The Daily Worker Newspaper, December 4, 1926, Page 10

“Woman’s Day” | With the entrance of women into industry the necessity for organizing themselves for the pur- pose of protecting their interests became impera- tive. One of the first demands was for universal suffrage for women. This demand was strongly sup- ported by the Socialist parties of Hurope, Differences very, early arose within the suffrage movement, These differences were but a reflection of the class struggle that permeated all society. The bourgeois women wanted the vote merely for the privilege of helping to maintain the, existing erder. The working-class women wanted the vote mot only to protect their interests, but, as a weapon t© be used for the purpose of mobilizing the work- ing class for the overthrow of the capitalist system ef society. The second international conference of Socialist ‘women was held at Copenhagen in 1910. The Amen fean delegation reported on the strong campaign that was being carried on in the United States to win the right to vote. The conference then ac eapted a proposal by Clara Zetkin to establish an International Women’s Day. On this day an em @eavor could be made to mobilize the werking women all over the world in support of this strug- gle. March the 8th was to be now known as "Women's Day.” In 1911, Germany, the stronghold of the Second International, was the only country where this day was celebrated on a large scale, In Austria, the } Police dispersed the demonstrations of the women. The government well knew that whoever won the ‘women would also win the masses. - The demonstrations of the women did not take | Place on March the 8th in America. However the | Socialist women participated in the suffrage parades that were held. These parades were not molested by the police but during the first few years were | subjected to some ridicule from the populace, i The next year “Women’s Day” was celebrated in ell the larger countries of Hurope. In Germany the celebration was on a larger scale than the prev- fous year. “The seven days before this day was known as “Red Week” during which they carried on intense propaganda. There was a special paper for this occasion called “The Women’s Right to Vote.” The Austrian women also had a paper for their celebration called “Women’s Day.” This year March the 8th became truly an International holiday. “Women's Day” was celebrated in Russia for the first time in 1913. Special articles were written in the workers’ papers by comrades from many coun- ries. A demonstration was held in a public square in Leningrad. Later many comrades were arrested by the czarist police, The following year the Russian comrades had a 6pecial edition of the workers’ papers printed for the occasion. Preliminary meetings were held on the very day the police prohibited all demonstra- tions. Women organizers were arrested and im- prisoned. One of their oe was “Down with the Czar.” In 1915-16 the piiasien war was raging. The e@ttempt to use this day as a demonstration against the slaughter was prevented by the Social iuceued eratic traitors. However there was a celebration in Norway in 1915. Representatives from Sweden ‘and Russia participated. This time their slogan was not “Votes tor Women” but the revolutionary slogan of “War @gainst War.” By February, 1917 the sufferings of the Russian people had reached the end oftheir endurance. Poverty, hunger and disease were stalking through the land. The capitalist war was still demanding fts sacrifice of human flesh. On February the 23rd fhe women of Leningrad held a demonstration de- mManding bread for their children and the return of their men from the trenches. This day marked the beginning of the February-March Revolution. March the 8th, 1918 was celebrated in Soviet Rus- eia.. For the first time “Women’s Day” was cele- rated in a workers’ republic. “Strengthen the Red Front.” “Drive out the Imperialists." ‘These were the slogans of the embittered working women now fighting shoulder to shoulder with their men in de- fense of the Revolution. The peasant women participated in the celebra- tion of “Women’s Day” for the first time in 1920. The slogans this year reflected the problems the Women were now facing. “Women Workers of the World United Under the Banners of the Third Inter- Mational” read one sign. “Down with the Bour- Geoisie and Capital” read another. Last but not least was a sign reading “Down with Mliteracy.” One hundred new schools were opened on this day. Besides this March the 8th saw the opening of one bundred maternity homes and many nurseries and kindergartens. Very serious problems faced the women workers pt Russia in the year 1922. Their slogans for “Wo- Many other institutions were enlarged. a “ men’s Day" were, “Fight the Famine,” “Into the Unions” and “Join the Party.” On this day the women organized huge campaigns for the purpose of raising funds for the relief of the women and children suffering from famine. ‘They also or- ganized groups for the purpose of teaching the peas- ants better systems of agriculture, By this time it can be seen that “Women's Day” had taken on a new aspect in Soviet Russia, It was no Jonger merely a day of protest against injustice. ‘It was now also a day for the taking of an inventory of their achievements and their problems and had be- come a day above all others of constructive efforts in the building of a ‘better system of society. March the 8th, 1923 saw “Women’s Day” cele- brated all over Russia. Hundreds of thousaniis par ticipated.» The slogans for the day were, “More Efficiency in Field and Factory,” “Eliminate the Un- employment” and “Down with Prostitution.” Seventy extra newspapers were printed for the day; 277 mass meetings took place in Leningrad during the day, 15,000 people participating.. In Moscow and vi- ctinity 1,641 meetings with 165,000 people participat- tng took place; 200,000 people took part in 36 other towns in Russia. In 24 states excluding Moscow and Lestuatad the following institutions were opened: 66 nurseries, 36 play-grounds, 18 children’s homes, 20 dispensaries, 11 homes for mothers and children, 2 sanitariums, 4 children’s hospitals and one home for homeless girls. In Moscow 15 dining rooms with capacity for 10,000 people, 27 co-operatives employing more than 1,306 women and 11 homes each equipped with playgrounds and able to care for 800 people were opened. In Lenin- grad reading rooms were opened for 400 unemployed women; 4,000 women graduated from schools where they received training for official positions. The unions opened technical schools for teaching trades te unemployed women. The slogan for 1924 was, “Remember the Words of Lenin,” “The Work of the Soyiets Will Not Be Complete Until the Millions of. Women in Field and Industry Participate.” At their meetings they dem- onstrated the changes that had been made in the seven years of the Bolshevik regime. International solidarity was shown by their organizing, of “Leagues of Help” all over Soviet Russia for’ the: working’ wo--s men’ of Germany. Hundreds of. thousands of women were involved in this campaign; 4,115 women joined the party. Many new institutions were inaugurated, Free seeds were given to the wives of Red Army men. “Women’s Day” was celebrated with great aifi- culty in other countries. Fascism reigned in Italy, Proletarian Odes. - By.C. A. MOSELEY. | I * THE CHRISTIAN WAY. in distant, heathen, old Japan, There livéd a military fan, Who got a Shintoistic shake In pagan guts from “some earthquake. He ran amuck and, with his fist, He choked to death a Socialist, , A woman, and a little kid— That’s what that damned old pagan did. Three years have now gone slipping by, And they’ve released that heathen guy. So he is free upon the streets— To duplicate his choking feats. He gave our ecribe his pagan word That never In his life he'd heard : How in this land of brave and free, Where folks Ilve bleesed with Christ's decree, We throw electric-charged confetti To bump off Bacco and Vanzettl, Now, let us close with one big jawful— ©, ain't the unchurched heathen awfali . e By Rose Katz Bulgaria, Hungary, Spain and other countries. Nearly all Communist Parties went underground. Tens of thousands of revolutionists were imprisoned. The brave comrades of Berlin had a big meeting. In France demonstrations occurred in many cities. In Paris the widows. of soldiers who had lost their lives in the great. imperialist slaughter also.demon- strated on thig day.. Resolutions were passed against the high cost of living, for war against capital, for equal pay, for unity with the workers of Russia and for help to the workers of Germany. Meetings and demonstrations occurred in Holland and Nor- way. 3 , By March the 8th, 1925. Russia could boast of hav- ing 1,725,725 women in the trade unions. The slo gan for this year was, “Closer to the Party and the Soviets.” The speakers endeavored to give thetr hearers a” better understanding of the tole of the working women in all countries and also of their part in carrying out the tasks of the Comintern. the celebration, A campaign was started for the Purpose of aiding all the homeless children. In Moscow the Comintern, Kristentern, Kim and Mo pra participated under the auspices of the Women’s International Secretariat. The slogan of the women of Germany for 1925 wae, “Down with the Gotha Program.” This program of There were successful celebrations in many German towns. In’ Gary a banner was presented to the workijg women of Germany from the working wo- men of Russia. In Golly, Germany, the women wore red handkerchiefs for a week after the demonstra- tion. The police of Baden arrested a few comrades for distributing literature. ‘ Thousands of non-Communist women participated in the demonstrations in Checko-Slovakia. They protested against the high cost of living and the discharge of large numbers of workers from the factories. The slogan of the Communist women was, “Help the Mothers and Children.” Papers in -four different languages were printed, besides thousands of leaflets and placards; 223 meetings took place, an increase of 55 over the previous year.. At 164 meetings 36,000 people participated, 25,350 of whom were women, This day was not only celebrated abana’ but in 12 other sections of France. As a demonstration against the disfranchisement of wonren the Com- munist Party supported. women candidates for mu- nicipal offices. Seven thousand of Lucy Kaler’s pamphlet dealing with women’s problems were dis- tributed. Thousands of papers were given away, @ special edition for the day was issued by the “Hu- manite,” the official organ of the Communist Party of France. ; The terror of fascism could not prevent the cele- bration of this day in Italy. Meetings were held in front of factory gates. Red banners were raised for a few seconds to the great joy of the workers. Four papers of women and special editions of. the Communist papers were printed and distributed. The I. L. D. of Italy also printed a special issue of their paper telling of the splendid work the women were doing on behalf of political prisoners, The “White Terror” was unable to prevent the celebration of “Women’s Day” in Poland. Meetings were prohibited in Warsaw. In Biaistock, unions that attempted to celebrate this day were disbanded, Even at factory meetings no celebrations were al lowed. Nevertheless six meetings were held near Warsaw. Special papers and pamphlets were di tributed. The slogans were against the “White eee idarity of the proletariat, One hundred and thirty thousand people were thrown out of work in Sweden on the 8th of March, 1925. This aroused the fighting spirit of the wo- |men, Their slogans were “Down with the Fascisti” and “Open the Factories.” It is worthy of note that the Fascisti had an organization of women strike- breakers, This year a conference was held in England which discussed the plan outlined by the Comintem for work among women. ‘At that time there were 500 women in the Communist Party of England. We can be certain of hearing from them yery soon, The women of the American Party were hamp- jered by the necessity for the party to remain under- | ground, By 1924, Women’s councils were organized In Detroit the party . ‘in New York and other cities. women organized the “Federation;of Working Class Women” which was a federation of twelve organize tions, Since then, “Women’s Day” has been cole brated each year in Detroit by mass meetings and bazaars where thousands of dollars wore raised for the I. L, D. Other cities of the country have done similar work, Gradually the working women of America are taking @ more important part in the struggle of the working class, At least 60 per cent of the people participated in . the Second International was against Soviet Russia, Terror,” against militarism, and for international sol ™ — eon ee es eee: