IWW
Little was born in 1879; not much is known about his family background, but he told friends that he had "Indian blood" and his mother was part Native American. He was a union organizer with the Western Federation of Miners before becoming active with the Industrial Workers of the World in 1906.
He took part in the free speech campaigns in Missoula, Fresno, and Spokane and was involved in organizing lumberjacks, metal miners and oil field workers into industrial unions. On one occasion in Spokane, he was sentenced to 30 days in prison for reading the Declaration of Independence. In 1910, Little successfully organized unskilled fruit workers in the San Joaquin Valley. In August 1915, Little and fellow IWW organizer James P. Cannon arrived in Duluth, Minnesota, to support the strike of ore-dock workers against the Great Northern Railway about dangerous working conditions; in the course of the strike he was kidnapped, held at gunpoint outside of the city, and dramatically rescued by IWW supporters.
By 1916, Little was a member of the IWW's General Executive Board.
Read more about this topic: Frank Little (unionist)