‘Lithuanian I.W.W. Active’ from Solidarity. Vol. 6 No. 305. November 11, 1915.

Plans Big Tour in a Big Field–Some Things Already Done.

Among the various nationalities in this country affording fertile ground for industrial union agitation, are the Lithuanians. They number about one million throughout the country, and are an enterprising, energetic and intelligent people. They figure in every large industry, and can be found employed as steel and iron, electrical, textile, clothing, and other workers. They are widely distributed, but the bigger part of them are to be found in the mining districts of Pennsylvania, where they number approximately 400,000.

The big cities claim large numbers of Lithuanians, as part of their population. Chicago is said to have 96,000 of them; New York and vicinity 69,000; Boston and other cities in proportion. Chicago has five Lithuanian newspapers, Boston three, Brooklyn three; 36 publications, monthly, weekly and daily, represent the sum total of the Lithuanian press in this country. Of course, it must be recollected that many Lithuanians also read the English, Polish and Russian press. The Lithuanian I.W.W. publishes “Darbininku Balsas” (The Voice of the Workers). It is a four-page weekly. Plans are under way to increase its size to eight pages, beginning Jan. 1, 1916.

The Lithuanians took a praiseworthy part in the big Lawrence textile strike. They are active in the clothing industry of Philadelphia and Baltimore, in behalf of the I.W.W. Joseph Schmidt, one of their ablest men, is doing good I.W.W. work among the miners of the Scranton, Pa., district. In Illinois, at Rockford and Chicago, they are also laboring for I.W.W. success. In Philadelphia they line up with the transport workers. In Brooklyn, N.Y., they are agitating among the clothing and sugar house workers. They took an active part in the recent strike at the Arbuckle sugar refinery, when 2,300 sugar and dock workers came out for increased wages. During this strike the Lithuanian I.W.W.’s held big meeting at Cecilia Hall, 93 Grand St., Lithuanian National Hall, 101 Grand St., and Hudson Hall, 85 Hudson Ave. The strike was lost through the deceptive persuasions of saloon keepers and clericals upon the strikers. They went back to work on promises of an increase, only to find themselves discriminated against and deceived. A few got a raise.

Every Saturday and Sunday evening the Brooklyn Lithuanian I.W.W.’s hold outdoor meetings at Grand and Roebling Streets. They have big crowds. Leo Grikstos is the main speaker. Much literature is sold and much interest aroused. Grikstos and the I.W.W. are denounced by the priest of the Lithuanian Catholic church. But the result has only been increased crowds and sales of literature, meaning thereby strictly I.W.W. pamphlets. The Lithuanian political socialist paper, “Freedom,” also pours out its venom, It lies outrageously about the I.W.W. For instance, it stated that the textile strikers at Nashua, N.H., refused to listen to Ettor or Haywood, when both were never near the strike. Ettor being in New York city and Haywood in Chicago during the strike. But such lies do not stop I.W.W. growth among the Lithuanians of Brooklyn. John Sheltis, a prominent socialist party lecturer, recently delivered a very sympathetic lecture on the I.W.W. and its tactics, which created a good impression for the I.WW. So it goes.

Beginning Thursday, Nov. 18, Grikstos will hold a series of stereopticon lectures at Lithuanian National Hall, 101-103 Grand St., Brooklyn. Admission will be 10 cents. Every I.W.W. man and woman in Brooklyn should help to make these lectures a success. Grikstos will spend all of November among the Lithuanians of New York and vicinity, delivering his stereopticon lectures. After that he is to tour Connecticut, Massachusetts, New Hampshire and Maine, then New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Maryland, West Virginia, Ohio, Michigan, Wisconsin and Indiana, for the benefit of the Lithuanian I.W.W. weekly paper, The Voice of the Workers, and I.W.W. propaganda and organization work in general. Grikstos will make his tour under the auspices of the Lithuanian I.W.W. General Committee, organized by Local 192, of Baltimore, where “The Voice of the Workers” is published. Grikstos wants to secure the latest industrial stereopticon slides and assistance in making his tour a success for the I.W.W. His stereopticon machine. uses a slide of standard size. If you can send him slides, FREE OF CHARGE, do so. And if you can arrange meetings for him, or otherwise assist him in securing dates, advertising, making arrangements, sending information, etc., again do so. Address him, during November only, as follows: Leo Grikstos, 91 South 6th St., Brooklyn, N.Y. Grikstos can also deliver addresses in Polish and Russian. The Lithuanians are hampered by lack of funds. The few interested dig deep into their thinly-lined pockets. They do much voluntary work and meet in homes to save expenses. The Brooklyn young men are a fine, clean. wholesome lot, working in all kind of shops during the day and attending school, in order to learn the English language and American conditions, at night. They are a credit to the working-class.

The Lithuanians need permanent organizers and organization work. Their conditions and prospects are good arguments in favor of building up the Five Dollar League, and thus secure big I.W.W. organizing fund. Talk up this League to I.W.W. friends and sympathizers everywhere. Impress them with the great. opportunities awaiting the I.W.W. not the least of which can be found among the Lithuanians of the country.

The most widely read of I.W.W. newspapers, Solidarity was published by the Industrial Workers of the World from 1909 until 1917. First produced in New Castle, Pennsylvania, and born during the McKees Rocks strike, Solidarity later moved to Cleveland, Ohio until 1917 then spent its last months in Chicago. With a circulation of around 12,000 and a readership many times that, Solidarity was instrumental in defining the Wobbly world-view at the height of their influence in the working class. It was edited over its life by A.M. Stirton, H.A. Goff, Ben H. Williams, Ralph Chaplin who also provided much of the paper’s color, and others. Like nearly all the left press it fell victim to federal repression in 1917.

PDF of full issue: https://www.marxists.org/history/usa/pubs/solidarity-iww/1915/v06-w305-nov-11-1915-solidarity-joe-hill.pdf