on. PIONEERS IN THE FIGHT FOR EQUAL RIGHTS FOR WOMEN - CLARA ZETKIN « founder of International . Women’s Day. GREW OUT OF STRUGGLE FOR RIGHTS: SS TREN E J OLIOT-CURIE . great woman scientist and fighter for peace. BECKIE BUHAY . . great Canadian communist woman leader. History of International Women's Day—March 8 ~The proclamatién of March 8th as International Women’s Day is directly linked with the Struggle of women for their political rights. _ On the eve of the proclama- tion of International Women’s Day in 1910, only three coun- tries had granted women the right to vote and to stand for Office: New Zealand in 1893; Australia in 1902 (limited) and Finland in 1906. The beginning of the 20th century was marked by an awakening of women’s con- Sciousness. They were strug- gling to obtain the right to de- cide the fate of their countries on an equal footing with men. In many countries, the women already represented a consid- erable part of the labour force, thus taking a direct part in production. This tendency for’ an increasing participation of women in production was par- ticularly evident in the indus- trialized countries. However the women were deprived of all rights and thereby were victims of fierce exploitation. _ It is no accident that a new movement for the granting of political rights to women was born among the working wo- men. They sew in the winning of these rights a means of de- fending their interests. A women’s day was organis- €d in the United States for the first time on February 27th, 1909. On this day,-in numer- ous cities, from the Pacific Ocean to the Atlantic, Social- ist women organised demon- strations and meetings, where they demanded political rights for women. Women belonging to all social strata and the mil- itants of the feminist move- ment participated in ‘these de- monstrations. Thus at a meet- ing of 3,000 in New York, the yellow flag of the American feminists waved among the other flags in the hall. The meeting adopted a special res- olution protesting against the non-recognition of women’s right to vote. But this first women’s day, celebrated in the United States, was only na- tional in character. In 1910, the second Interna- tional Conference of Socialist Women was held in Copenha- gen. About 100 women from 17 countries took part in this meeting. Not only trade unions and socialist parties were rep- resented there, but also other unions and associations as well ‘as working women’s clubs. The first three women elected to the Finnish Parliament, Per- synen, Alla and Silampai also took part in this Conference. The delegates examined the lead given. by the American women and Clara Zetkin.pro- International Day. each. year. A resolution was adopted. at the conclusion of the meeting to turn this Day to account by demanding the right to vote for all adult women, irrespec- tive of property, taxes, educa- tion or of electoral census. The question of the exten- sion of the right to vote was a current question at that time. It. was an important .step to- ward the democratisation of | International posed the, organisation..of an. the electoral system and for the accession of women to pub- lic life. This accession would make the struggle for their other demands easier. It was decided to celebrate the first International Wom- en’s Day on March 19, 1911. This date was chosen on the recommendation of the Ger- man women. On March 19, 1848, during the German Revolution, the King of Prussia, yielding to the pressure of the people, for- mulated many promises in- cluding the promise to give women the right to vote, a promise which was never kept. However, for various reasons, this day was celebrated until 1914 in several countries on various dates, but always in March: In 1911, meetings attended by men and women marking Women’s Day were held in Germany, Aust- ria, Denmark and several other countries. In. Germany a mil- lion leaflets. calling for action on the right to vote were dis- |; tributed. before -the day. In Austria, in .addition -to-- the meetings, a mass:assembly at- tended by 205 000.people was held. In 1914, meetings sand Ben. onstrations were organised by the women of Austria, Hung- ary, Germany, Holland, Rus- sia, the United States and oth .| er countries.’ For the first:time the women of these different countries celebrated this day on the same date, March 8th. The tradition of ere 8th was born. On International Women's Day To every little girl-child born, we say — Hello, dear one! And welcome to the world today! O, may you grow in health and be the heart’s delight Of those who love and care for you, and may no blight Of sickness or of pain or some other unknown agony Befall you on your way through life to meet your destiny! To every adolescent, a woman in frail bud and soon to flower, Greetings on this day to you and as you plan in inspiration’s hour May all your hopes and dreams come soon within your sight To let your heart and very soul take flight; And if you now might be bewildered and unsure Take heart, aspire on and work and learn, in a peace- ful world you'll all endure! To every mother nursing her first child, our greetings | too, and as she’s doing this Her every thought leaps far ahead and tries to see the bliss Of having him full grown at last and strong; what will he be? And then a tear comes swift, a sigh and doubt; if only I could see A world at peace! O/ then these treasured moments would mean all the more And I could plan for him and dream and work for him, as mothers have before! To every woman, now within the autumn of her years, We say — Hello, dear one! More fervent greetings come to you on this YOUR day! Don’t count those years remaining now nor all the lines upon your face And think those work-worn hands have done their task; this is your beauty and your grace! That beauty etched in lines upon your face — that came with knowledge gained and winning Over all the travail that had been. Now, teach the young! Why, your job is just beginning! From Canada, to women of the world this day we give Our greetings and our love, wherever you may live! And as we meet each work-filled open day We think of Clara, and of Zoya and of Ethel, then we say: I must NOT let at least an hour’s minute and my heart’s wish CEASE To gild this anniversary even more; I must make my every breath of life to work for PEACE ! —MARION PHILIPOVICH. Picture above Shows a demonstration of more than 5,000 professors and students of Humboldt University, held ‘Jan. 21, to demand the.dismissal of Nazis in West German. government posts and public trial of these Nazi ministers. March 4, 1960—PACIFIC TRIBUNE—Page 3