The daily worker. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1924-1958, 1929-02-02

by means OF THESE annual con-
ferences, the national federated ap-
paratus of the bourgeois women's
organizations is kept closely togeth-
er and in good working order, SO
that when war is again declared,
they will be ready with all speed
to jump into the fray. In fact, we
can say that for all practical pur-
poses these conferences constitute a
continuation of the apparatus ere
ated during the last war for mob
ilizing the women. Certainly we
can feel sure that when the next
war breaks out these organizations
will be used again in a very similar
way to tina tof 1917.
We are interested in the attitude
and the activities of these organiza-
tions because they are linked up
with the working class through a
part of their membership and still
more through the daily activities
which they carry out in the shape
of social and charitable work among
the "poor"-that is, among the
workers-and through persistent
Characterization" work. We are
interested because it is of the great
est Importance for the working class
to combat their influence on the
working class women through its
own propaganda and its own organ
izations.
In the last war, the working class
was organizationally unprepared to
stem the tide. Of opposition to the
war there was plenty, both in in
stinctive proletarian revolt against
the imperialist slaughter and in
MARKHAM understanding of the true
character of the war. But insofar
as the women were concerned there
was little if any effectual organ
national resistance. Such organiza-
lions as supposedly represented the
working women in reality betrayed
them. The Women's Trade Union
League participated with the bour-
geois women's organizations in sup
port of the war. Not a peep OF
protest came from them; they were
content merely with raising few
feeble whining pleas directed at the
government to protect the working
women's conditions. The jingoes in
the last war had a clean sweep. So
little stood in their way that they
were able to mop up the whole
country in one hysterieal patriotic
landslide.
Advance of PrOletarian Women.
Since then, the working class has
greatly advanced. New factors are
to be met with today. The strength
of the Soviet Union, the broad radi-
calization of the European masses,
the beginnings of rehabilitation
among the American workers, are
significant developments.
The existence of Communist Par
ties, some of them very strong, IN
all important capitalist countries is
an organizational factor of the high
est Importance. There is an in
creased understanding and apprecia-
ton of the role and Importance of
the women in all working class
movements. There is in addition,
even in America, the beginning OF
a working class women's movement.
There are wonen's organizations of
working class aims and character
which certainly are going to put up
a resistance to the next world war.
Very significant was the protest or
ganized in Washington the week of
January IA by representatives OF
ten working women's organizations,
with membership totallnig nearly
100000, directed particularly
against the Conference on the Cause
and Cure of War. So well was this
protest conducted that two of the
women workers there very nearly
broke up entirely the first meeting
of this conference.
Present Tasks.
It must be fully realized, however,
that the organized forces of the
American working class are yet
small. All the greater is the need
for maximunl energy and exertion
on tie part of those who have to
combat the war danger. All the
mora necessary for each and every
working women's organization,
whether union, federation or club,
to throw itself into the most active
campaign, protesting ty mass meet
ing and demonstration each new
step in the imperialist war program.
Especially must agitation be car
ried on among factory women by
means CT delegate meetings and
factory circles so that the campaign
will reach the masses Of morgan
lied women upon whom the ruling
class will depend to produce the ma
terials of war.
The coming celebration of Inter-
national Women's Day must be used
this year as the focus Of the fight
against the war danger to rally the
working women on a national scale.
The Workers (Communist) Party
and all working women's organiza-
tions must realize the need for this
fight and must prepare themselves
for this major task of today.