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Hellraisers Journal – Monday October 4, 1909
Report on Women’s Committee of Socialist Party of America
From The Progressive Woman of October 1919:
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Aims and Purposes of Women Committee
MAY WOOD SIMONSAt the national convention of the Socialist party held in 1908 a committee on women was elected to formulate a plan for work among women, the work to be carried on directly under the supervision of the Socialist party, its object being to secure women members of the party and emphasize the necessity of obtaining the ballot for women.
This committee reported the following to the national convention:
The national committee of the Socialist party has already provided for a special organizer and lecturer to work for equal civil and political rights in connection with the Socialist propaganda among women, and their organization in the Socialist party.
This direct effort to secure the suffrage to women increases the party membership and opens up a field of work entirely new in the American Socialist party. That it has with its great possibilities and value for the party, our comrades in Germany, Finland and other countries have abundantly demonstrated.
The work of organization among women is much broader and more far-reaching than the mere arrangement of tours for speakers. It should consist of investigation and education among women and children, particularly those in the rank in or out of labor unions and to the publication of books, pamphlets and leaflets, especially adapted to this field of activity.
To plan such activity requires experience that comes from direct contact with an absorbing interest in the distinct feature of woman’s economic and social conditions, and the problem arising therefrom.
For this reason the committee hereby requests this convention to take definite action on this hitherto neglected question. We ask that it make provision to assist the Socialist women of the party in explaining and stimulating the growing interest in Socialism among women and to aid the women comrades in their efforts to bring the message of Socialism to the children of the proletariat we recommend the following:
First—That a special committee of five be elected to care for and manage the work of organization among women.
Second—That sufficient funds be supplied by the party to that committee to maintain a woman organizer constantly in the field, as already voted.
Third — That this committee co-operate directly with the national headquarters and be under the supervision of the national party.
Fourth—That this committee be elected by this national convention, its members to consist not necessarily of delegates to this convention.
Fifth—That all other moneys needed to carry on the work of the woman’s committee outside of the maintenance of the special organizers be raised by the committee.
Sixth—that during the campaign of 1908 the women appointed as organizers be employed in states now possessing the franchise.
In accordance with the report of the committee, which was accepted by the convention, a permanent committee of five was elected by the convention to act as a national committee on work among women. This committee at present has as members Dr. Antionette Konikow, Meta Stern, Theresa Malkiel, Winnie Branstetter and May Wood- Simons.
This committee on Socialist work among women is working directly under the control and direction of the Socialist party. Since the close of the convention women, who are already members of the Socialist party in the various locals of the country, have begun active work to accomplish the objects that were put before them by the convention. First, the securing of women members in the Socialist locals; second, the agitation for the franchise for women; third, the work of increasing the usefulness of the Socialist Sunday schools.
The work of securing women members for the party and increasing the attendance of women at the Socialist meetings has been begun systematically in great numbers of the locals.
The function of the national woman’s committee is to advise and out line methods by which women may best be interested in Socialism and brought into the Socialist party, and to keep the need of agitation for suffrage for women before the locals.
As an advisory committee it has worked out a plan for work in the locals. It is advised that every local appoint a committee consisting of women who are already members of the local. If no women are at present members, let the secretary of the local act as a committee. Arrange a lecture or entertainment which it is believed would interest women and make an effort to get as many women as possible to be present, wives of Socialist members, teachers, clerks, trade union women, etc.
Secure the addresses of all the women present. Then make it a point to see them within a few days and invite them to attend the Socialist meetings. Have some literature to give them.
Follow this work up and finally urge the women to become members of the local. This method works. It will bring women into the party. It has been tried and when carried on systematically shows results. When a woman member has been secured plan to keep her. Make her feel she is necessary to the local. Give her work to do. Make her a member of the committee. Set her to work to educate and secure more members. If she makes errors in the business meetings help her to correct them.
The national office now maintains a national organizer. As soon as possible every state should put a woman organizer to work and in each state a committee of women acting in conjunction with the state committee of the party should be elected.
The working women of the country are ready to learn of Socialism. If they are not brought in now it is because the locals have not done valuable work that should be done.
Recognizing the fact that a single line of work may tend to occupy the attention to the exclusion of equally important matters, the women carrying on this work emphasize the importance of each woman keeping in the closest touch with her local and the local, state and national organization, and all political issues that may arise and maintain her place as an active member of the Socialist organization. Further, all work being carried on is done in consultation with the party organization and for the purpose of increasing the strength and power of that organization.
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[Emphasis added.]
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SOURCES & IMAGES
Quote May Wood Simons, SPA Convention Chicago, May 10, 1908
Speech by May Wood Simons at Socialist Party Convention Brings Delegates to Tears
The Progressive Woman
(Girard, Kansas)
-Mar 1909 to May 1911
https://books.google.com/books?id=Zo1EAQAAIAAJ
-October 1909, Cover Photo of May Simons
https://play.google.com/books/reader?id=Zo1EAQAAIAAJ&printsec=frontcover&pg=GBS.PA16-IA65
Article on Women’s Committee of SPA by May Wood Simons
https://play.google.com/books/reader?id=Zo1EAQAAIAAJ&printsec=frontcover&pg=GBS.PA16-IA66
See also:
Proceedings National Convention
-Socialist Party of America
May 10-17, 1908, Chicago, Illinois
(search text: “women’s committee”
https://babel.hathitrust.org/cgi/pt?id=umn.319510017481606&view=2up&seq=6
Tag: May Wood Simons
https://weneverforget.org/tag/may-wood-simons/
May Wood Simons
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/May_Wood_Simons
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We Have Fed You All For A Thousand Years