local chapters in opposition and continuing to lead an independent existence for some time.

Within the framework of its new status, the Finnish workers' movement held its first convention of delegates in Hibbing, Minnesota, in August 1906. The meeting lasted a week, and there were present 40 delegates representing 29 local chapters. The minutes of the meeting were published in a 152-page document and gave a clear picture of the currents within the FinnishAmerican labor organizations at the beginning of the century. Many problems were discussed, and resolutions were passed defining the organization's relations with the Party, with the temperance movement and toward religion. The scope of the organization itself had to be defined. For the movement's growth in Minnesota it meant a great deal that this convention was held in Hibbing : Minnesota was already in the forefront in the Finnish socialist movement in point of members, and possibly also in activities undertaken. There were some 10 local chapters in the state, with close to 400 members in all. Activity was concentrated chiefly in the iron mining region, where Finnish population was heaviest.

In the next convention, which met in Hancock, Michigan, in August 1909, there were more organizational problems to discuss, for in the three-year interim membership had more than doubled, and instead of 53 local chapters there were now 162. In looking at the resolutions, it is revealing, for example, that in answer to certain criticism from the right, it was stated that, "although there has never been any anarchistic activity among the members, the convention nevertheless strongly forbids its members to adopt any such tactics." The same meeting said of religion that it was a matter of every member's concern, although it was also noted that not only socialists were known for their atheistic stands but so were many well-known thinkers and scientists. Further organizational matters were decided, and the United States was divided into three regional groups : the east, the west, and the center, with the center group understood to be chiefly Minnesota. Each region was to have its own central committee, with a salaried secretary, if required, and several party organizers. The regional groups could be further broken down into sub-groupings. (Thus, in Minnesota, for example, there was a Northern Minnesota Regional Socialist Chapters' Group which held meetings in various communities to discuss general and local questions.) Finally, the Hancock meeting also carried out a change in name, making this officially the Finnish Socialist

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