Solidarity, a newspaper published by the Industrial Workers of the World, was an eastern U.S. publication. The newspaper, the official periodical of the organization in its early years, was born of the McKees Rock strike in 1909, initially by the IWW's Pittsburgh-New Castle Industrial Council. During the IWW's involvement in the local steel industry in New Castle and in Butler, Pennsylvania, the entire editorial and production staff of Solidarity was jailed.[1]
Ben H. Williams edited Solidarity from 1909 to 1916.[2] Ralph Chaplin became editor of Solidarity as Williams' successor.[3] Publication was carried on in New Castle, Pennsylvania, and later in Cleveland, Ohio, and Chicago, Illinois.
The first issue of Solidarity was published on December 18, 1909, and publication lasted until March 18, 1917.[4] In November, 1917, publication of Solidarity was suspended and replaced by Defense News Bulletin, which chronicled the IWW's legal campaign to defend union members and leaders who had been arrested under the government's anti-syndicalism campaign. Defense News Bulletin continued publication until July 1918.[5]