Foreign Language Federations (1890s - 1930) - Lithuanian

 LITHUANIAN FEDERATIONS

 The Lithuanian Emigration to America

Lithuanian emigration began on a mass scale in 1868, a response to the famine of 1867-68. The emigration was economic in intention, although a fair percentage of later emigres were young Lithuanian men attempting to escape conscription into the Tsarist army. Over the next half century fully one-quarter of the Lithuanian people emigrated, mainly to the United States.

[fn: Alfonsas Eidintas, Lithuanian Emigration to the United States, 1869-1950. (Vilnius: Mokslo ir enciklopediju leidybos institutas, 2005), pg. 10.]

Lithuania was an oppressed nationality under the Tsarist regime. The Lithuanian-language press was banned, as were Lithuanian cultural organizations. The Lithuanian peasanty was extremely impoverished, the gentry owning land in grossly disproportionate quantities -- 44% in Vilnius gubernia, 46% in Kaunas gubernia, and nearly 24% in Suwalki gubernia. The landed estates monopolized the most productive agricultural land and also most of the forests. As a result, there was a great agricultural wage-labor surplus in the last decades of the 19th Century.
Lithuanian towns were unable to absorb the surplus agricultural labor. From 1882 the Tsarist regime had prohibited Jews from living in the countryside and engaging in farming; consequently, over 40% of the jobs of the Lithuanian towns were filled by Jews, with additional jobs claimed by Poles (over 15%) and Russians (6%).

[fn: Alfonsas Eidintas, Lithuanian Emigration to the United States, 1869-1950, pp. 22-23.]
As a result of rural overpopulation, chronically concentrated farmlands, and limited urban opportunities, rural wages in Lithuania were among the lowest in Europe. Between 1883 and 1888, the average daily wage for farm workers, including meals, in Suwalki gubernia was 42 kopecks for men and 28 kopecks for women. The average Russian farmworker of the period earned less than 1/3 of the amount earned by his American compatriot; and the average Lithuanian farmworker earned significantly less than those of Russia. America stood as an economic beacon for the impoverished peasantry of Lithuania.

[fn: Alfonsas Eidintas, Lithuanian Emigration to the United States, 1869-1950, pg. 24.]
From the 1880s onward, the Jewish and ethnic Lithuanian populations of Lithuania began to emigrate at an increased rate. Great Russian national chauvinism festered during these years; Jews were expelled from Moscow and its surrounding districts in 1891-92 and over 76,000 Jews emigrated from the Russian empire in that later year alone. The mass emigration of the ethnic LIthuanian peasantry took place slightly later, with American statistics showing an average of about 11,000 Lithuanian arrivals during 1899-1904; about 19,500 during 1905-07; about 16,500 during 1908-1912; and about 23,000 per year in 1912-13.
In all over a quarter million people emigrated to the United States between 1899 and the coming of the first World War in 1914. Of this number, about 81% were ethnic Lithuanians, 13% were Jews, and the balance were composed of other ethnicities. Probably 20% of these individuals later returned home to Lithuania, leaving a population in America of approximately 200,000 on the eve of the European war.

[fn: Alfonsas Eidintas, Lithuanian Emigration to the United States, 1869-1950, pp. 30, 56, 62, 67.]
As the Lithuanian historian Alfonsas Eidintas notes, "The biggest migration was during 1904-1914. The causes were undoubtedly economic, but now they were closely intertwined with politics. ...In 1904, on account of military actions in the Far East, almost all the conscription stations in the Trakai district failed to provide enough young men becasue most of them had, with the assistance of local agents, left for the United States... [In Suwalki gubernia] out of 2,705 young men called up only 720 reported fro duty, because the others had emigrated.... Emigration was further stimulated by tsarist suppression of the 1905-1907 revolution and the reprisals of the rampaging bands."

[fn: Alfonsas Eidintas, Lithuanian Emigration to the United States, 1869-1950, pg. 60.]
During the first two decades of the 20th Century, very few Lithuanian intellectuals emigrated to America -- the bulk were of peasant origin. Of these about 70% were male and only about 47% over age 14 were literate. While the gender ratio was broadly comparable with that of other nationalities emigrating from Tsarist Russia, the literacy figure paled in comparison to such national groups as the Finns (98% literate) and the Jews (72.6% literate).

[fn: Alfonsas Eidintas, Lithuanian Emigration to the United States, 1869-1950, pg. 60.]
Abroad, the emigre Lithuanian peasants were assimilated as industrial workers, including steel workers, meat packers, and miners.


 

Lietuviu Socialistu Sajunga [Lithuanian Socialist Federation]
The Lietuviu Socialistu Sajunga was organized in 1904 and held its first convention the following year.


1. First Convention --- Newark, NJ --- May 21, 1905.
The Lithuanian Socialist Federation of America held its First Convention in May of 1905 in Newark, NJ. The group grew rapidly, its numbers bolstered by a massive wave of emigrants from the Russian empire following the suppressiion of the Revolution of 1905. Early years of the group were marked by a series of factional struggles, with various nationalist and anarchist elements leaving the organization.
The 1905 revolution in Russia proved a powerful impetus for Lithuanians in America to join the Lithuanian Socialist Federation. Membership grew in the aftermath.


2. 2nd Convention --- Waterbury, CT --- April 28, 1907.
The Second Convention of the Lithuanian Socialist Federation of America was held late in April of 1907. It was attended by over 30 delegates from New York, Pennsylvania, Illinois, Michigan, Minnesosta, California, Connecticut and elsewhere. The Socialist Party sent August Beutter of Hartford, CT, as its representative to the gathering in an attempt to win the group's affiliation, but the convention voted against the proposal 22 to 12. The convention did agree to submit a referendum on the issue to its member locals, however. In the words of Beutter, "The increased cost of affiliation with our party seemed to be the greatest obstacle in their way."

[fn: August Beutter, "Report of August Beutter, Representing the Socialist Party at National Convention of the Lithuanian Socialist Organizations," in Socialist Party Official Bulletin, v. 3, no. 9 (May 1907). pg. 2.]

Lithuanian Socialist Federation of America Affiliates with the Socialist Party of America

1. Convention --- Philadelphia, PA --- Dec. 26-30, 1914.
At its December1914 convention the Lithuanian Socialist Federation voted by a very small majority to join the Socialist Party, becoming the Lietuviu Socialistu Federacija. Its membership plummeted in the aftermath of this decision, dropping from 3,500 before affiliation to a little over 2,000 afterwards. The Lithuanian Federation was actually admitted effective June 1, 1915 and accounted for only an average of 403 paid members in that year.
The Lithuanian Socialist Federation published a weekly newspaper called Kova (The Struggle) as its official journal as well as a monthly theoretical magazine called Naujoji Gadyne (The New Age). Both of these publications were based in Philiadelphia, Pennsylvania, the headquarters of the Lithuanian Socialist Federation. In addition to these papers, there was a Lithuanian daily newspaper published in Chicago, a semi-weekly, in Brooklyn, two weeklies (Boston and Pittsburgh), and a monthly in Worchester, Massachusetts. A fairly vast socialist literature was also published in the Lithuanian language by cooperative publishing associations associated with the Lithuanian Federation.
The Lithuanian Federation was governed by Conventions held every other year, attended by delegates elected by the membership. A five member Executive Committee and a three member Committee on LIterature was chosen; the Executive Committee selecting a Business Manager to handle the daily operations of the organization. The membership elected the group's Translator-Secretary (primarily an employee of the SPA National Office) as well as the Editor of the party press. Joseph V. Stilson was elected the first Translator-Secretary of the organization.
The Lithuanian Socialist Federation was to move to new headquarters located at 229 N 6th Street, Philadelphia, from about Feb. 20, 1915.

[fn: C.A. Herman ," The Lithuanian Socialist Federation" in The American Labor Year-Book, 1916. (NY: Rand School Press, 1916), pp. 140-141; "The Lithuanian Social Democratic Federation," circa 1918, Socialist Party of America Papers, microfilm reel 94; "Membership Report by States," The American Socialist, Jan. 22, 1916, pg. 3.; "Join Party in Body," Wisconsin Comrade, March 1915, pg. 1.]

 
On Sept. 20, 1915, a semi-autonomous publishing arm of the LSF of A was established, the Lithuanian Workers Literature Society (LWLS). This organization was based upon a local structure of "groups" of at least 5 members, who paid $1 annual dues and met monthly. The purpose of the organization was "the publishing of such writings which would raise throughout the masses of workers class consciousness, socialistic intellect, and solidarity, and otherwise broaden the boundaries of their knowledge." The organization had central officers and met in convention at the same time and place as the LSF of A.
The LWLS Constitution was published bilingually in Lithuanian and English in 1919 and may be downloaded here.
The LWLS published a sizeable number of socialist titles, both translations of English language works and original work in English, continuing its work into the 1930s.

[fn: Lietuviu Darbininku Literaturos Dr-gijos Konstitucija: Suorganizuota 20 d. Rugsejo, 1915 m. (Brooklyn: "Laisves" Spaustuve, 1919), pp. 25-51.]

 

2. Convention --- Chicago, IL --- Sept. 1-5, 1916.
There were 69 delegates to the September 1916 Convention of the Lithuanian Socialist Federation, representing 2,151 members in 129 branches. The gathering saw heated factional debate between "internationalists," headed by V. Kapsukas and J. Shukys and "centrists," headed by P. Grigaitis and S. Michelsonas. The Convention came down decidedly in the anti-militarist "Internationalist" camp.

During 1917, the following were the officers of the Lithuanian Federation:

Business Manager: Joseph Shukys [Juozas Sukys].
Translator-Secretary: Joseph B. Stilson [Juozas Stilsonas].
Editor: Kazimieras Vidikas.
Executive Committee: Joseph Jukelis, Adoph Solynas, Joseph Ramannauskas, John P. Raulinaitis, Anthorny Kairys.
Committee on Literature: J. Baltrusaitis, C.A. Herman, A. Montvid.

On December 7 and 14, 1917, and September 1, 1918, search warrants were served on the National Headquarters of the Lithuanian Socialist Federation in Philadelphia, and evidence taken. Shukys and Stilson were subsequently prosecuted under the so-called Espionage Act for allegedly inhibiting military conscription.

[fn: C.A. Herman ," The Lithuanian Socialist Federation" in The American Labor Year-Book, 1916. (NY: Rand School Press, 1916), pp. 140-141; "The Lithuanian Social Democratic Federation," circa 1918, Socialist Party of America Papers, microfilm reel 94.]

 

The Lithuanian Socialist Federation was suspended by the NEC of the Socialist Party at the beginning of June 1919, ostensibly for endorsing the Manifesto of the Left Wing Section.

In January of 1920 a reorganized Lithuanian Socialist Federation came before the meeting of the NEC of the SPA in New York City with a resolution repudiating and withdrawing their officials. On the motion of Committeeman George Roewer, they were reinstated as the Lithuanian Socialiist Federation and Executive Secretary Otto Branstetter was instructed to recognize D. Matuz as the new Translator-Secretary of the Federation.

[fn: The World [Oakland, CA], whole no. 716 (Jan. 9, 1920), pg. 4.]

 

X. Convention of the Lithuanian Socialist Federation --- South Boston, MA --- June 20, 1920.

On June 20, 1920, approximately 20 delegates assembled in Dahlgren Hall, South Boston, the meeting place of Lithuanian Local 60, which had recently left the Communist Party of America to renew its affiliation with the SPA. Included among the delegates were Comrades Naichunas (Chicago), Sliupas (Scranton, PA), Ostrimskis (New York), K. Jurgeliunas (South Boston), Geguzis (Pennsylvania), Klimas (West Lynn, MA), Buolis (West Lynn, MA), Bagdonas (Norwood), and Paukstys (Brooklyn). The gathering condemned affiliation with the CPA and urged all memberrs of the federation to adhere to the principles of the Socialist Party.

[fn: Report of Special Agent William J. West, week ending June 26, 1920, DoJ/BoI Investigative Files, NARA M-1085, reel 922.]

 

The Lithuanian Socialist Federation produced a monthly called Banga [The Wave], editor of which was M. Grigatis. Grigatis resigned in the middle of March 1921 and was replaced by A. Lali of Chicago.
As of the middle of 1921, the Executive Committee of the Lithuanian Socialist Federation consisted of: May Jurgelionis (Sec./Treas); M. Baltruskiene, H. Herman, K. Liutkus, Thomas Matas, J. Pruselaties, M. Rasiuti, and T. Raskevicius.

[fn. Jacob Spolansky, Report on Banga, DoJ/BoI Investigative Files, NARA M-1085, reel 941, file 202600-2226.]

The Lithuanian Socialist Federation was very small, dissipating by the end of the 1920s. It counted an average paid membership of 87 for the first 10 months of 1927, but fell precipitously to an average of just 33 for the comparable period of 1928. This seems to have marked an end to the SP's Lithuanian organization.

[fn: Letter of National Executive Secretary Willam H. Henry to the NEC of the SPA, Nov. 24, 1928. Original in Bob Miller collection.]

 

 



Lietuviu Komunistu Federacija [Lithuanian Communist Federation]

 

1. First Convention --- Brooklyn, NY --- Sept. 27-Oct. 1, 1919.
The Lithuanian Federation formally left the Socialist Party at its 1919 convention, held in Brooklyn, NY. There were a total of 112 delegates to this gathering, representing a cliamed membership of about 9,000 in 266 branches. It was attended by Jay Lovestone and Alex Bittelman on behalf of the Communist Party of America.The convention voted to affiliate with the newly founded CPA, renaming itself the Lietuviu Komunistu Federacija. This Lithuanian Federation was one of the primary participants in organization of the Communist Party of America. The Lithuanian Federation was numerically the largest language group of that organization throughout its existence. Translator-Secretary for the Lithuanian Federation both before and after the SPA split of 1919 was Joseph Stilson.
The Lithuanian Federation of the old CPA was governed by an Executive Committee which included the following:

Secretary of the EC: Kalnas; Members: Leon, Osinskis, Paseiminis, Penktas, Septintas, Zagvietis

The Lithuanian Federation divided the country into districts and made use of paid District Organizers.

[fn: Comintern Archive: f. 515, op. 1, d. 75, l. 60.]
According to an April 22, 1921 Bureau of Investigation report by Jacob Spolansky, the official organ Lithuanian Communist Federation was knows as Zarija until the mass raid of Jan. 2/3, 1920. After that date, the publication changed its name to Vilnis. The manager of Vilnis in 1921 was Joseph A. Demintis, a naturalized citizen who was a delegate to the founding convention of the CPA from Local Milwaukee, according to Spolansky.

[fn: Jacob Spolansky, "Vilnis -- Alleged Communist Publication in the Lithuanian Language," April 22, 1921. NARA M-1085, reel 925, file 202600-51.]

 

2. 2nd Convention --- [city?] --- [date?] 1920?

 

 

Lithuanian Groups of the United Communist Party of America
There were very few primary party units of the UCP which spoke LIthuanian -- only 7 out of 673 in December of 1920, according to party statistics. Four of these groups were located in the Detroit district, with one of the others in Seattle.

[fn: DoJ/BoI Investigative Files, NARA M-1085, reel 940, doc. 501 -- downloadable below.]

 
A Bureau of Investigation report of dubious reliability reported that a "secret conference" of the "Lithuanian Socialist Party" had been held in Detroit on Sept. 21, 1920, and that 462 members of the organization had been affiliated with the United Communist Party. The undercover informant passing along this information claims to have received it in an official party communication. Given the paucity of Lithuanian-language groups in December of that year, this claim seems highly unlikely.

[fn: Report of H.W. Hess, March 4, 1921. DoJ/BoI Investigative Files, NARA M-1085, reel 922.]

 

 

 



Lithuanian Federation of the (unified) Communist Party of America
In late 1921, during the 5 months between formation of the unified CPA and the split of the Central Caucus faction, the Communist Party's Lithuanian Federation had an average monthly paid membership of 1,166, making it the 2nd largest Language group in the party.

[fn: Comintern Archive: f. 515, op. 1, d. 75, l. 12.]

 

3. 3rd Convention --- [city?] --- [Sept.?] 1921?

During the period between the 3rd and 4th Conventions of the Lithuanian Federation, the Bureau of that organization included (probably pseudonyms): V. Grazys (Secretary); Baron, Johnson, Pakalniskis, Phillips, Ross, and Willis. Other high-ranking members of the Federation who sometimes sat in on meetings of the Bureau were Barbos, J. Davis, Leonidas, Roe, Sarkaite, Slanniskis, Traveler, and Zubrys.

[fn: Comintern Archive: f. 515, op. 1, d. 139, ll. 14-

 
The legal Lithuanian daily, Laisves, was published by the Lithuanian Cooperative Publishing Society, which as of the summer of 1921 maintained its offices at 455 Grand Street, Brooklyn, NY.

 




Lithuanian Bureau of the Central Caucus faction's "Communist Party of America"
The leader of the Lithuanian section of the Central Caucus faction was "Leon," a former member of the Central Executive Committee of the old CPA.
On June 21, 1922, faced with the ultimatum of the Executive Committee of the Communist International to rejoin the official Communist Party of America, the Central Bureau of the Lithuanian Federation of the Central Caucus faction voted unanimously to rejoin the majority organization, issued an appeal to their members to do likewise, and turned over all records to the majority group. "B. Karpus" signed as secretary of the Central Caucus faction group.

[fn: Comintern Archive: f. 515, op. 1, d. 116, l. 14.]

 

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4. 4th Convention -- [city?] --- December 1922
The 4th Convention of the Lithuanian Federation was held under conditions of secrecy. It was attended by 16 regular delegates from 6 of the CPA's 9 regional districts and included 9 fraternal delegates: a CEC representative, Joseph Stilson ["Sprague"}, a representative of the WPA's Lithuanian Language Section, two members of the Lithuanian Federation's governing Central Bureau who were not otherwise elected delegates, two representatives of "legal institutions" (the newspapers Laisve ["Liberty": Brooklyn] and Vilnis ["The Surge": Chicago]), and a security committee of two. Only one of those present was a former loyalist of the Central Caucus faction, the rest had retained their affiliation to the unified CPA over the 1922 troubles.
The minutes of the 4th Convention and theses approved by that body are available as a downloadable pdf.
The gathering discussed the party press and other Lithuanian "legal" institutions at length, voted not to allow former Central Caucus opposition leader "Comrade Leon" to take over the editorial role of the Chicago Vilnis, and came out strongly for a reduction of dues rates (which were 50 cents per month both for the CPA and the WPA) and for a capping of the wages paid to Party workers as a means of cost containment. Elections were held for a new Central Bureau of the Lithuanian Federation and the following were elected (probably pseudonyms):
K. Povas (receiving 16 votes); Peters (15 votes); Burke (14 votes); Kalnas (14 votes); Garsas (13 votes); Camden (11 votes). Alternates (in sequence were to be: Sarkaite (14 votes); Buceraitis (12 votes); Zubrys (11 votes); Raiston (10 votes).

[fn: Comintern Archive: f. 515, op. 1, d. 139, ll. 40-104.]

 

 



Lithuanian Federation of the Workers Party of America
With the move to the so-called "Legal Political Party," the Workers Party of America, those Lithuanians remaining loyal to the CPA became Lithuanian language branches of the new organization.


1. 1st Convention --- [city?] --- [date? 1922?]

 

2. 2nd Convention --- Chicago, IL --- Jan. 5-6, 1924.
The 2nd Convention of the Lithuanian Federation of the WPA was held in Chicago and was attended by 22 delegates representing 81 branches of the Federation, claiming a membership of "about 1,200." Ten fraternal delegates were also seated with voice but not vote.
The convention heard the report of the Central Executive Committee delivered by Abram Jakira and a report on the situation in the United Mine Workers of America delivered by Thomas Myerscought. Both reports were accepted unanimously.
New officers elected for the Lithuanian Federation consisting of the following:

Secretary:

Rojus "Roy" Mizara (May 15, 1895-Sept. 23, 1967)

 

editor of Vilnius:

V. Andrulis,

 

Bureau (5):

Frank Buck,



Jonas Gasiunas (b. June 10, 1893),

Stasys Veshys (née Vladas Dubendris, b. Feb. 13, 1887),

J.P. Zaldokas,

F. Zalpis.

[fn. "Lithuanians Hold Successful Meet," Daily Worker, Jan. 14, 1923, pg. 4.]

 

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