Caroline A. Lowe is deserving of far greater recognition for her years of pioneering work for our movement. Lowe joined the Socialist Party in 1903, was a teacher (in 1908, Vice President of the Kansas City Teachers’ Association), founder and leader of National Women’s Committee in the Socialist Party of America, prioritizing and regularizing ‘women’s work’ in the Party for the first time. On the Party’s left, Lowe returned to school after Haywood’s recall, earned a law degree and became a leading counsel for the I.W.W., defending many victims of persecution during the original Red Scare years. Still later, until her 1933 death, she worked with the International Labor Defense. Here she gives her monthly report as General Correspondent of the Woman’s National Committee.

‘Woman’s National Committee Report’ by Caroline A. Lowe from Socialist Party Bulletin. Vol. 7 No. 9. May, 1911.

Chicago, Ill. May 11, 1911.

Dear Comrade: This report is made as complete as possible in order that the new members shall understand all of the questions with which we are dealing.

WOMAN’S DAY DEPORT.

The summarized report for Woman’s Day is as follows: Twenty-six local correspondents reported the observance of Woman’s Day, with a total attendance of 3,899, and 1,620 of these were women. Forty-nine new members were secured, and 173 P.W. sub cards sold; 931 P.W., 100 Calls, 630 leaflets and some Appeals and Dally Socialists were distributed free. I feel that this report does not fairly represent the total number of meetings held, nor of literature sold or distributed free; but it does represent the lack of appreciation of the value of reports. However, this is a matter of education and organization, and will come in time.

We have simplified the work of the local woman’s committees confining it to two main lines, the study class or program, and the distribution of literature.

We need a supply of leaflets dealing with live questions of special interest to Women, such as child slavery, the white slave traffic, the liquor trade, the effects of inventions upon the home, the fundamental principles of Socialism, etc., in terms that women can understand. Not appeals, but simple, strong statements of facts. Extracts from some of our best books and from the speeches of noted men and women are effective. I would suggest that each one of you send in extracts from articles that you think we can use, not to exceed 1,500 words in each, and from the best of these we might select material for these leaflets.

MOTION BY COMRADE MAY WOODS SIMONS

“That, in view of the attitude now being taken by the governing powers of the country on the question of war, the Woman’s National Committee send a communication to all of the locals of the party urging the women to begin at once an active campaign to enlighten the women of the working class on the meaning and consequences of war.

“That this statement be prepared by Comrade Kate O’Hare, submitted to the entire committee and, after approval, signed by the entire committee, and then sent to the locals and to the party press. That the statement shall not exceed 800 words and be submitted to the committee as quickly as convenient.

“(Signed) MAY WOOD-SIMONS. “Girard, Kan., May 9, 1911.”

SUFFRAGE PETITION.

In my report for December 1, Comrade Malkiel submitted the following motion: “In view of the fact that we now have our representative in the halls of the United States Congress, I move that we start to gather signatures asking for woman’s enfranchisement, and when these are gathered by the hundreds of thousands, that Comrade Berger be asked to introduce a bill demanding that the women of the land be given the right to vote in all national elections, strengthening his bill by the tremendous number of signatures from people, all over the land. By doing this we could accomplish a double purpose–show the nation that the Socialist representative demands the ballot for women, and while gathering these signatures carry on our propaganda for Socialism and suffrage. We may ask the suffragists to help us in our work as we helped them two years ago.”

This was voted upon by the committee and adopted.

Let us keep in mind that the National Convention meets next spring, and is followed by the presidential campaign. We must be prepared to work as never before. And our plan of campaign among the women will have to differ somewhat to fit the local conditions in each state. Begin now to prepare for regular, systematic work. Urge your most capable women to prepare themselves to do platform work. Each state must develop its own speakers to do the greater part of the local work. Then national speakers can be sent in to increase the interest and broaden the vision of those who do not yet realise the scope of the work among women in our movement.

At the last National Convention, in 1908, out of 210 delegates there were 19 women delegates and two women alternates. At the National Congress last spring, out of 125 delegates there were eleven women, with one woman alternate. At the next National Convention in 1912 we must see to it that the women are well represented. To this end we should increase the women members of the party and push the election of as many women as will fairly represent this membership.

MOTION BY SIMONS: We have now new members on the committee who can greatly assist by writing leaflets. I move that each member of the committee submit a list of five suggestions for the leaflets on subjects they consider important. That these lists be submitted to the committee and five subjects agreed upon and assigned to either members of the committee or persons selected by the committee to prepare leaflets to be approved by the committee.

MOTION BY SIMONS: I wish to make a motion that all material sent out by the press and written by persons not members of the Woman’s National Committee shall be submitted to the committee for approval before being sent out.

THE PROGRESSIVE WOMAN.

The Progressive Woman is preparing a special edition on the history of the Socialist Party in the United States. This edition is to be in the nature of a birthday celebration, and will be published for the July number. It is intended to make this a true history of the leading events in the development of the party since its organization, and men and women who have been active participants in its struggles are to contribute. The party membership will want to know the facts contained in this special edition, and will find it worthwhile to file copies for future reference.

***

Dear Comrade: That you may understand the nature and purpose of the work of the woman’s committees I am explaining it in detail. Let us take up first the plan of organization, and then the plan for work.

PLAN OF ORGANIZATION.

We now have a Woman’s National Committee, composed of seven women, which has elected a General Correspondent. We should have each state organized in similar manner with a Woman’s State Committee. This committee should elect its State Correspondent. Each party local should elect a Woman’s Local Committee, and this committee should elect a Local Correspondent.

In conformity with this plan there are three distinct propositions that should be brought to your attention.

1. The election of a Woman’s State Committee. As far as possible, the women elected should represent the various parts of the state. After the election of this committee it should proceed to the election of a State Correspondent. The State Correspondent should be in a position to co-operate with the State Secretary. She should be supplied with a list of the locals, and with stationery and stamps from the state office. This arrangement corresponds with the action taken by the National Congress in regard to the Woman’s National Committee. (Article XV, National Constitution.)

It is the duty of the State Correspondent to render all possible assistance to the Local Woman’s Committees and the Woman State Organizer, and to report to the General Correspondent of the Woman’s National Committee.

2. A Woman State Organizer should be elected by the Woman’s State Committee, in conjunction with the State Secretary. It shall be her duty to lecture throughout the state under the direction of the State Secretary. She shall make special effort to bring women into the party, and then to organize them into committees of their respective locals.

3. Our work is to organize women into the party, and to form them into active working committees of the locals. Just as each local has a Literature Committee and a Program Committee, it should have a Woman’s Committee. This committee should elect a capable woman as its Local Correspondent. It shall be her duty to report the work of her committee to the State Correspondent.

By following this simple plan of organization we are assured of a strong, active body of women within the Socialist Party.

PLAN FOR WORK.

In response to the increasing demand from the women throughout the country for some definite work to do something that is educational and at the same time of live interest to persons of all ages the Woman’s National Committee has prepared programs that are printed each month In the Progressive Woman. These programs are of such a nature that they can be used in the branches of our large cities, as well as in the isolated country locals. They can be used as lessons to be studied in a class, or as public evening entertainments.

Anna A. Maley, our Woman’s National Organizer, prepares a brief lecture upon the subject chosen for each month’s program. About this lecture are grouped songs, recitations and readings selected from the best Socialist literature. Through these programs we are educating men, women and children to an understanding of the fundamental principles of Socialism. We are developing capable women workers into organizers and lecturers. We are instilling within our boys and girls a spirit of unwavering loyalty to their class.

DISTRIBUTION OF LITERATURE.

As our party literature is written to a large extent in a style that does not at first appeal to women, the Woman’s National Committee has prepared special leaflets for them. Through these we are reaching the women in every walk of life.

We recommend that the locals supply themselves with these leaflets for free distribution at all meetings. We further recommend that all state and national organizers assist in the circulation of these leaflets. We call special attention to the Progressive Woman, the official organ of the Woman’s National Committee, and urge upon the locals the necessity of placing this Socialist magazine in every working-class home in the United States.

NEWSPAPER ARTICLES

To assist us in developing each subject from many standpoints, some of our foremost Socialist writers are furnishing us with short articles and these are being published each month in the leading Socialist and labor papers. Upon request, these articles will be sent to you free, for publication in your local papers.

SOCIALIST SCHOOLS

In answer to the demand for special work among children an outline has been prepared and is being used by the New York State Committee on Socialist Schools. This outline is in leaflet form and can be secured from the below address.

SUMMARY.

The above plans are general and will apply to all sections of the United States. However, each state has its own individual problems and this work can be adapted to suit the individual need. In states where equal suffrage is in force a campaign of education to an understanding of class interests will be adopted; in all others the agitation for suffrage must be included in this program.

Through the regular, systematic distribution of literature and the increased circulation of our papers, especially the Progressive Woman; through the public entertainments arranged about a study lesson as a monthly program, and through the intelligent co-operation of all state and national organizers, we believe the result of the year’s work will be most gratifying.

Send for a set of sample leaflets. If you have no Local Woman’s Committee, you should bring the matter up at the next meeting of your local and urge the comrades to elect the women members into such committee. Write to your State Secretary and find out the address of your Woman State Correspondent then get further information from her. If you have no State Correspondent, urge the State Secretary to take steps at once to secure one. If I can assist you in any way, do not hesitate to call upon me. With best wishes, I am

Fraternally yours,

CAROLINE A. LOWE

General Correspondent, Woman’s National Committee.

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 full issue: https://www.marxists.org/history/usa/pubs/spa-bulletins/110500-socialistpartyofficialbulletin-v07n09.pdf