The Daily Worker Newspaper, March 15, 1924, Page 12

t Soviet Russia Observes Women’s Day NTERNATIONAL WOMEN’S DAY, March 8th—a heritage of the pre-war International Socialist movement—-has been utilized every year in revolutionary Russia for in- tensive propaganda and organization work among working and _ peasant women, Extensive preparations are made each year by the Communist Party and the trade unions to reach proletarian women in work shops, offices, on the land and in the homes, with a call for solidarity with the men workers in the struggle for a better world. o As soon as the Communist Inter- national issued its manifesto on the the significance Women’s Day and called upon all its 52 sections to set aside March 8, for concentrated and systematic work for organizing and propagandizing among women workers, the Russian Communist Party and the trade unions began immediately to make preparations to fittingly observe the day in the Union of Socialist Soviet Republics. Propaganda of the Party. On February 6th the secretary of the Communist Party, Mojotey, and the head of the Women’s Depart- ment, Snidoritch, issued official in- structions to all party units to or- ganize the campaign for Interna- tional Women’s Day under the slogan “Remember and observe the heri- tage of Illyitch (Lenin) about the working and peasant women” and his admonition that “The work of the Soviet government will be crowned with success only then when millions and millions of working and peasant women will join the ranks of its supporters.” ‘ The party organizations were ad- jured to bring out in clear and simple manner, before the women as- sembled at mass meetings, the ac- complishments in the field of women’s emancipation and in draw- ing them into the party, delegate meetings, soviets, trade unions, co- operatives, mutual aid societies, committees to aid poor peasants and their active participation in these movements, The party leaders were instructed to make it known to the women that during the campaign of admission of new members into the party “all honest proletariang and true revolutionary women working in shops and factories will be wel- comed into the party of Lenin.” The party organizations were also called upon to secure before March Sth , aetion .in the. sovicts, trade nr cached gO ty ipl pagent itional and improving existi children’s homes, Precis: hee - gartens, common dinitig rooms, laun- dries, ete. The slogan, “Remember Comrade Lenin and teach your chil- dren to follow in his footsteps,” was te be ized among the workers in the villages. The party units were also urged by instructions from the Central Committee to arrange on March 8th, special sessions of vil- lage soviets with delegates rrom peaant women’s organizations invited to attend as well as exchange dele- of International ; ' t j | gations between working women’s and peasant women’s organizations on that day. The significance of International Women’s Day was to be discussed at all gatherings, in the light of the present international status of the Soviet Republics, the conditions of the working class in capitalist countries with particular reference to the need of aiding the German workers in their revolution- ary struggles, Program of the Trade Unions. The All Russian Central Soviet of Trade Unions issued on February 15 under the names of Secretary Doga- dov, head of thé Cultural Depart- ment; Seniushkin, and head of the Organizations Department Taglom in- structions to all subdivisions of the trade union movement to ‘observe In- ternational Women’s Day under the general slogans prepared by the Com- | New York My City, Listen! women’s corners” decorated with special posters and appropriate slo- gans were to be set aside in all labor clubs where women members could distribute information and literature regarding the various problems af- fecting woman labor. Factory and club libraries were to make a sec- tion of books, pamphlets and maga- zine articles dealing with woman questions for reference and all trade union publications were ordered to issue, on March 8, special editions devoted to International Women’s Day. J The Government Program. “In order to give all women work- ers an opportunity to celebrate the day* of international solidarity of proletarian women, the People’s Commissariat of Labor of the Union of Socialist Soviet Republics,” so runs the preamble of the government By EZRA POUND my beloved, my white! Ah, slender, Listen to me, and I will breathe into thee a soul, Delicately upon the reed, attend me! Now do I know that I am mad, For here are a million This is no maid. people surly with traffic; Neither could I play upon any reed if I had one. My City, my beloved, s Thou are a maid with no breasts, Thou art slender as a silver reed. Listen to me, attend me! And I will breathe into thee And thou shalt live forever. a soul, _ ——_—- munist Party. Im addition the fol- lowing program of-action to be car- ried out before March 8th was out- lined for the unions: 1. An inquiry into the results of attracting young women workers and teachers into the various branches of the trade technical education and prepare this regard. 2. A survey of conditions prevail- ing in the community houses for women workers, securing their nec- essary improvements thru the proper ! administrative organs, 8. A survey of the condition of un- employment of women in private establishments, securing there the strict - observance of all- labor laws and the proper payment of wages. 4. Appropriation of sums from|] union funds for the establishment of children’s homes and the organi- zation of restaurants and laundries thru the co-operatives, 5. Give additional aid to unemploy- ed women workers and especially pregnant women with small children, from the mutual aid funds of the unions, The unions were instructed to hold Mass meetings devoted to Interna. tional Women’s Day. “Working Unemployment and (Continued from page 1) common and semi-skilled workmen. wy A shortage of tool- makers, machinists and other skilled trades in these lines, while a surplus of laborers, casual workers and un- skilled machine hands exists, “Albany. The large influx of transient labor has created a sur- plus, chiefly unskilled workmen. “Yonkers, Labor, both skilled and semi-skilled is fully employed while a slight surplus of common labor is indica “Elmira. A surplus of unskilled labor continues to exist. Altho skilled trades are steadily employed. “Binghamton. A small amount of idleness, chiefly unskilled labor is apparent. Highly skilled mechanics are fully employed. ~“New Jersey. Release of la numbers of semi-skilled and unskill- ed labor. Building mechanics are well employed. “Newark Industrial District, Skill- ed mechanics are well employed, but there is an increased surplus of or- dinary labor and a noticeable amount of unemployment exists. “Patterson. A shortage of skilled bo city lig labo! exists, particular] mechanics is becoming apparent. The supply of general labor is plentiful. “Pennsylvania, Johnstown. A la- r surplus exists, principally of un- killed workers. “Harrisburg Industrial District. With the exception of unskilled workmen labor is fully employed. “Bethlehem. Skilled trades are fully employed. “York. Skilled labor generally is well employed altho there is still a small amount of unemployment existing, principally unskilled work- ers, - “Tilinois, Decatur. Surplus of un- skilled labor is noted in the build- ing trades, “Danville. There is a large sur- plus of common labor evident in this “Indiana. While the employment situation in this state is not bad, the aed for labor (except skilled) are “Indianapolis, Surplus of common r. “Fort Wayne. Surplus of workers y common labor. “Mich of common laborers. “Flint. The local workers in this plans for future activity inJ gether, Grand Rapids, Surplus} idle instructions sent out by V. Schmidt, Labor Comissar of U. 8S. S. R., on February 13th. According to this order all women workers must be released on March 8th two hourg earlier than usual, provided that such release would not force the stoppage of work alto- In establishments where Women are in the majority and where their release would cause the complete cessation of work, the es- hours earlier than usual. In estab- lishments where the release of women workers may cause injury or inconvenience ‘to the public, such as telegraph and telephone stations, ; hospitals, public restaurants and food supply Aations, etc., the work- ing women were in lieu of their re- ease, to receive for the two hours of~work one and a half times their regular pay, This is how the government, the Communist Party and Trade Unions ; co-operate in celebrating a labor : holiday—International Women’s Day. | The day is utilized not only for | propaganda purposes but also to im- | prove the conditions of women work- ‘ers. Only in a country where the ‘aims of the labor movement are the aims of the state can a labor holi- tablishments were to be closed two | By ALEXANDER TRACHTENBERG day be celebrated in a manner as it is now celebrated in Soviet Russia —Workers’ Russia. Historical Parallels. The international labor holiday of May first had its origin in America, | The International Socialist Congress in Panis in 1889 commemorated the struggle for the eight-hour day in America in the eighties by setting aside May ist as a day which the labor movement, triumphant over the world, should celebrate as a labor holiday. . Soviet Russia has declared May ist a legal holiday and the |celebration of gvery May lst is equal ‘in grandeur to the celebration of the | Soviet Republic on November 7th. | Another Soviet legal holiday taken ,from the calendar of the Interna- |tional Socialist movement is the | Paris Commune Day, March 18th. |. International Women’s Day also had its origin in America. Thru } the socialist party, some fifteen years ago, it was accepted by the International Socialist movement. | The Communist Party of Russia and 1 the Communist International have perpetuated Women’s Day. I spent last International Women’s Day in Moscow. Maria Illiuishka, Lenin’s sister who devoted much of her time to the “Pravda” and was in charge of the special edition of the paper on that occasion, asked me to write-an article on the nature and extent of working women’s move- ment in America, I spoke that day at a large meeting of women work- ers. They were glad to have a speaker from the country where Women’s Day originated. America gave birth to May 1st and International omen’s Day. What is the next day, the day not only of hope but of achievement which our movement will give to the International Labor movement? The Farmers for Lenin. A resolution in honor of Lenin cx- Tressing sorrow for his death was adopted by the Skagit County unit of the Western Progressive Farmers of the State of Washington at its session on January 26. The resolu- | than reads as follows: | Whereas, Nicolai Lenin, the great. est of all Teaders of the producing class, has passed away, and Whereas, the best way to honor those who have given their lives for the emancipation of lsbor is to con. tinue the struggle for freedom with srereased vigor, therefore, be it | Resolved, that we hereby express our ‘sorrow at the untimely death of inbor’s greatest champion, and’ wo piedge ourselves anew to the great . task before the producers of Amer- ,i¢a: the abolition of all fotms of ex- switation, and the establishment of ‘$ workers’ and farmers’ republic. pda eieenclappenanscstiicene | The central problem is to capture and retain political power, the state | Power in the hands of the working elass—Clara Zetkin. Don’t be a “Yes, But,” supporter | The Daily Worker. Send scription at once. Labor Aristocracy city are all employed, but there is a large number of transients looking for employment. Shortage of skilled automobile mechanics reported. “Battle Creek. Surplus of un- skilled labor and shortage of skilled machinists reported. “Wisconsin, Milwaukee Industrial District. A slight shortage of ma- chine molders for malleable foun- | dries, pattern makers and skilled ; Machinists is reported. There is a surplus of applicant in other indus- —_ and especially of common la- rs, “Superior. A large surplus exists in unskilled labor with a smaller sur- plus in skilled evident, “Ohio, Canton Industrial District, Skilled ‘workers are all employed, |B¢ Bulletin more than two or three Workers out of employment are of unskilled class, mechanics anda surplus of unskilled workers is re # . “Mississippi, Meridean. Skilled la- bor fully employed with a slight sur- plus of common labor existing, “Louisiana. Skilled labor % well employed, but there is some excess of common labor, “California, Los Angeles. Common labor is particularly affected in the cxkatng Loree surplis: of labor.” These facts show that unemploy- ment is a mass phenomenon; but to- day it is still a “privilege” of the unskill workers, and the labor is still unaffected the (workers depression, The skilled ces were a surplus of skilled r exists. In spite of all new level- the es in the American “Lima, Light shortage of skilled ae there still exists a labor between the in this city with a surplus of unskilled labor Seported, | See? ® “Kanas, Leavenworth. pearins, se common labor. Skilled chanics are fairl “Kentucky. ts in your sub- ~“ Ra 4 —_