Report of the twice-yearly Socialist Party National Woman’s Committee meeting held in May, 1913 covering the work of the last period and plans for the coming months.

‘Report of Woman’s National Committee Meeting’ from Party Builder. No. 30. May 31, 1913.

WOMAN’S NATIONAL COMMITTEE MEETING.

May 11, 1913. Meeting called to order at 3 o’clock by general correspondent.

Present Berger, Branstetter, Brewer, Carr, Simons, Twining.

Grace D. Brewer was elected chairman. Bertha Hale Brown was elected to serve as secretary for the committee during the entire session.

The following order of business was adopted:

Report of Woman’s National Committee on Plans and Prospective Work by May Wood-Simons, reporter for committee. Report of General Correspondent Woman’s National Committee. Winnie E. Branstetter.

Progressive Woman.

Lecture Work.

Reports of Women Organizers and General Propaganda Work:
Farmers’ Wives.
Teachers and Professional Women.
Trade Unionists.
Housewives.
Servant Girls.
Wage-Earning Women.
Suffragists and Civic Workers.
Foreign Organizations.
Organization and Plan of Work. Press:
Press Service.
Publicity.
Publications.
National Activities.
International Activities.
Socialist Schools.
Young People’s Socialist Organizations.
Teachers’ Bureau.

Report, of Socialist Educational Association. Secretary, Olive Baker.

Report of Woman’s National Committee, by: May Wood Simons.

Woman Suffrage.

“During the past year the number of states granting full suffrage to women has been increased to nine. The women voters in these states are now a force sought by the capitalist politicians. Within the past year a party polling the second largest vote in the country has declared for woman suffrage and secured thereby the support of large numbers of women. The National Socialist Woman’s Committee recommends that in every state where the suffrage does not yet exist the Socialist party make a determined effort to secure the vote for women, introducing bills to that effect wherever Socialist state legislators have been elected, and taking the necessary steps to bring it before the people for a vote in states where the initiative and referendum exists. That the position of the Socialist party as the largest world organization working for woman suffrage be made clear at all Socialist meetings.

“Second–The enfranchising of a large number of women unacquainted with Socialism means that the educational work among women must be carried on with even greater energy than heretofore. This education should be along the lines of the economic class struggle, bringing clearly to women who are not yet even in economic organizations the reasons why they should vote the Socialist ticket.

“Third–We recommend that the women of the party bring this question more carefully to the attention of the men of the party, and invite and utilize the assistance of the men comrades in all suffrage meetings and propaganda.

Work Among Women Engaged in the Industries.

The need of women for remunerative employment and the demand of employers for cheap labor has brought over 5,000,000 women into wage-earning positions in the United States. The National Socialist Woman’s Committee recommends that the women of the Socialist party, wherever engaged in any trade, unite with the economic organization of their trade, that they assist women when engaged with their employers in an economic struggle, and that they lend their help in securing legislation on all questions bettering the conditions of women in industry.

To this end we recommend that in every industrial city the Socialists elect a committee, not necessarily of women, who shall attend to the systematic distribution of literature, acquaint itself with all questions affecting the women in the industries of their city, and that a report of their work be sent yearly to the National Woman’s Correspondent, to be used as reference material for other cities.

Agitation and Organization Among Farmers’ Wives.

There are in the United States over six million wives of farmers that may be classed with the propertyless wage-earners. In nine states of the West these farmers’ wives are now voters.

To reach these women, the National Woman’s Committee recommends that in each state a system of school-house meetings be held. This plan has been used with marked success in the state of Kansas, where the organizer is passed on from school district to school district, arranging meetings in the school houses, organizing locals, reaching the farmer’s whole family, and within a brief period going back over the same route to make her work more permanent.

Such organizers should have made an especial study of farm conditions, and the literature for distribution should have special reference to the industrial conditions as affecting the farm industry with the broader emphasis on the necessity for the united action of the agricultural and industrial workers.

Public School Teachers.

Of the 445,687 school teachers reported in the twelfth census, 327,206, or 73 per cent, were women.

The National Socialist Woman’s Committee recommends that Socialist parents make especial efforts to reach the teachers in the public schools, as the public schools must be the great source of education. On account of the close relation of the mother to the child, the Socialist mothers should acquaint themselves with the teachers, endeavor to bring them to Socialist meetings, and supply them with Socialist literature. Women already having the right to vote in many states on school questions, especial effort should be made to see that the working women voters are registered and educated in the use of the ballot at all school elections.

Women Organizers.

The committee recommends that wherever possible the women organizers be so routed that they may stay at least two days in each place, and that, if feasible, they be rerouted at a later time over the same road, so that they may instruct and help the women in getting the educational work among women started.

Woman’s Day.

Woman’s Day was originally a day celebrated only in the United States. At the Woman’s Conference at Copenhagen the women of Europe voted to hold a special woman’s day. Since it has seemed advisable to the Socialist women of Europe to hold this special day on the 19th of March, the National Woman’s Committee recommends that that day be also the one set for Woman’s Day in the United States. It also recommends that the day be used as a special agitation day for woman’s suffrage and for the securing of women members for the party.

MAY WOOD-SIMONS, Reporter. META BERGER. WINNIE BRANSTETTER.”GRACE BREWER. ELLA CARR. LENA M. LEWIS. LUELLA TWINING.”

Moved that adoption of report be deferred, to be taken up later with such additions or amendments as might be advised. Carried.

Report of General Correspondent to the National Committee.

The election of the Woman’s National Committee and the establishment of a Woman’s Department in the National Office was based upon a realization that the rapidly increasing number of women in the industries would result in her becoming a political factor. National developments during the past year not only justify the Socialist party in its efforts to reach these potential voters, but make the continuance of special propaganda and organization work among women imperative.

General Results of Work, 1912-1913.

The past year witnesses a remarkable increase in the membership of women in the Socialist party, and a greatly increased effectiveness of our work. Last year the Woman’s National Committee reported a 10 per cent woman membership. This report was based upon reports made by 35 scattered locals. This year we have a 15 per cent woman membership, based upon complete reports made by 22 state secretaries. Thirty-five states have now adopted our Plan of Work Among Women, having elected state correspondents to carry out these plans. Separate organizations for women are now almost unknown, the entire work being carried on directly under the auspices of the local through woman’s propaganda committees. The majority of these committees do not have a separate treasury, receipts and expenses being handled by the local treasurer.

Detailed personal correspondence relative to our work has been established between this department and 1,200 women. We are in close touch with practically all state officials and many local secretaries. Sixty-eight thousand eight hundred and fifty-five circular letters have been issued from this department, urging some phase of organization or propaganda work. We have a mailing list of 4,763 names.

Organizers.

Semi-conscious of their industrial and political responsibilities, women are eager for the message of Socialism. The demand for capable woman speakers has been very much greater than we can supply. Classes for the training of local workers to meet this demand are being organized in the larger cities, and should receive the support of national and state organizations.

Six woman organizers have done special work in Indiana, Minnesota, Arizona, Kansas, Ohio, California and Michigan. In addition to this work, all available women speakers have been used continuously by the campaign committee and by the Lyceum Bureau.

Foreign Organizations.

The Jewish Federation reports a 15 per cent woman membership. The annual May Day publication, with a circulation of 10,000, contained two special articles for women.

The Polish Federation reports an eight per cent woman membership. ‘Votes for Working Women’ has been published in Polish, and 10,000 copies sold. Most of our leaflets have been published in Dziennik Ludowy (The People’s Daily), a publication of 10,000 circulation.

The South Slavic Section reports a very small membership of women, owing to the fact that the membership is composed largely of unmarried men.

The German Section reports 10 per cent membership, organized both in regular locals and in women’s branches.

The Hungarian Section reports 20 per cent woman membership. The Woman Worker,’ a Hungarian woman’s publication published in Budapest, is widely circulated in this country.

The Bohemian Section reports 10 per cent woman membership. Four of our special women’s leaflets have been published. Women’s departments are conducted regularly in each of the four weekly and one daily papers.

The Italian Section reports a very small membership of women, owing to lack of interest in special propaganda among women.

Nineteen thousand five hundred and forty French translations of ‘The Working Girl and Socialism’ have been sold through the National Office.

The Scandinavian Federation reports 10 per cent woman membership.

The Finnish Section reports 35 per cent woman membership. Three of our special leaflets for women have been translated and 51,500 copies sold. In addition to these several thousand copies of ‘Woman in the Home and Industries,’ a 32-page pamphlet. ‘Toveritar’ (Woman Comrade), a Finnish woman’s weekly, has a circulation of 5,000. Caught in the world-wide movement for universal suffrage, women of all nationalities are taking the first steps toward naturalization. During the next year a woman’s naturalization leaflet will probably be issued from the National Office.

Literature.

During the past year our leaflets for women have been revised and reprinted in a uniform, four-page style. Those out of date have been dropped, and new ones published, until we now have in stock twenty-two special leaflets for women treating of conditions in practically every phase of industrial life.

Our Book Catalogue contains 19 special books and pamphlets for women, and 13 compilations suitable for entertainments.

One million five hundred twenty thousand eight hundred and seventy-four special woman’s leaflets have been sold. In addition to this, 3,662 special woman’s books have been sold, ranging in price from five cents to $2.50.

Press.

The National Office Propaganda Press Service has made it possible for us to supply the labor and Socialist press with special articles written by our foremost men and women. Forty-three special woman’s articles have been sent out by us and have reached approximately 300 publications with 3,000,000 readers.

Many special editions of Socialist and labor papers have been published. The last week in February it would be fair to say that at least one-half of the Socialist press was devoted to a discussion of universal suffrage or some phase of woman’s struggle for freedom. Copy for special press articles relative to woman’s activity in the Socialist party has been sent to several national and international publications upon the request of the editors or contributors.

Publications.

‘Toveritar,’ or ‘The Woman Comrade,’ is a Finnish weekly paper for women. It has a circulation of about 5,000, and is doing good educational work among women of that nationality. Address Toveritar, Tenth and Duane, Astoria, Ore.

‘Life and Labor’ is a monthly magazine appealing especially to women engaged in the industries. It is the official organ of the Woman’s Trade Union League, and it is deserving of our recommendation and support. Address Life and Labor, 127 N. Dearborn St., Chicago.

‘The Forerunner’, a monthly Socialist woman’s magazine, is of exceptional value from the standpoint of science, art and literature. It deals with vital social problems in a fearless manner. Address The Forerunner, 67 Wall St., New York City.

‘The Young Socialist Magazine’ is the only Socialist magazine for children in the United States. It contains educational articles and stories tending to teach the children of the working class a correct appreciation of the class struggle. Address The Young Socialist Magazine, 15 Spruce St., New York.

‘The Progressive Woman’ is a Socialist monthly publication for women of exceptional organization and propaganda value. While it is not the official organ of the Woman’s National Committee, it has at all times received the indorsement and support of the Woman’s National Committee. During the past year $200 cash was donated. from the party treasury. The party membership has been circularized from time to time, urging the sale of stock, purchase of subscription cards and bundle orders, 30,424 circular letters having been sent from the Woman’s Department, representing $601.48 in postage and labor. Over $500 worth of stock has been sold in a proposed stock company. Address Progressive Woman Pub. Co., 5445 Drexel Ave., Chicago.

Socialist Schools.

Socialist schools for children have been established in many of the larger cities for the purpose of training the children of the working class in Socialist thought and economics. These schools until the past year have not been seriously considered by the national organization, but a demand for an organizer brought the question before the Woman’s National Committee and the National Executive Committee, with the result that a recommendation was made that the membership should guard against the teaching of stilted economics and dogmatic exercises to children, that all features that would convey the impression of competition with the public school system and religious institutions should be eliminated. That these schools should assume rather the nature of social centers, and that greater energy should be expended toward capturing the public school system and using it for the benefit of the working class.

Teachers’ Bureau.

The National Socialist Teachers’ Bureau, which was established by the Woman’s National Committee in 1911, has done good work during the past year. We have on our list over 200 Socialist teachers. The purpose of this bureau is to place Socialist teachers in those communities where Socialists have a voice on the school board. The result of our work has been such as to warrant the establishment of state teachers’ bureaus in Washington and Oregon. The work of this department will increase in proportion as Socialists are elected school officials, and bids fair to become one of the most important departments of the national Socialist work.

Young People’s Socialist Leagues.

The freedom of the working class of the next generation depends upon the youth of today. Our movement must be enlarged to provide for every element in the working class. Today we face the problem of reaching the millions of young men and women with the message of Socialism. Our comrades of France, Germany and Austria have solved this problem in the establishment of Young People’s Socialist Leagues. Isolated locals in the United States have followed their example. We have reports from 40 of these league organizations, and requests for information and instruction from 86 local organizations. These young men and women are demanding the nationalization of their organizations.

A work of such vital importance as the education and training of the youth should receive the assistance and encouragement of the national organization.

I do therefore repeat the recommendation made to the last national convention by the national secretary, to the effect that a Young People’s Socialist League Department be established in the National Office.

National Activities.

The Socialist party sent a fraternal delegate to the National Suffrage Convention held in Philadelphia.

We also participated in the national suffrage parade held in Washington, March 3.

November 24 was set aside by the Woman’s National Committee as Progressive Woman Day. Special efforts were made throughout the country to sell subscription cards and bundles of The Progressive Woman.

February 23, the last Sunday in February, National Woman’s Day, was observed this year more extensively than heretofore. Thousands of leaflets were distributed and subscriptions taken to Socialist papers. The demand for speakers for the day far exceeded the number of speakers available.

In conclusion I would urge that the efforts of the middle-class political parties to bribe the woman worker by offering her the vote be answered by an aggressive campaign of education. To this end I would urge that our press articles, leaflets and general literature shall emphasize the class struggle, rather than the sex struggle, and that our energies be turned toward the organization of women of the working class into the Socialist party.

WINNIE E. BRANSTETTER.

Moved that recommendations on Young People’s Socialist League organizations be referred to the Committee on Young People’s Socialist, League. Carried.

Moved that report of general correspondent be accepted and placed on file. Carried. Moved that report of general correspondent be discussed with reference to its bearing upon the question of The Progressive Woman. Carried.

Moved that Comrade Kaneko, editor of The Progressive Woman, be allowed to question the general correspondent upon points in her report relative to The Progressive Woman. Carried.

Report by Kaneko on Progressive Woman.

Report of work of Woman’s Department for The Progressive Woman by general correspondent.

Moved that the committee meet at 9:30 Monday morning. Carried.

Moved that, the committee sit in session until the question of The Progressive Woman be settled. Carried.

The question of leaving the matter over for the disposal of the new or incoming committee was discussed, but it was decided that the committee should act as though it was to hold over.

Moved that the question of co-operating with The Progressive Woman he placed in the hands of a sub-committee of two. Carried.

Moved that this committee should be composed of members of the Woman’s National Committee. Carried.

Committee on Berger and Twining.

Progressive Woman:

Moved that this committee report at 2:30 p.m. Carried.

Report on woman organizers, by general correspondent.

Plan of Work:

Moved that a sub-committee be elected to revise the Plan of Work. Carried.

Committee on Plan of Work: Brewer and Simons.

Literature:

Moved that a sub-committee on Literature be elected. Carried.

Committee on Literature: Lewis and Branstetter.

Press:

Moved that the committee on Progressive Woman handle the question of Press also, committee to be Committee on Press and Progressive Woman. Carried.

National Activities:

Moved that that portion of Simons’ report relative to National Woman’s Day be adopted under the head of National Activities. No action taken.

Moved that this report be the first order of business in the morning. Carried. Adjournment.

Monday Morning Session.

Meeting called to order at 9:30, with Meta L. Berger in the chair.

Present–Berger, Branstretter, Twining and Simons, Brewer.

Minutes of previous meeting read and adopted.

Report of Woman’s National Committee, by Simons.

Moved that report be taken up by sections. Carried.

Moved that report be adopted. Carried. Discussion of propaganda work with reference to suffrage, civic and welfare work. It was agreed that the term ‘welfare work’ being misleading, should not be used, but that work of this kind should be considered as civic work. The question of a leaflet on civic work to be taken up with literature.

Foreign Organizations:

Moved that a committee of two be elected to secure greater co-operation between the foreign women’s organizations and the national organization. Amendment that a recommendation that such a committee be elected be made to the incoming Woman’s National Committee. Carried.

National Activities:

Report on National Woman’s Day, by general correspondent.

International Activities:

Moved that if the German translator-secretary be not too burdened that he run through the issues of the Gleichheit and give to us a brief summary of activities in European countries. That this summary be sent each month to the Woman’s National Committee and that the matter thus submitted be given the widest possible publicity. Carried.

Moved that in so far as correspondence must be carried on through the National Office, all correspondence between the International Secretary, Clara Zetkin, and the Woman’s National Committee be handled through the National Office direct; that we write to Comrade Zetkin to this effect, asking that she communicate with the National Office. Carried.

Socialist Schools:

Moved that the part of general correspondent’s report referring to Socialist schools be submitted to the National Committee as a recommendation from the Woman’s National Committee. Carried.

Teachers’ Bureau:

It was the sense of the committee that this phase of work did not belong to the Woman’s Department, but that the question of its disposal should be left to the executive secretary.

Report of Educational Association, by Olive Baker.

Moved that the verbal report of Comrade Baker be accepted. Carried.

Adjournment.

Afternoon Session.

May 12.

Meeting called to order at 2:45. Present Berger, Branstetter, Brewer, Carr, Twining.

Report of sub-committee on Progressive Woman by Twining, as follows:

“Your sub-committee appointed to report on The Progressive Woman, upon consideration, recommends the following: That the Woman’s National Committee recognizes the necessity of working women reading Socialist literature written for women. The Woman’s National Committee acknowledges the services rendered by The Progressive Woman in that respect, and hopes and expects that the Woman’s National Committee will continue to give this publication its hearty moral support by calling the attention of the membership to the special mission of The Progressive Woman, and that the National Office enclose circulars and letters pertaining to The Progressive Woman is sending out mail, when not requiring extra postage.

“We recommend that the incoming or Woman’s National Committee give this matter its earnest attention and support.”

The editor of The Progressive Woman stated that this arrangement was satisfactory to her.

Moved to accept the report of the sub-committee. Carried.

Report of sub-committee on Press, by Twining:

“The sub-committee appointed to consider the matter of press and press service, publicity and publications, recommends that every Socialist paper, daily, weekly and monthly, should be urged to devote a page, or as much space as it can, to the intelligent propaganda and discussion of subjects of interest to women from the Socialist viewpoint, especially in view of the fact that nine states have granted the full franchise to women, and that the question of suffrage is now in the foreground in several other states.

“We further recommend that the press service of the party be used to send out articles pertaining to subjects which may awaken women to their class interest, both along the economic and political fields.

“We suggest that Socialist writers send out articles and communications to all capitalist papers whenever these papers can be induced to take such communications.”

Moved report be adopted. Carried. Moved that this committee recommend to the incoming Woman’s National Committee that they secure the services of a Socialist woman trade unionist of national reputation to act as permanent organizer for the party among women in the cities. Carried. Adjourned to meet at 9:30 a.m.

Tuesday. Morning Session.

May 13, 1913. Meeting called to order with May Wood- Simons in the chair.

Present–Berger, Brewer, Carr, Lewis, Simons, Twining.

Report of sub-committee on Plan of Work.

The committee recommends the following changes in the existing Plan of Work: The insertion of “intelligent voters” in the first paragraph under “Duties of Committees,” following the word “unionists.” The addition of a fourth paragraph under “Plan of Work,” as follows: “The committee should conduct classes for the systematic study of political and economic questions, embracing (1) fundamentals of Socialism; (2) fundamentals of political government; (3) relation of Socialism to economic organizations. That the subject of Socialist schools and study classes should be stricken out. The sense of the committee is that we are not especially favorable to Socialist schools, that we should bend our efforts rather toward securing control or influencing our present public school system.

Moved that the Plan of Work as amended be adopted. Carried.

Moved that this committee recommend to the incoming Woman’s National Committee that a set of lessons be prepared by the Woman’s National Committee that can be used by woman’s committees in carrying out the Plan of Work as just amended. Carried.

The following report of the sub-committee on Boy Scout movement, consisting of Berger and Carr, was presented by Berger:

“It appears from recent study of the movement that there has been a new development during the last two or three years in regard to the Boy Scouts. The first organization was known as the American Boy Scouts. This organization is the one to which the criticisms in our leaflet by Comrade O’Reilly, “The Boy Scout Movement,” apply. We understand that it was more or less military in its purposes and spirit, and that this is the basis for the hostility upon the part of Socialists everywhere toward the movement.

“Within the last few years a new organization has developed known as the Boy Scouts of America. Everything mentioned in their handbook seems to be entirely commendable, and with the military aim and purposes eliminated as they are, it would seem that we could not afford to do anything but approve the movement.

“However, while not opposing this movement, we as Socialists should do all possible to develop the functions of the public school and the public recreation systems along the lines suggested in the manual of the Boy Scouts of America.”

Adjourned.

Secretary.

BERTHA HALE BROWN, WINNIE E. BRANSTETTER, General Correspondent.

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/130531-partybuilder-w30.pdf