The daily worker. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1924-1958, 1928-03-03

in Working
WOnen's Club
By MAYrl NURMI.
(Secretary, Finnish Working WO-
mems Clubs of Minnesota, Wis
cnnsin DisfricfO

cOnsin District.)
There is considerable discussion
these days about the ways and means
of organization and education of the
great masses Of working women not
employed in industries. This is big
and important problem. The millions
of women isolated on farms and the
homes in villages and small towns
should be reached by our message of
emancipation. They should be organ
lied into some kind of working class
organization. Here the problem arises,
into what kind, by what methods.
Grew Slowly.
Like "Topsy," our women's organi-
cation wasn't ever born-it "just
growed." A club organized here and
there, some in Massachusetts, some
in Michigan, some in Minnesota Wis
consin district. Ever since the Fin
nish Federation isolated itself from
the socialist party and became af-
filiated with the Workers Party, a
women's mass organization has been
growing. This mass movement is al
ready a vigorous youngster tho not
old in years. There are now about
$50 Finnish working women's clubs
scattered all over the country, but
they are not consolidated into uni
fled organization as the general Fin
nish workers. clubs are.
These women's clubs function In
side the same district lines as the
workers. club and the central body of
the clubs in each district Is their Sec
retariat. They are loose mass organi-
cations, held together and kept alive
and active by the issues that appeal
to these working women.
What are the issues, it may be
asked-edueation and organization of
the children and youth; the fight
against the terrible liquor traffic;
women's part in the cooperative
movement; farmer-labor movement;
anti-war work; assistance Of the re-
cent big strikes These and many
other matters have been the work
and life of the clubs. Then of course
the social side of the club meetings
and affairs has it's appeal.
Work Among Youth.
One of the most vital questions Of
the clubs in our Minnesota and Wis
consin district was at first teaching
of working class principles to our
children and youth. Tho much has
been done in this field of work, there
is still much to be done. During the
20 years existence of the Finnish Fed
Grafton, the education of the youth
has been shamefully neglected, very
little was done. The women's club
have taken up this important work.
We have urged that youth courses be
organized and we have assisted the
courses financially. We have helped
to organize the Y. W. L. and to keep
up the league units, with financial
and other assistance. Sunday schools,
summer schools and some camps have
been organized and financed by us.
The farmer-labor question has been
one of our issues during the recent
year and at present. The pessimistic
attitude towards workers political ac-
ton is giving way. The extremely ex-
plotted tax-burdened farmers, who
have been at the mercy of the rail-
road and other trusts and who have
been compelled to mortgage their
very souls to the bankers, are getting
their eyes open. They are rebellious,
they are losing faith in the old par
ties and so the farmer-labor issue
finds receptive minds among farm
men and women. The discussions in
the women's clubs have proved that
the necessity, the character and the
aim of a working farmers and la
borers' party is well understood even
by women. Most of the women's clubs
have applied for membership as fra
ternal organizations in the Minnesota
Farmer-Labor Association, but they
have not been admitted.
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