songs and gave recitations. One of the surprises of the evening was the dancing, singing, recitations and sketches put on by the Moore and Rosenfeld children, Rosenfeld at the piano. William Dietrich made the main speech of the evening dealing directly on the work of the Commune to which he did justice. F. Krassick, secretary of the International Labor Defense, spoke of the work It is carrying on and appealed for membership as well as subs for the Labor Defender. All above expenses of the meeting will be donated 50-50 between the Zeigler miners and the Passaic strikers.

The Daily Worker began in 1924 and was published in New York City by the Communist Party US and its predecessor organizations. Among the most long-lasting and important left publications in US history, it had a circulation of 35,000 at its peak. The Daily Worker came from The Ohio Socialist, published by the Left Wing-dominated Socialist Party of Ohio in Cleveland from 1917 to November 1919, when it became became The Toiler, paper of the Communist Labor Party. In December 1921 the above-ground Workers Party of America merged the Toiler with the paper Workers Council to found The Worker, which became The Daily Worker beginning January 13, 1924.