The Commonwealth. [volume] (Everett, Wash.) 1911-1914, 1913-12-18
STRIKE-CHILDREN'S RELIEF
FUND.

A monster plan to establish per
manent fund for the care of children
of strikers has been launched by the
Socialist party. The two million mem
bers of the American Federation of
Labor the million Socialist voters and
the members of the American Suf-
frage association are cooperating in
the work.
1--WE do not intend to permit the
children of the working class to be
sacrificed in the struggle between or
ganized labor and capital in America"
said Winnie E. Branstetter, director
of the woman's department of the So
cialist party, who has charge of the
work.
Even now, before the winter has
scarcely started the babies of our
comrades are suffering from hunger
and cold.
1--WE know full we'll that the tactics
which were used in Massachusetts and
West Virginia will be used again in
Michigan, Colorado and other places.
if not prevented by some organized ma
tional movement for the protection of
the children of these districts.
''The Socialist party has ever stood
for the working-class and it is fitting
that it should be the first national or,
ganization to establish a permanent
relief fund for the children of the
strikers.
"The comrades of the Socialist
party should realize that this is the
supreme moment to prove that we are
in truth representative of the strug-
Cling workers.
"Those in the labor organizations
should understand that this is the su-
preme moment to show the master
class that despite all differences of
tactics, policies and politics that we
are unit for the children of our class.
"Workers in all movements for race
betterment should realize that this is
the supreme moment to prove to or
ganized labor that despite their non
political, non-secretarian and non-union
attitude that they are with us to i'm
prove the conditions of our class to
the end that poverty, disease and
crime may not touch our children"
A special stamp bearing the words
Strike -Children's Relief Fund" has
been issued by the national office OF
the Socialist party. This stamp is
receipt for money paid into this fund,
and is of a size and form suitable for
placing in membership books or as
seal on letters and Christmas pack
ages or as a sticker in public places.
All money received from the sale of
these stamps will be placed in spe-
cial fund which will be held in trust
by the national executive committee
of the Socialist party for the benefit
of the children in those districts where
assistance is necessary.
Children's Day, Sunday, December
%, is the time set for the collection
of this fund.
Immense meetings will be held in
practically all cities, towns and school
districts. Men and women who under
stand the struggles of labor will be
drafted into service to address these
meetings.
In some places the meetings will be
varied by programs rendered by chill
dren, and special leaflets on child
labor will be distributed at these meet
/ ings.
The woman's department of the ma
tional office is furnishing programs for
this occasion. including songs, read
ings, dialogues and recitations.
The Commonwealth and other So
cialist and labor papers will issue spe'
cial children's editions for this day.