The I. W. W.: A Study of American SyndicalismBrissenden, Paul F. (Paul Frederick)
History
The I. W. W.: A Study of American Syndicalism
Brissenden, Paul F. (Paul Frederick)
Industrial Workers of the World; Syndicalism
To promote the rights and happiness of the workers they have
the intention to make ... a grand success so that the I. W. W.
will finally become the most powerful labor organization in the
world. In the American history of labor there has never been
such a union that may contain the laborers of every nationality
in its membership.[394]
A reaction from an excessive indulgence in strikes, or at least a sign
of the consciousness of this excess, is evident from two resolutions
adopted by the third convention:
Resolved, that the convention instruct all our organizers to
discourage strikes and strike talk, and to impress upon those
whom they are organizing the necessity of realizing that the
conquest by the workers of the power to retain and enjoy the
full product of their labor should take precedence in their
minds of all smaller ameliorations of our conditions.[395]
Resolved, that during this, the constructive period of the I.
W. W., no portion thereof shall enter into any strike, unless
conducted in an industrial plant which is thoroughly organized
in the I. W. W....[396]
In regard to the general organizing activity of the I. W. W., it was
proposed in one of the resolutions adopted, that the organization
confine its work for the time being to the smaller cities where the
A. F. of L. was comparatively weak, and in connection with this that
efforts in organization be concentrated for the present on certain
selected industries.[397] Fred Heslewood, member of the General
Executive Board, in his report to the convention, said:
I believe it is an entire waste of money at the present time
to keep said organizers in cities where the A. F. of L. has
the workers divided and organized into crafts. We are not
financially able to tear down this barrier of fakerism at
present. I do not mean that we should not fight it. I mean that
we should pay special attention to the lumber industry before
they [_sic_] are rent into fragments by the American Federation
of Labor.[398]
It was urged that special attention be directed to the mining and
lumber industries and that for the general organizing propaganda
one-half of the income of the general administration be devoted to
the payment of organizers and the printing of literature.[399] The
editor of the official organ of the I. W. W. declared that the third
convention was
free from the sentimentalism and bourgeois reaction which
characterized the gathering of 1905, and the pure-and-simple,
destructive tactics of the [1906] assembly; ... [that] it
marked a distinct advance in an understanding of the philosophy
and structure of the movement and was a gathering typically
working-class and loyal ... to the workers....
and that for these reasons there could be no possible doubt of the
stability of the organization.[400]
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
Reviews
Reviews
No reviews yet
Be the first to share your thoughts on this work.
Elsewhere in the archive
Join the Discussion
Join the discussion
Sign in to leave a comment or review.
Sign InorCreate an account