The daily worker. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1924-1958, 1925-08-08

half-International tendencies.
This character assassination has gone
SO far that think it proper to say in
few words Just what we are what
we have accomplished and what we
are fighting for.
We Firms are too modest We do
not like to praise ourselves, and our
work. We believe that our work
speaks louder than words. We simply
go ahead. doing the best we can to-
day, tomorrow a little better, without
asking any glory, honor or fame.
In this respect may say that our
policy has been unwise This modesty
and humbleness on our part has re-
suited in condition, where the party
membership does not know much
about us and now may lend the ear"
to the groundless rumors peddled
about us by low minded plotters.
Some honest comrades may believe
jothat we truly are right-wingers reac-
mtionaries and what not.
s'ai'ae Brief History.
30 place this matter properly be-
fore the jury of our party members
must relate bit of history ~ prove
that we have not lust started" w,
have been on the job when many O.
our slanderers were drying the back
of their ears and learning their
A. B. C.
Firms began to do socialist propa-
ganda in the United States about
1899. During and after that year a
number of isolated Finnish branches
we're organized In 1904 the first con-
vention was held in Cleveland, Ohio.
This convention, however, did not sue
coed in forming a permanent socialist
organization, because these branches
were imbued with idealistic, theosoph-
istic, philosophistic and many other
istic thoughts, altho there was a
strong left wing in that convention.
Our comrades deemed itwiser, not
to split, but to stay in those branches,
because the ranks were there and
therefore they were the proper place
to do the work for socialism.
Their labors were in vain. Two
years later another convention was
held at Hibbing, Mimi, where our
federation was formed and utilization
with the socialist party decided al
most unanimously.
Then started rapid growth of the
Finnish socialist federation. Its mem
bership rose up to 1851 in 1913. Then
on account Of split, which occurred
next year (1914) the membership de-
clined to about 10000. l will later
relate about the theological grounds
of this split. Our present membership
is about 5000 which is a very good
percentage, when we consider that
there are about 10000 Firms in this
country. We are, therefore, about
five per cent politically organized
This is a far greater percentage than
biany other nationality in the United
States.
Altho the Finnish Federation is not
numerically the strongest Finnish or
ganization in this country 1.-TWO relig-
ious organizations have more mem
bers) we are the most influential. Our
influence is felt in every walk Of life
among the Finnish immigrants. Our
three daily papers, which own their
buildings and plants, have the com
bined readers Of about $4,000 daily
and are very effective factors in form
ing the opinion Of the Finnish read
ing public, We have built numerous
meeting halls and labor temples,
whore now, not only our own meet
ings, but also the Workers Party
meetings and socials are held. Our
dramatic, athletic, musical, debating
and other social activities are draw
ing the workers, young and old. into
our meetings and sociais, under our
influence and propaganda. It wds
thru our tireless efforts that the Fin
nish cooperative movement was es-
tabliahed and Is now the most effec-