Clara Zetkin, Rosa Luxemburg, Alexandra Kollontai, Dora Montefiore, Angelica Balabanoff and many more personalities feature in these reports from the Socialist International’s 1910 Congress at Copenhagen with a focus on the women’s gathering held there just prior, including a letter from U.S. delegate Lena Morrow Lewis.

‘The International Meeting in Copenhagen’ from Progressive Woman. Vol. 4 No. 41. October, 1910.

The women led off at the Copenhagen meetings, as they did at Stuttgart, by holding a two days’ Congress before the big International got down to business.

The woman’s congress was called together through the indefatigable energy of Clara Zetkin, of Stuttgart, who made the opening speech. Comrade Zetkin is a most capable woman, being able to make speeches in one language after another, thus making herself indispensable as translator at the International Congress. She is the editor of Gleichheit, the Socialist woman’s paper of Germany, and issues the reports of the international woman’s movement, of which she is chairman.

Comrade Mrs. Mac presided over the woman’s congress.

A resolution presented by Clara Zetkin condemning the action of the czar in his hostile attitude toward Finland, was roundly applauded by the women, and especially appreciated by the Finnish women present.

It was decided not to start an international woman’s paper, but to continue the use of Die Gleichheit, with an international number every three months or so. In this connection Comrade Kollontay, a brilliant and beautiful Russian woman, made speech in which she urged the women in each country to devote themselves to the education of the women of the working class.

Late in the afternoon the question of suffrage was reached. From the Daily Call we take the following:

“The discussion was opened by our zealous comrade, Luella Twining who referred to the united suffrage proposed by the conciliation bill recently in the English parliament, and said it would merely increase the power of the capitalist class. After women got the vote, they would have to be taught how to use it. Education would be needed. In Colorado women divide on class lines. The working women can unite on the basis of class, not sex. The Socialist women of America put class above sex, and stand squarely on the class struggle, she declared.

“Comrade Zetkin gave a very spirited German translation of this speech, and it was warmly applauded.

“Dr. Philips. of England, then rose to a point of information and demanded which of the various resolutions was under discussion.

“It was voted to discuss the entire question, and then vote on each resolution in order.

“Mrs. Gutsafson, editor of a Swedish Socialist  paper at Stockholm, then spoke. She said the Liberals in Sweden were willing to give women votes on the same terms as men, but this should be opposed by Socialists and working women, as it meant a property qualification.

“Kata Dahlstrom, of Sweden, a well known author, and one of Sweden’s most popular orators, spoke strongly on the utter folly of trusting bourgeoise women as allies. They had had bitter experience in Sweden. The bourgeoise women always betrayed the workers. She urged Socialists to accept nothing less than full direct, unrestricted adult suffrage.

“Miss Murby, of London, a Fabian, then spoke. She herself supports adult suffrage, but defended those who would accept less, and said English women knew English conditions better than continental women possibly could.

“She was a most pleasing speaker, with a charming personality, but she attempted a very difficult role.

“Our grand comrade, Dora Montefiore, then spoke, strongly opposing compromise, the curse of British Socialism.”

The first day’s conference adjourned at 6.30. In the evening a grand mass meeting for the women, organized by the Danish women, was held. Over 4,000 were present, and a Socialist alderwoman, Henrietta Crone, presided over the meeting.

Comrade LaMonte, in the Daily Call, gives the following regarding this meeting:

“There were fifteen ten-minute speeches from representatives from all over the world. The speeches were received with the greatest enthusiasm.

“Among the speakers were Comrades Zetkin and Ther. of Germany; Montefiore, MacDonald and Despard, of England; Popp. of Vienna; Mrs. Gustafson, of Sweden; the brilliant and beautiful Comrade Kollantay, of Russia, who aroused the wildest enthusiasm: Comrade Frimleinde. who championed the cause of the oppressed Russian Jews; May Wood Simons, of Chicago: that fine old Bohemian veteran, Comrade Nach Rarlial, of Prague, and the Italian comrade, who had just arrived, whose name I could not ascertain. It sounded like Ballabaunof.

“She spoke with infinite pathos of the poor Italian working women, whose tragic patience makes them ignore all the just claims of their bodies in order to gain the scantiest food for their stomachs. Her’s was undoubtedly the most eloquent speech of the evening.

“The last speaker was Comrade Mrs. Mac. of Copenhagen, who thanked the speakers from abroad in the name of the Socialist women of Denmark.

“Comrade Simon’s speech was warmly received, and was a credit to American Socialism and the women of America.

“She referred especially to fact of the class character of our constitution, which she said, was designed from the beginning as an instrument of subjugation, and she also spoke of the usurpations of the judiciary, and said our presidents are chosen by the capitalist class for us. These things have made the American workers slaves. But while the Russian slave knows he is a slave, the American slave has delusions of freedom. He is more helpless and hopeless, because he does not realize his own condition.

“She closed with a very eloquent peroration, referring to the millions of women and children who rely for inspiration on those in attendance In this congress.

“The speech was warmly received, and we Americans all felt proud of May Wood Simons.”

The second day of the Congress brought up the question of suffrage again, and after protracted debate, in in which the English women stood practically alone, the following resolution, drawn up by the German comrades, was passed:

“The Socialist women’s movement of all countries repudiates the limited woman’s suffrage as a falsification of and insult to the principle of the political equality of the female sex. It fights for the only living concrete expression of this principle: the universal woman’s suffrage which is open to all adults and bound by no conditions of property, payment of taxes, or degrees of education or any other qualifications which exclude members of the working class from the enjoyment of the right. They carry on their struggle, not in alliance with the bourgeoise Women’s Righters, but in alliance with the Socialist parties, and these fight for woman’s suffrage as one of the demands which from the point of view of principle and practice is most important for a complete democratization of the suffrage.”

With the passing of this resolution ten of the English women left the Congress. A Danish resolution that Socialists should oppose legislation forbidding night work to women only, and demanding the prohibition of the night work by either men or women, was passed.

A resolution drawn up by Comrades Dora Montefiore and Hicks, of London, declaring it the duty of the community to maintain child-bearing women, was passed.

As for the International proper–there were resolutions upon resolutions, each one calling for the exercise of Demosthenetical never mind if this adjective was born just [missing word] powers.

Kier Hardie made a brilliant plea for a universal strike against war, which was finally turned down in favor of everybody going home and studying up local conditions on this subject, and coming back to the next Congress to report. Co-operative societies came in for their share of attention, and it was decided that the Congress “while warning the workers against le idea that co-operation is sufficient in itself, declares that it is of the highest interest for them to make use of co-operation in the class struggle,” and calls upon all Socialists and members of trade unions to actively participate in the co-operative movement, in order to develop therein the spirit of Socialism.” This resolution might have applied very well to our own suffrage movement had not action to the contrary been taken at the Woman’s Congress.

Other resolutions were passed on Socialist unity–and it is said that the Congress promised some hope for this most desirable activity; on Trade Unions, on Argentina, Persia, Turkey, Finland, Spain, Japan and Morocco.

But, to get away from the dry facts of the affair (which doubtless you have already read elsewhere) we quote some “sound and color and life,” from Charles . L. Shaw, in The Clarion (London):

“I am writing this in a turmoil of sound. It is though the tower of Babel had broken loose om the prison of the past and precipitated itself on the Concert Palaet where the International Socialist Congress is being held.

“Cheek by jowl with me is an Italian Austrian vainly trying to explain to me in bad German the relationship of the little peoples of middle Europe the Czechs, Bulgars, Magyars, Roumanians, Servians, etc. Looming athwart the rays the dying sun as it filters through the windows of the great hall are the giant shoulders Haywood of the American Western Union of Miners fame, who with Moyer and Pettibone had such a close call for the better land some two years ago. Near him is Robert Hunter, whilst just behind is Perceau, of “La Guerre Sociale.” With Jaures, big and beefy, by his side, Arlend Snell, of “l’Humanite,” Valliant and Cipani, old revolutionaries, and Guesde, frail and haggard.

“Just look at that bunch of Croats. Serbs, and heaven alone knows what, from the European basin, and just beyond the swarthy Italian, who contrasts so curiously with the milk and rose complexions of the Scandinavians. Yonder are two be-turbaned Indians in earnest conversation with an English-speaking Japanese, whilst in the middle distance are hefty “Cornstalks” from “down under,” Canadians, and a perfect olla podrida of white and dark skinned humanity.

“There is a girl over there with the face and figure of a Greek goddess.

“But where am I?

“You want to know what the Congress did. I suppose. Well, if you want to know minuately you had better ask that Admirable Crichton of International secretaries, Camille Huysmans, who, with his Maker, shared the secret. I am giving you sound and color and life–not the dry bones of resolutions…I have met here Hilja Parssimen, the Finnish poetess, the brave Muna Sillanpaa, who was one of the first women M. P.’s returned to parliament, and who, a servant herself, has bended together the servants of Finland into a great organization; and many other Finnish patriots. They are a wonderful people, those Finns, with their steel-blue eyes and fair complexions.

“Clara Zetkin, who must surely be one of the most beloved of women, is as vigorous as ever; whilst Rosa Luxemburg moves radiantly through the group with the old, fearless look and smile.

“Then the diminutive Angelica Balabanoff and the dramatic Sorgue of France, whose well-known crimson is seen at all Congresses, are both working hard in the movement of movements. The latter, I verily believe, knows every individual in the movement, and appears to possess the powers of omniscience and omnipresence.

“Do not imagine that the great Congress of 885 delegates, representing nearly ten millions of people, only confined itself to “matters of State.” Far from it. I would have you to know that it “let itself go,” and twice at that–first on a marauding sea expedition to Skodborg, and then in a great reception on the last day of the Congress at the Raad Hus, or Town Hall, one of the finest buildings in Europe, where the delegates were entertained in royal fashion. I have never in my gastronomic experience, which has been extensive, beheld such a collection of viands–things with names that sounded some like a bark, others like a sneeze, and others like nothing either in pronunciation or appearance in heaven or earth. Two of the finest voices in the Scandinavian countries delighted our ears with Wagner and Chaminade, and an orchestra with the verbe and elam of a French cavalry regiment led us in “The International”; whilst the Demosthenes of the movement charmed the ear and instructed the mind their perorations…”

A Letter From the Congress.

Dear Comrade Editor: I am sure the readers of the Progressive Woman will want to know something of the International congress and also of the woman’s meeting.

On August 17, I left New York City aboard the Lusitania. Six days of perfectly smooth sailing brought us safely to English soil.

Excepting for the time one had to take for eating and sleeping, I spent most of the time on the upper deck conversing with passengers and watching the ever changing ocean scenes. The Lusitania is a miniature world in itself. More than 800 men and women are necessary to run this wonderful boat. One of the most interesting sights was the great engines in the bottom of the ship. Climbing down some five or six stairways we at last reached bottom.

Here one is fairly lost in a mass of machinery–scores of stokers are busy shoveling coal into the immense furnaces. I said to one of the stokers “what do you think would happen if you fellows would go on strike while we were in mid-ocean?” He replied, “Oh, we couldn’t go on strike out here.”

Perhaps it is the fear of losing his own life that keeps the stoker from going on strike when in mid-ocean, but I am half inclined to give him credit for a sense of responsibility which the well-cared for, easy-going capitalist would scarcely attribute to him. If only the men who supply the world with its light and heat could but know their power they could bring the world to their feet. The most tremendous task of the century is the awakening of the workers to a consciousness of their place and importance in the world of affairs. Only those who know the part they are playing in life’s work are fit and capable of holding the place that rightly belongs to them. The working class will never gain the ascendency until it knows itself. This is the mission of the Socialist party; anything short of this is a farce and a fraud.

After a part of a day’s travel by land we again embark for Danish shores. A goodly number of English comrades were aboard. Whatever misgivings I may have had concerning the North sea were all in vain for the passage was quite as pleasant and smooth as on the Atlantic ocean.

One of the pleasant features of the North sea voyage was the singing of the old Scotch songs by Comrades Keir Hardie and Bruce Glazier and other comrades. Comrade Anderson’s splendid recital of Tom O’Shanter made him quite a favorite among the passengers. Lack of space forbids personal mention of many other British comrades worthy to be named.

The Woman’s congress was in session when I arrived. The evening meeting of the first day was in progress. Among the interesting speakers were Elizabeth Mac of Copenhagen, Dr. Angelica Balabouff of Italy, Charlotte Despare, a woman of means who has cast in her lot with the poor people, and who is also an enthusiastic suffragist.

Much excitement prevailed the second day of the Woman’s congress over a clause in the report on suffrage, charging those who supported the bill for limited suffrage in England with bad faith. It was not a question of whether we should work with the suffrage societies that stood for universal suffrage, but whether we would support the limited bill.

Time will prove whether or not our friends of the limited bill are seeking solely for the purpose of breaking down sex lines, or simply for the sake of class advantages. On the one side we have those who claim there is only the class division, on the other side there are those who insist that there is a sex division, and may it not be possible that neither side is wholly right nor wholly wrong. Life’s problems will never be solved correctly except by the proper adjustment of each and every factor. The importance placed on one factor will not atone for the failure to give due credit to other factors.

While there were many things that might have been improved on in the Woman’s congress, altogether it was a good beginning in the direction of awakening the women of the world to the necessity of their political and economic freedom. One mark of progress was the passing of a resolution demanding that all children whether born in or out of the bonds of wedlock, receive equal treatment at the hands of the state. If my memory serves me right, one of the first bills introduced by a Socialist woman member of the Finnish diet was a measure making legal in the eyes of the law all the children of the state.

In a later letter I hope to give the readers of the Progressive Woman an account of some of the women who were delegates to the International congress, five of the Finnish delegates were Socialist members of the Diet. When the resolution protesting against the Czar’s abolishing the Finnish government was read in the congress, the whole audience arouse en masse and emphasized its approval of the denunciation in most emphatic terms. I trust this will reach you for the October issue. I sail from Liverpool October 8th, and shall indeed be glad to get back to the states. I am rather anxious to see the September P.W. to see just what you did with “Mr. Grundy” of Boston.

With best wishes to all the readers of The Progressive Woman, I am Yours for the Revolution, LENA MORROW LEWIS.

The Socialist Woman was a monthly magazine edited by Josephine Conger-Kaneko from 1907 with this aim: “The Socialist Woman exists for the sole purpose of bringing women into touch with the Socialist idea. We intend to make this paper a forum for the discussion of problems that lie closest to women’s lives, from the Socialist standpoint”. In 1908, Conger-Kaneko and her husband Japanese socialist Kiichi Kaneko moved to Girard, Kansas home of Appeal to Reason, which would print Socialist Woman. In 1909 it was renamed The Progressive Woman, and The Coming Nation in 1913. Its contributors included Socialist Party activist Kate Richards O’Hare, Alice Stone Blackwell, Eugene V. Debs, Ella Wheeler Wilcox, and others. A treat of the journal was the For Kiddies in Socialist Homes column by Elizabeth Vincent.The Progressive Woman lasted until 1916.

PDF of full issue: https://www.marxists.org/history/usa/pubs/socialist-woman/101000-progressivewoman-v4w41.pdf