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
Some more definite points of difference between the two organizations
should be noted. They may be set down here as representing the
contrasting viewpoints of Daniel DeLeon and Vincent St. John. The
attitude of these two men can be tentatively accepted as representing
the opinions of most of those in their respective followings. There is
good reason, then, for saying that the lifting of the hyphen between
DeLeon and St. John was largely due to their conflicting opinions about
(1) industrial union structure--the _arrangement_ of industrial groups;
(2) sabotage and direct action; and (3) political action.
(1) DeLeon believed that the workers should be grouped in the local
industrial union according to the _product_ turned out but that within
the local union the lines of demarcation for segregating trade or
shop branches must be drawn with reference to the particular _tool_
used.[456] St. John believed that _production_ should be the criterion
throughout, with all workers whose activities contribute toward the
output of a given _product_ enrolled in the same union. The driver of
a brewery wagon contributes his labor power to the production of beer
(as also does the stenographer in the office of the brewery!) and he
should be in the Brewery Workers' Union, as indeed he actually is in
this particular case.
(2) Direct action and sabotage were condemned by DeLeon and approved
by St. John. DeLeon's opposition was not based upon moral grounds.
He simply had no confidence in the efficacy of these methods. He was
firmly convinced that the habitual indulgence in sabotage and in
destructive tactics in general was a poor preparation for a working
class which expected some day to manage and control the industries of
the world. It was a poor educational policy.
(3) St. John was unconditionally opposed to political action. DeLeon
advocated it as a temporary aid in the struggle for emancipation. He
appears to have looked forward to the ultimate abolition of political
or representative government and the establishment of a literal
industrial democracy.[457]
The _constitution_ of the I. W. W. is not anti-political. It is merely
_non_-political. Any wage-earner is admitted regardless of creed, race
or political opinion. But it is also true that in actual practice, as
Levine remarks, "the Industrial Workers have played and are playing the
game of antipolitics."
"Their spokesmen," he says, "ridicule the 'politicians'; severely
criticized the Socialist party and insult its most prominent leaders.
The non-political portion of the I. W. W. is therefore practically
anti-political."[458]
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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