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
"A kick in time saves nine."
"Kick your way out of wage slavery."
"Our coat-of-arms: The shoe rampant."
"A kick on the job is worth ten at the ballot-box."
"Immediate demands: Wooden shoes on all jobs."
"The foot in the wooden shoe will rock the world."
"An injury to one is the concern of all."
These tactics had been more and more _talked about_ if not practised
by the I. W. W. for several years past. Indeed, it is safe to say
that the practical application of those forms of direct action which
the "Wobblies" consider expedient was becoming constantly more
general. When the Socialists met in convention at Indianapolis in
May, 1912, the problem of the proper attitude for the Socialist party
to take toward the I. W. W., and more especially toward the "direct
action" propaganda, was made the occasion of a violent controversy.
The discussion centered on a motion to insert a new clause in the
constitution of the Socialist party providing (in Article II, Sec.
6) that "any member of the party who opposes political action or
advocates crime, _sabotage_, or other methods of violence as a weapon
of the working class to aid in its emancipation shall be expelled from
membership in the party...."[550] After a long debate the amendment was
adopted by a vote of 191 to 90, and the now famous Article II., Sec. 6,
became a party law.[551] During the discussion there were some quite
violent criticisms made of direct action and violence. Delegate W. R.
Gaylord said: "We do not want any of it. None of it! We don't want the
touch of it on us. We do not want the hint of it connected with us.
We repudiate it in every fibre of us."[552] Victor Berger expressed
himself very emphatically on the "sabotage clause."
I desire to say [he declared] that articles in the _Industrial
Worker_, of Spokane, the official organ of the I. W. W.,
breathe the same spirit, are as anarchistic as anything
that John Most has ever written. I want to say to you,
comrades, that I for one do not believe in murder as a
means of propaganda; I do not believe in theft as a means
of expropriation; nor in a continuous riot as a free-speech
agitation. Every true Socialist will agree with me when
I say that those who believe that we should substitute
"Hallelujah, I'm a bum" for the _Marseillaise_, and for the
_Internationale_, should start a "bum organization" of their
own. (Loud laughter and great cheering.)[553]
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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