The daily worker. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1924-1958, 1931-04-24
HOW TO ORGANIZE A MAY
DAY PARADE

without disrupting the scheme Of organization
that is, make new ranks instead Of letting the
rank get too long Marchers should adopt the
worker who jumps in next to them, lead him in
the cheering and singing, propaganda him
little in the rest periods mot with long argu-
mentS), stick with him in the meeting later on,
and finally get his name and address with all
other facts and hand it on to your leading COM
mittee afterward. GAS for any Party members
who may be seen standing on the sidewalk and
enjoying the show instead Of taking part in the
action, their names should be noted, and they
should be subjected later to the severest dis
cipline)
A parade that does not sing and cheer is dead.
In their preparatory meetings, the organizations
should gather big list of proletarian songs
as they can and practice them with the men,
bership. The singing in the parade must be Or
gained; the songs must be selected by the Steer
ing Committee and started by the band. Diff
ferent ranks must not be singing different songs
at the same time. Special attachments Of
Pioneers may be used song and cheer leaders
Besides the singing, fife and drum corps should
be organized from Pioneers and Young Workers
as well as accordion players and groups of
mouth-organ players. If possible, loud-speakng
monographs, which operate from the generator
of car, should be used with records Of the
International etc. In general, when the Inter
national is played, it should be sung by the en-
tire parade at one time With all the vigor and
respect due to our international revolutionary
anthem. Right hand with the fist clenched
should be raised when singing the International
Slogans from list prepared beforehand should
be shouted en- maSse in response to loud speak
er if one is available
The parade should be headed by big red flags
Signs and flags should be distributed throughout
the ranks of the organizations not all punched
in front Each organization should have at least
one streamer sign with two poles, carried at
the 'front.' as well as the single-pole signs. There
should also be individual letter signs in which
each marcher in a column carries one letter
of the sign or slogan All signs should be double
sided so they can be read from behind as well
as from the front ALI signs should be in English.
The leader of the whole parade should be the
General Steering Committee e members. They
must be the strongest committee it is possible
to obtain. They must have their tactics pre-
pared for any emergency that can be foreseen
They must march at the head of the parade
Immediately behind the General Steering
Committee should come a row of Pioneers on
decorated bicycles, who shall serve as couriers
Their task is to carry instructions to the Organ
lzatlon Steering Committees and bring back re-
ports. Each of the latter committees should
also have one Pioneer assigned as courier to
carry messages to the General Steering Com
mittee. Every courier must return to his post
Immediately after delivering his message Cour-
ierS may wear red arm-bands marked Courier"
This system of couriers is essential Captains
and members of Steering Committees must not
leave their own forces under any conditions
The couriers may also be organized on basis
OF relays, each one passing the message along to
the next, and then returning to his post
Literature as well as May Day buttons pen
nar1ts. etc, must be sold in an organized fashion,
by large force assigned by the leading commit
tee, which shall cover the sidewalks as the par
ade goesspast. The number of workers assigned
to sell each publication shall depend on the main
political questions at the time, and the compost
ton of the workers in the city. The Daily Work
er, of course comes first.
Every parade must have definite objective
1t should not just go on until it fades away It
should proceed to definite square or hall, where
meeting should be held. The scheme of or
ganization must not be broken at the meeting
the marchers becoming an unorganized mass
On the contrary, the same organized groups
captains, steering committees, organized cheer
ing, etc. must be kept up
CThis article will be followed by directives on
how to organize outdoor demonstrations and
indoor meetings)