The Commonwealth. [volume] (Everett, Wash.) 1911-1914, 1913-10-02
GERMAN SOCIALISTS IN BIG
CONVENTION.
Delegates In Annual Gathering Report
on Progress for the Year
Women's Advance Great.

Jena, Germany September IA
the Socialists OF Germany met in an
nual convention at Jena
A detraction from the usual festiyi-
ties and joy attendant upon the ad-
vent OF the "Partei Tag" lay in the
recent death of the great leader OF the
German democracy, August Bebel, the
beloved and fearless parlamentarian.
Bebel's absence was keenly felt.
The entire convention rose in honor
of their departed comrade and stood
while the "Marseillaise" and the song
Elm Sohn Des Volkes" we're being
played and sung.
The Party Executive Report.
The report of the party executive in
its introduction, reviews briefly the
events of the past year, making spe-
cial mention of the marked advance in
the cost of living, the Balkan war, and
the combined action of the French and
German parties as being the chief
events, having called for immediate
and energetic attention.
Under the heading of "Organiza-
ton" the report shows that the in
crease in membership is disappoint-
ing. On July 1, 1912, the membership
of the party was 97O,112. On March
30 of this year it had only increased
to 9S2,S59 a gain of 12,747, or 1.3 per
cent. The greater portion, 1874, of
this increase are new women members.
The report characterizes this state of
affairs as bordering on stagnation.
The number of male members has
hardly increased at all.
Big Increase in Women Members.
The womans movement is in a very
healthy and active condition, the wom-
en- of the working class showing far
more interest in political and eco
nomic subjects than ever before. The
active participation of the women was
very noticeable in the May Day cele-
brations.
In spite of the prosecutions and OPP
pressive methods of the government,
the young peoples movement is pro-
crossing encouragingly. 1t is very diff
ficult for the young people to hold
even educational meetings, as these
are usually prescribed by the authori-
ties as coming under the head of "Po-
litical Meetings." However, the young
proletariat is persisting and is meet
ing with great success.
One Hundred and Eleven Socialists in
Reichstag.
The by-elections for the filling of
vacancies in the reichstag reveal a
certain amount of apathy; this, how
ever, is nothing unusual and often oc-
ours Immediately after a general cleo
ton. The representation in the reich
stag has increased by one, being now
Ill. (The death of Bebel reduced
this number temporarily to 100
Ninety Daily Papers Now.
Relative to the party press the re-
port states that there were at the end
of the business year ninety party
newspapers appearing daily. New
ones were established during the year
in Arnstadt, Eisenach, Jena, Osna-
brueck and Kattowitz.
New party printing shops have been
established in Duisburg, Jena and
Rostock. Altogether there are sixty
two party printing shops in operation.
The Press Bureau reported an in
come of 1,139 marks, expenditures of
$3.50 marks, and cash on hand 1898
marks. "a mark equals 25 cents.)
The income of Vorwaerts, the Off
cial daily of the party, was 1,599,359
marks, expenses 1,397,2SS marks,
profit of 1906 marks.
The profits of Der Wahre Jakob
were 61,O75 marks, of Die Neue Zeit
2,146 marks, and of Die Gleichheit
1902 marks.
On March 81, 1918, Vorwaerts had
157 100 subscribers. Der Wahre ia
kob 81 900, Die Neue Zeit 10000 and
Die Gleichheit 10000.
The report on educational work In
dicates tremendous and widespread
activity. Lectures were held fire.
quently in even the most remote ham
lets of the empire. These courses en-
brace all sorts of economic, political,
literary and scientific subjects. The
stereopticon is used frequently, espe-
cially in connection with scientific
subjects, and it is purposed to estab-
lish a central bureau, the duties OF
which shall be to prepare and loan
to educational committees stereopticon
slides illustrative of lectures and the
courses to be given.