Publication history Eteenpäin

1 publication history

1.1 political background
1.2 formation
1.3 development
1.4 merger , legacy

publication history
political background

in summer of 1919, socialist party of america (spa), amidst acrimony, split 3 parts @ 1919 emergency national convention. 2 new communist parties established, moderate socialist regulars retaining control of old party name, logo, , assets. in run-up landmark party convention spa s governing national executive committee had suspended 6 large foreign language federations having officially endorsed left wing manifesto around soon-to-be communist party dissidents organizing forces. action, coupled revocation of state charters of left wing dominated states such ohio, michigan, , massachusetts, deprived left wing of voting majority , assured regulars of victory @ convention in chicago.

this heavy-handed action taken against non-english-speaking section of socialist party came @ severe cost, however. though finnish socialist federation (ssj), long regarded 1 of strongest bones in socialist party s body, not 1 of endorsing left wing manifesto , incurring nec s wrath, many in organization sympathetic revolutionary socialist pronouncements of left wing manifesto , disgusted actions of nec.

at 6th national convention, held in waukegan, illinois december 25, 1920 january 2, 1921, finnish socialist federation after heated debate voted 16-5 withdraw socialist party of america , continue instead existence independent organization.

upon learning of decision of waukegan convention separate finnish socialist federation party, socialist party executive secretary otto branstetter set reorganizing new finnish federation socialist party, idea had support among branches of more moderate eastern district of finnish socialist federation. in august 1921 convention held in fitchburg, massachusetts, home of eastern district s daily newspaper, raivaaja (the pioneer) , new finnish socialist federation organized.

a large percentage of eastern district of old finnish socialist federation left organization , joined reorganized finnish socialist federation affialiated spa, bringing them newspaper, raivaaja. independent ssj still had 3 regular , established newspapers — daily työmies (the worker), published in upper midwest, , weeklies toveri (the comrade) , toveritar (the woman comrade), published in oregon. despite fact radical finnish-americans of east still felt needed newspaper published @ closer proximity cover news of local concern , end launched new publication entitled eteenpäin (forward).

formation

eteenpäin launched in new york city on may 25, 1921 under editorship of elis sulkanen, until editor of toveri. in effort reduce expenses, publication moved new york worcester, massachusetts in 1922. there name change of publisher @ time, initial bothnia press inc. giving way eteenpäin co-operative society.

the paper typically 4 pages in length , ideological in coverage of news.

there limited finnish presence in underground communist party of america — shade on 400 dues-paying members end of 1921. number quite limited , expansion difficult, however. in estimation of finnish communist leader john wiita (best known pseudonym henry puro ), may finnish-americans suspicious of illegal revolutionary propaganda activities, considered outlandish. eteenpäin editor elis sulkanen, himself participant in underground communist movement of 1920-1923, noted radical finns had no desire join underground organization, instead seeking participate in legal organization realistically participating in actual politics of united states.

it not until establishment of above ground , legal workers party of america (wpa) around new year s day of 1922 finnish radicals entered communist movement en masse. main body of finnish socialist federation ended year of independent existence , joined new wpa group @ time of organization s founding convention, held in new york city. finns comprised largest component of wpa, outnumbering native english speakers , representing 40% of total party membership 1923.

eteenpäin became part of wpa @ juncture , remained communist party publication throughout 3 decades of existence.

development

eteenpäin had circulation of 7,300 in 1924. 1930, press run averaged shy of 11,000 copies per issue.

a number of leading figures in radical finnish-american political movement editors or managers of eteenpäin on years, including original editor sulkanen (later author of encyclopedic history of finnish-american socialism), william marttila, toivo vuorela, onni saari, k.e. heikkinen, , john wiita (henry puro).

in 1931, publication moved yonkers, new york, published new holding company called american finnish publishers, inc.

the publishers of eteenpäin issued number of other finnish-language radical publications on years, including marxist theoretical magazine viesti (the message), magazine directed @ women called työläisnainen (the working woman), , annuals punainen kalenteri (red calendar), vappu (may day), , työmiehen joulu (worker s christmas).

merger , legacy

in 1950, eteenpäin dissolved when merged työmies, new joint publication (called työmies-eteenpäin) being published työmies superior, wisconsin offices. paper continued through 1995, when replaced english-language publication, finnish-american reporter.

eteenpäin has been preserved in totality. microfilm of työmies-eteenpäin (1950–1995) available wisconsin historical society @ university of wisconsin.