Tie Vapauteen

The magazine featured regular analysis of American industry, working life, and political commentary alongside poetry, fiction, and humor.

Tie Vapauteen (Road to Freedom) first appeared in June 1919 as the publication of an entity called "Finnish IWW Supporters of the Eastern States," under the supervision of the governing General Executive Board of the Industrial Workers of the World.

[2] Beginning in February 1921, publication of Tie Vapauteen moved from New York to Chicago and the magazine was brought into the stable of periodicals produced by the IWW's official Publishing Bureau, operated through organizational headquarters.

[1] According to a report by business manager Rosa Knuuti to the 13th Convention of the IWW in June 1921, the move to Chicago was made in an effort to ameliorate editorial controversy between supporters of the Communist International and opponents of political action — a bitter dispute which had caused the magazine's circulation to plummet to about 3,500, thereby threatening its existence.

[2] This bold shift of venue and increased attention to moderating the extremes of political opinion seems to have paid dividends, as within four months the publication's circulation had successfully rebounded to the 6,500 copy mark.

Although an official publication of the Industrial Workers of the World only from February 1921 through March 1929, Tie Vapauteen was an enthusiastic supporter of the IWW for its entire 19-year existence.