The daily worker. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1924-1958, 1932-02-26
BY ANNA DAMON

INTERNATIONAL campaigns of the working
class play very important role in the devel-
opment Of revolutionary events. March 8, In
ternational Women's Day is becoming more and
more day Of struggle of the entire working
class against extreme exploitation, unemploy-
Iner1t and misery; against increased fascist re-
action; against imperialist war in defense of
the Soviet Union.
March 8 is a campaign Of the Communist
International and of all its Sections the Com
murist Parties of the world The object of
the campaign is to soldify and strengthen the
International proletarian fighting front against
capitalism, to call sharply to the attention OF
the whole working class, the special problems
and demands Of the working class women TO
bring into the general struggle of the proetariat
the Industrial, Negro and Farm women and
wives of workers On this day the toiling masses
of women pledge their class solidarity to free
women Of the Soviet Union to carry on revolu-
tinary struggle in common with the other sec
tons OF tbs working class for the overthrow Of
the capitalist system
In the United States March Is not vet
wel-known campaign. Most workers haven't
even heard of International Womens Day
Daily, VS. receive questions from workers. and
from comrades directly engaged in work among
Women-as to what International Womens Day
means; how 1t started; where it was first cele-
brated, and many other similar questions
We believe it is therefore worth while to ac-
quaint tbs workers with the important historic
development Of International Women Day, by
brief sketch
Historic Development of March Sth
1908-At the conference of Socialist women in
America they decided to set aside special day
for agitation and propaganda among women
Votes for women was the issue of the day and
the main slogan of the Socialist women was
Equal Rights" Following the line of the End
International, which drew no class distinction
the Socialist Women's Conference in the United
States In 1903 supported the feminist suffragette
movement of the bourgeoisie. Two resolutions
were passed at this conference The first I'M
der pressure of the more class conscious ele-
ments namely: THAT the American Socialist
Women must carry on a fight for equal rights
independent OF the feminists-through the ur-
Ions and political organizations Of the working
class" The second resolution expressing sym
pathy with the feminist movement and wishing
them success in their fight for equal rights"
This opportunism and betrayal of class interest
by the Socialist party was already evident in
1905.
international Women's Day Adopted
1910 The End International Conference of
Women held in Copenhagen. upon the motion
OF Clara zetktn, it was decided that March
be set aside as an International Wonens Day.
the day was given broader Interpretation than
merely the struggle for equal right to vote The
German delegation pointed out that the fight
for political rights is not an aim in itself. That
real freedom and equality for women will only
be achieved through a social revolution.
19l5-Under the leadership of Comrade Ienin,
resolution was introduced at the International
Women's Conference held in Berne, Switzerland.
by the Russian delegation, which was rejected
by the Conference as too revolutionary Reso-
lutions and speakers stated: THAT the liberation
OF women can only be achieved through united
effort OF the working class. Through the over
throw Of the capitalist system The years of
le14-E practically did away with International
Wosnen's Day as an international mass day of
struggle due to the general betrayal Of the
working class by the socialist Second Inferno
ttoual and By thetr support and aid of the world
war. ~ was this historic revolutionary task of
the Russian Bo1sheviks to revive the tnterns-
tionsl Women's Day.
1917-On March g. 1917, the women workers
OF the Putiov munitions factory in Ienngrad
marched out on the streets and we're Joined by
hundreds OF women demanding bread and the
return OF their men-folk from the battlefront"
thus helping pave ths way to tbs October Revo-
lutor -sa- HsetaAAA--AHs