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Eteenpäin

January 01, 1970

Eteenpäin (English: Forward) was a Finnish-language daily newspaper launched in New York City in 1921. The paper was the East Coast organ of Finnish-American members of the Communist Party USA. The paper moved to Worcester, Massachusetts in 1922 and to Yonkers, New York in 1931. In 1950 Eteenpäin was merged with the Communist Party's Midwestern Finnish-language daily, Työmies (The Worker) to create Työmies-Eteenpäin, which continued to be published from Superior, Wisconsin into the 1990s.

Publication history edit

Political background edit

In the summer of 1919, the Socialist Party of America (SPA), amidst much acrimony, split into three parts at its 1919 Emergency National Convention. Two new Communist Parties were established, with the moderate Socialist "Regulars" retaining control of the old party name, logo, and assets. In the run-up to this landmark party convention the SPA's governing National Executive Committee had suspended six large foreign language federations for having officially endorsed the Left Wing Manifesto around with the soon-to-be Communist Party dissidents were organizing their forces. This action, coupled with the revocation of the state charters of "left wing" dominated states such as Ohio, Michigan, and Massachusetts, deprived the left wing of its voting majority and assured the Regulars of victory at the convention in Chicago.

This heavy-handed action taken against the non-English-speaking section of the Socialist Party came at a severe cost, however. Even though the Finnish Socialist Federation (SSJ), long regarded as one of the strongest bones in the Socialist Party's body, was not one of those endorsing the Left Wing Manifesto and thus incurring the NEC's wrath, many in the organization were sympathetic to the revolutionary socialist pronouncements of the Left Wing Manifesto and were disgusted by the actions of the NEC.

At its 6th National Convention, held in Waukegan, Illinois from December 25, 1920 to January 2, 1921, the Finnish Socialist Federation after much heated debate voted 16-5 to withdraw from the Socialist Party of America and to continue instead its existence as an independent organization.[1]

Upon learning of the decision of the Waukegan Convention to separate the Finnish Socialist Federation from the party, Socialist Party Executive Secretary Otto Branstetter immediately set about reorganizing a new Finnish Federation for the Socialist Party, an idea which had much support among the branches of the more moderate Eastern District of the Finnish Socialist Federation. In August 1921 a convention was held in Fitchburg, Massachusetts, home of the Eastern District's daily newspaper, Raivaaja (The Pioneer) and a new Finnish Socialist Federation organized.[2]

A large percentage of the Eastern District of the old Finnish Socialist Federation left that organization and joined the reorganized Finnish Socialist Federation affiliated with the SPA, bringing with them their newspaper, Raivaaja.[2] The independent SSJ still had three regular and well established newspapers — the daily Työmies (The Worker), published in the Upper Midwest, and the weeklies Toveri (The Comrade) and Toveritar (The Woman Comrade), published in Oregon. Despite this fact the radical Finnish-Americans of the East still felt they needed a newspaper published at a closer proximity to cover news of local concern and to this end they launched a new publication entitled Eteenpäin (Forward).

Formation edit

Eteenpäin was launched in New York City on May 25, 1921 under the editorship of Elis Sulkanen, until recently the editor of Toveri.[3] In an effort to reduce expenses, the publication moved from New York to Worcester, Massachusetts in 1922.[3] There was also a name change of the publisher at this time, with the initial "Bothnia Press Inc." giving way to the "Eteenpäin Co-operative Society."[3]

The paper was typically four pages in length and strongly ideological in its coverage of the news.[3]

There was some limited Finnish presence in the underground Communist Party of America — a shade over 400 dues-paying members by the end of 1921.[2] This number was quite limited and its expansion difficult, however. In the estimation of Finnish Communist leader John Wiita (best known by the pseudonym "Henry Puro"), may Finnish-Americans were suspicious of illegal revolutionary propaganda activities, which they considered outlandish.[4] Eteenpäin editor Elis Sulkanen, himself a participant in the underground Communist movement of 1920-1923, similarly noted that most radical Finns had no desire to join the underground organization, instead seeking to participate in a legal organization realistically participating in the actual politics of the United States.[4]

It was not until the establishment of the above ground and "legal" Workers Party of America (WPA) around New Year's Day of 1922 that Finnish radicals entered the communist movement en masse. The main body of the Finnish Socialist Federation ended its year of independent existence and joined the new WPA as a group at the time of the organization's founding convention, held in New York City. The Finns soon comprised the largest component of the WPA, outnumbering native English speakers and representing 40% of the total party membership by 1923.[2]

Eteenpäin became a part of the WPA at this juncture and it remained a Communist Party publication throughout its nearly three decades of existence.[5]

Development edit

Eteenpäin had a circulation of nearly 7,300 in 1924.[3] By 1930, its press run averaged just shy of 11,000 copies per issue.[3]

A number of leading figures in the radical Finnish-American political movement were editors or managers of Eteenpäin over the years, including original editor Sulkanen (later the author of an encyclopedic history of Finnish-American socialism), William Marttila, Toivo Vuorela, Onni Saari, K.E. Heikkinen, and John Wiita (Henry Puro).[3]

In 1931, the publication moved to Yonkers, New York, where it was published by a new holding company called "American Finnish Publishers, Inc."[3]

The publishers of Eteenpäin also issued a number of other Finnish-language radical publications over the years, including a Marxist theoretical magazine Viesti (The Message), a magazine directed at women called Työläisnainen (The Working Woman), and the annuals Punainen Kalenteri (Red Calendar), Vappu (May Day), and Työmiehen Joulu (Worker's Christmas).[3]

Merger and legacy edit

In 1950, Eteenpäin was essentially dissolved when it was merged into Työmies, with the "new" joint publication (called Työmies-Eteenpäin) being published from Työmies' Superior, Wisconsin offices. This paper continued through 1995, when it was replaced by the English-language publication, The Finnish-American Reporter.[6]

Eteenpäin has been preserved almost in its totality.[3] Microfilm of Työmies-Eteenpäin (1950–1995) is available from the Wisconsin Historical Society at the University of Wisconsin.

See also edit

References edit

  1. ^ Auvo Kostiainen, The Forging of Finnish-American Communism, 1917-1924: A Study in Ethnic Radicalism. Turku, Finland: Turun Ypliopisto, 1978; pg. 98.
  2. ^ a b c d Tim Davenport, "Finnish Federations," Early American Marxism website, Corvallis, OR.
  3. ^ a b c d e f g h i j Dirk Hoerder with Christiane Harzig (eds.), The Immigrant Labor Press in North America, 1840s-1970s: An Annotated Bibliography: Volume 1: Migrants from Northern Europe. Westport, CT: Greenwood Press, 1987; pg. 214.
  4. ^ a b Kostiainen, The Forging of Finnish-American Communism, 1917-1924, pg. 119.
  5. ^ Armas Kustaa Ensio Holmio and Ellen M. Ryynanen, History of the Finns in Michigan. Detroit, MI: Wayne State University Press, 2001; pg. 298.
  6. ^ "Tyomies Society (Superior, WI), Records: Finding Aid," Immigration History Research Center, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN.

January 01, 1970
eteenpäin, english, forward, finnish, language, daily, newspaper, launched, york, city, 1921, paper, east, coast, organ, finnish, american, members, communist, party, paper, moved, worcester, massachusetts, 1922, yonkers, york, 1931, 1950, merged, with, commun. Eteenpain English Forward was a Finnish language daily newspaper launched in New York City in 1921 The paper was the East Coast organ of Finnish American members of the Communist Party USA The paper moved to Worcester Massachusetts in 1922 and to Yonkers New York in 1931 In 1950 Eteenpain was merged with the Communist Party s Midwestern Finnish language daily Tyomies The Worker to create Tyomies Eteenpain which continued to be published from Superior Wisconsin into the 1990s Contents 1 Publication history 1 1 Political background 1 2 Formation 1 3 Development 1 4 Merger and legacy 2 See also 3 ReferencesPublication history editPolitical background edit In the summer of 1919 the Socialist Party of America SPA amidst much acrimony split into three parts at its 1919 Emergency National Convention Two new Communist Parties were established with the moderate Socialist Regulars retaining control of the old party name logo and assets In the run up to this landmark party convention the SPA s governing National Executive Committee had suspended six large foreign language federations for having officially endorsed the Left Wing Manifesto around with the soon to be Communist Party dissidents were organizing their forces This action coupled with the revocation of the state charters of left wing dominated states such as Ohio Michigan and Massachusetts deprived the left wing of its voting majority and assured the Regulars of victory at the convention in Chicago This heavy handed action taken against the non English speaking section of the Socialist Party came at a severe cost however Even though the Finnish Socialist Federation SSJ long regarded as one of the strongest bones in the Socialist Party s body was not one of those endorsing the Left Wing Manifesto and thus incurring the NEC s wrath many in the organization were sympathetic to the revolutionary socialist pronouncements of the Left Wing Manifesto and were disgusted by the actions of the NEC At its 6th National Convention held in Waukegan Illinois from December 25 1920 to January 2 1921 the Finnish Socialist Federation after much heated debate voted 16 5 to withdraw from the Socialist Party of America and to continue instead its existence as an independent organization 1 Upon learning of the decision of the Waukegan Convention to separate the Finnish Socialist Federation from the party Socialist Party Executive Secretary Otto Branstetter immediately set about reorganizing a new Finnish Federation for the Socialist Party an idea which had much support among the branches of the more moderate Eastern District of the Finnish Socialist Federation In August 1921 a convention was held in Fitchburg Massachusetts home of the Eastern District s daily newspaper Raivaaja The Pioneer and a new Finnish Socialist Federation organized 2 A large percentage of the Eastern District of the old Finnish Socialist Federation left that organization and joined the reorganized Finnish Socialist Federation affiliated with the SPA bringing with them their newspaper Raivaaja 2 The independent SSJ still had three regular and well established newspapers the daily Tyomies The Worker published in the Upper Midwest and the weeklies Toveri The Comrade and Toveritar The Woman Comrade published in Oregon Despite this fact the radical Finnish Americans of the East still felt they needed a newspaper published at a closer proximity to cover news of local concern and to this end they launched a new publication entitled Eteenpain Forward Formation edit Eteenpain was launched in New York City on May 25 1921 under the editorship of Elis Sulkanen until recently the editor of Toveri 3 In an effort to reduce expenses the publication moved from New York to Worcester Massachusetts in 1922 3 There was also a name change of the publisher at this time with the initial Bothnia Press Inc giving way to the Eteenpain Co operative Society 3 The paper was typically four pages in length and strongly ideological in its coverage of the news 3 There was some limited Finnish presence in the underground Communist Party of America a shade over 400 dues paying members by the end of 1921 2 This number was quite limited and its expansion difficult however In the estimation of Finnish Communist leader John Wiita best known by the pseudonym Henry Puro may Finnish Americans were suspicious of illegal revolutionary propaganda activities which they considered outlandish 4 Eteenpain editor Elis Sulkanen himself a participant in the underground Communist movement of 1920 1923 similarly noted that most radical Finns had no desire to join the underground organization instead seeking to participate in a legal organization realistically participating in the actual politics of the United States 4 It was not until the establishment of the above ground and legal Workers Party of America WPA around New Year s Day of 1922 that Finnish radicals entered the communist movement en masse The main body of the Finnish Socialist Federation ended its year of independent existence and joined the new WPA as a group at the time of the organization s founding convention held in New York City The Finns soon comprised the largest component of the WPA outnumbering native English speakers and representing 40 of the total party membership by 1923 2 Eteenpain became a part of the WPA at this juncture and it remained a Communist Party publication throughout its nearly three decades of existence 5 Development edit Eteenpain had a circulation of nearly 7 300 in 1924 3 By 1930 its press run averaged just shy of 11 000 copies per issue 3 A number of leading figures in the radical Finnish American political movement were editors or managers of Eteenpain over the years including original editor Sulkanen later the author of an encyclopedic history of Finnish American socialism William Marttila Toivo Vuorela Onni Saari K E Heikkinen and John Wiita Henry Puro 3 In 1931 the publication moved to Yonkers New York where it was published by a new holding company called American Finnish Publishers Inc 3 The publishers of Eteenpain also issued a number of other Finnish language radical publications over the years including a Marxist theoretical magazine Viesti The Message a magazine directed at women called Tyolaisnainen The Working Woman and the annuals Punainen Kalenteri Red Calendar Vappu May Day and Tyomiehen Joulu Worker s Christmas 3 Merger and legacy edit In 1950 Eteenpain was essentially dissolved when it was merged into Tyomies with the new joint publication called Tyomies Eteenpain being published from Tyomies Superior Wisconsin offices This paper continued through 1995 when it was replaced by the English language publication The Finnish American Reporter 6 Eteenpain has been preserved almost in its totality 3 Microfilm of Tyomies Eteenpain 1950 1995 is available from the Wisconsin Historical Society at the University of Wisconsin See also editFinnish Socialist FederationReferences edit Auvo Kostiainen The Forging of Finnish American Communism 1917 1924 A Study in Ethnic Radicalism Turku Finland Turun Ypliopisto 1978 pg 98 a b c d Tim Davenport Finnish Federations Early American Marxism website Corvallis OR a b c d e f g h i j Dirk Hoerder with Christiane Harzig eds The Immigrant Labor Press in North America 1840s 1970s An Annotated Bibliography Volume 1 Migrants from Northern Europe Westport CT Greenwood Press 1987 pg 214 a b Kostiainen The Forging of Finnish American Communism 1917 1924 pg 119 Armas Kustaa Ensio Holmio and Ellen M Ryynanen History of the Finns in Michigan Detroit MI Wayne State University Press 2001 pg 298 Tyomies Society Superior WI Records Finding Aid Immigration History Research Center University of Minnesota Minneapolis MN Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Eteenpain amp oldid 1203932488, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,

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