Although internal dissensions had a tendency to disrupt the unity of the workers' movement, they did not have much effect in Minneapolis, and even during World War I and the difficulties that war brought, there was no let-down in activity, for the atmosphere was not unfavorable in Minneapolis, where a socialist mayor, Thomas Van Lear, was famous for his pacifist stand. After the war, however, when a schism led to a split between moderate socialists and a radical wing which became communist, a big majority in Minneapolis joined the radical wing, (there were 116 members in 1922, and later the number doubled) and the moderates were ousted. The hall fell into the radicals' hands, and with them in control, activity soon slackened and died down, membership fell, and in 1936 a property worth $20,000 was foreclosed when the organization was unable to pay $4,000 due to the banks.

After the parting of the ways, some of the Finns joined the American Socialist chapter. Further, in 1930, a group of supporters of the IWW and other anti-communist supporters of the labor movement founded a new group, the "Minneapolis Finnish Workers' Society", which reached a membership of about 50. It was active for several years and had a mouthpiece, the newspaper Industrialisti. Some of the members also belonged to the local IWW "Recruiting Union".

Finland Aid Programs : In October 1939, when Russian pressure against Finland began to become alarming, there was considerable anxiety in Finnish circles in Minneapolis. In fact, several people wrote the Finnish Consul in Duluth, proposing that steps be taken to send help to beleaguered Finland. Early in December, when hostilities had actually begun, a mass meeting in Minneapolis resulted in the setting up of a relief organization, "Helping Hand to Finland," a move agreed upon by all the Finnish elements in the community. Dr. V. A. Luttio was elected chairman of this organization.

Relief work was begun immediately. Appeals were made not only to the Finns but to everybody, and the tremendous response was proof that the Americans, too, were wholeheartedly supporting the Finnish cause. Within a few months, $10,000 in money was collected, and gifts of clothing began to pour in. There were money-raising rallies, coffee parties, silver teas, collections in churches, voluntary contributions from small businesses, and so money and supplies kept on flowing to Finland as long as that was possible.

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