Finnish Branch Celebrates 30th Year

...conducting Socialist lecture courses in Finnish during the entire winter season, including a highly successful series of ten lectures on Workers In American History...

...Let as give light and hope te a sorely tried world aad speed the resting ml aa era of peace, happiness and contentment far all...

...Humanity is being nailed to the cross of Capitalism...

...Local 32, is continuing its organizing campaign with good results...

...WHITE TO LECTURE Walter White, executive secretary of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People, will speak on "Southern Justice and the Negro" at the Community Forum, 560 West 110th St., May 5, at 8:30 p. m. The lecture is under the auspices of the League of Youth...

...After years of cooperation and expansion the branch was able in 1917 to take over their present home at 2056 6th Ave., and an era of activity both social and educational was started that has not been surpassed by any organization of Fins anywhere in America...

...From that meeting has grown the largest Socialist branch of New York and of the Finnish Federation...

...It is either economic freedom under Socialism, or economic serfdom under capitalism...

...This was the most severe blow the branch has suffered in our entire 30 years of existence...

...Foreclosure on the People's House would threaten the existence of nearly a score of institutions housed in the building and grow ing out of the Rand School's extensive activities...

...On Saturday evening, April 29, a gettogether of old-time members will take place and all Locil New York branches are urged to send representatives...

...Workers in this field who are interested in the improvement of their conditi—s are invited to get in touch with J. W. Knispel, or~-.«izer...

...The youth of labor are now being enrolled in "labor camps" with military officers ig charge...

...In 1930 a fire destroyed practically the entire upper floor of the building and only after months of concerted effort were we able to rebuild and reopen the headquarters to again resume our activities...

...Telephone: C 'edonia 6-7568...

...The strongest labor movement in the world is being crushed...

...Comrade Lipschitz's booklet answers the demand...

...a permanent committee to aid members in securing naturalization papers...

...Prices of commodities are going up and wages are going down...

...a school to teach English is in session weekly...

...but on January 15, 1905, through the efforts of Julius Gerber and U. Solomon, they unanimously voted to join the Socialist Party of America...

...During the first few months of 1921 the so-called left wing members agitated our withdrawal from :he Party to join forces with the Third International...

...On July 30, 1931, under the direction of the alien-hating W. N. Doak, Secretary of Labor, agents of the Immigration Bureau and the police conducted a surprise raid at the time a dance was being held in the ballroom and over 400 dancers were subjected to hours of questioning...

...Finnish Branch Celebrates 30th Year By Wilbo Hedman •THIRTY years ago a group of ¦ Finnish immigrants met in the back room of a saloon at 216 East 41st St...

...In this building are conducted many lines of activity...

...Then our May Day celebrations will consist of a salute to the flag and a speech by a pot-bellied plute, or one of their hirelings, on "the duty of every American to protect American institutions from foreign ideas...

...Most of the charter members still retained their membership cards in the Social Democratic Party of Finland...

...The state conventions of 1924 and 1926 were likewise held there...

...Membership in the branch steadily increased from its first meeting, until it reached a maximum of 918 in 1921 due to a concentrated effort of the Communist element to secure control...

...Propaganda work has been carried on continuously and a great deal of money has been spent for this purpose...

...among them a dramatic group, an athletic club, a singing society, a sewing circle, a library, dances and entertainment, a restaurant, a billiard room, a book store, and of course extensive lecturing and Socialist propaganda work...

...Labor and other organizations which have already responded to the Rand School's appeal for support include the Workmen's Circle, the Socialist Party, the Young People's Socialist League and a score of trades unions affiliated with the A. F. of L. Individuals and groups have signified their Intention to help...

...John Haynes Holmes, former Congressman Fiorello H. LaGuardia, B. Charney Vladeck, and J. Weinberg, president of the Workmen's Circle...

...therefore, aa this May Day rededkate ourselves te the nettle task which Destiny has charted eat fas- as...

...George H. Goebel is campaign manager, and Mrs...

...And the American boobs will forget that dictatorship is a foreign importation and cheer for the very system that enslaves them.' Now is the time to organize the forces of labor, industrially and politically...

...Organizing Campaign Building Service Employes' Union...

...Bessye Blaufarb is treasurer of the Drive Committee...

...But many of its 1,100 students were unable to meet their tuition, wholly or in part, this year...

...Bertha H. Mailly is chairman of the committee...

...The few workers who have jobs are working under speed-up conditions, while the many are on the breadhr"8...

...As a consequence raids of this sort have ceased...

...Industry stagnates, millions despair in idleness ami want, material values shrink and vanish, and mountains of debt oppress all classes...

...Special rates for bundle orders to Psrty branches and organizations...

...All this must come to pass, and all Mgns indicate that it will...

...When jit does, there will be ushered into 'this world a new social order, conceived ia the spirit of universal brotherhood and baaed aa tie eternal principles of social justice and equality of opportunity for alL Let as...

...The hr-avens are darkening and the crash of doom is inevitable...

...Siegfried Lipschitz, editor of the former New Yorker Volkszeitung and correspondent of the German Social Democratic Preas Service until it was suppressed by the Hitler regime, has written a 64-page booklet, "Swastika Ovei Germany," setting forth briefly and compactly post-war developments in Germany and the problems confronting the workers...

...Let aa risiabli oar efforts te organize the workers under the banner of SeeiaMsa...

...A very fine May Day program has been arranged for Monday evening, including 1 ugust Claessena as the principal speaker...

...Fascist hordes, preyed upon by false leaders, seek salvation" in unrestrained national and fanatical{ witch hunting...

...Bf Daniel W. Hoan Birth Pains of a New Era JLfAY DAY finds suffering and impoverished humanity experiencing, more than ever, the bitter realities of a bankrupt sociaj order and the birth pains of a New Era...

...It is the duty of evvy Socialist in America, from the members of our National Executive Committee to the latest member enrolled in the Yipsels, to point out to the workers of this country the grave dangers that confront us...

...In view of tremendous Interest in the German situation, which has been changing from day to day, the Rand Book Store has been overwhelmed with inquiries for such a publication...

...The workers of this country should be reminded that a "liberal" government in Italy was followed by a Fascist dictator, that a "liberal" government of Germany was followed by a Nazi dictator...

...What are the external forces that have led to the Fascist regime in Germany...

...appealing to all literal and labor forces throughout the country to save the school and it-, affiliated labor and Socialist activities...

...It is not beyond the realms of possibility that our present "liberal" government will be followed by a dictator...

...In 1920 our beloved leader Eugene V. Debs was nominated for President there while he was incar cerated In the federal penetentiary...

...Drive on for Rand School Till depression jeopardizes the very life of the Rand School of s.xial Science, pioneer in workers' education, just as the school rounds out 27 years of existence...

...As a result eighteen were taken into custody, being unable at the time to prove proper entry into the U. S. Morris Hillquit as counsel for the branch vigorously protested to Secretary Doak and to the Police Commissioner against this unwarranted action...

...Freedom or Serfdom By Joseph m. Ceiiweu State Secretary, Soaalut Ptrrtg •/ Hko<U /liens' fVCTATORSHIP ia not an Im V possibility in the United States, and If we do get H we may not be able to celebrate May Day as a day of protest against present conditions and with a hope for tat future...

...Public aid, or unemployment relief, has too often become a racket for the professional social worker...

...Tha forces of jingoism aad of industrial feudalism are rapidly getting together to strengthen their hold on the economic power of this country...

...Samuel Untermyer and Morris Hillquit, representing diverse opinions, led the successful battle against muzzling the institution...

...Every evening this week has been one of great festivity at the headquarters, .where special programa are being held celebrating this 80th anniversary...

...These include the Rand Book Stota, the Workers' Theatre, the Rand School library, the Debs Auditorium, the correspondence school and extension classes, and the New York office of Camp Tamiment, affiliated with the school The People's House also has a score of trades union offices affiliated with the American Federation of Labor...

...This group met as an independent Socialist club for nearly two years...

...The power of wealth, like a drowning man, grasps at the straw of dictatorship...

...Storm center of many battles for academic freedom, the Rand School has drawn to itself outstanding educators of two continents who either joined the faculty or contributed special lectures and courses...

...During the past few months an English-speaking section within the branch w as organized by the younger generation...

...Faced hy a serious deficit in income, school officials have launched a drive for $17,000...

...Officers of the branch were forced to make several appearances before the war board's investigating committee...

...Thousands of dollars yearly have been spent by the branch members for 1 this publication, the only Finnish 1 Socialist daily in America...

...Honorary chairmen of the drive for $17,000 include, Prof...

...During the past year some of our major accomplishments havi been: Aid during election campaigns in arranging street cornei meetings, supplying speakers am' distributing literature...

...Mrs...

...John Dewey, Norman Thomas, Morris Hillquit, Dr...

...After the split with the Communists the membership fell below 800, but for the past several years it has been consistently averaging between 360 and 400 members...

...One of the most Important duties of the branch and the members has been the maintenance of the Finnish newspaper, Raivaaja...

...New Leader readers are cordially invited to attend this event...

...In 1918 representatives of the War Department and the New York police swarmed down on the building and confiscated every available piece of literature and all official records of the branch...

...Still the path of progress was not all roses, for on a number of occasions we have been attacked from various fronts...

...Issued by the Rand School Press, it is on sale at the Rand School Book Store, 7 East 15th St., New York City...

...Doll Workers' Ball The Doll and Toy Workers' Union will give a ball and entertainment at the Stuyvesant Casino, 142 Second Ave., Saturday, April 29...

...and organized a Finnish Workers' Club...

...Amidst all this there is confusion and hysteria...

...The Hand School's most significant struggle for educational freedom was won in 1919 when liberal and radical elements joined forces to prevent the Lusk committee from closing the school...

...After months of debate this group split the ranks of our membership, about 600 of our 900 members seceding to join the Communists...

...Orders should be sent In at once...

...The school's roster of instructors and lecturers, throughout the years, boasts such great educators as John Dewey, Henrik Willem Van Loon, Harold J. Laski, William P. Montague, Charles A. Beard, Alexander Goldenweiser, H. S. Jennings, Clarence Cook Little, A. A. Brill, Bernard Glueck, Floyd Allport, Franklin H. Giddings, and many other educational leaders...

...Swastika Over Germany" An Important Pamphlet Day by day the scope <>l the catastrophe which has overtaken the workers of Germany grows more strikingly evident...

...Three National Conventions of the party were held at the Finnish headquarters in 1920, 1923, and 1928...

...I The day of fulfillment is fast 'approaching...

...The prophecies of clear-thinking, far-sighted exponents of economic and political emancipation of the toilers of all nations are coming true with a vengeance...

...Capitalism, after fulfilling it* historical mission, is in a state of collapse all over the world...