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
Is not this striking success of "boring from within" after
continued failure of "building from without" tactics, which is
but typical of the respective results being achieved everywhere
by these tactics, worthy of the most serious consideration on
the part of the I. W. W.? Is it not time that we get up off our
knees before this time-honored dual organization dogma and give
it a thorough examination? And I'll promise--or threaten--that
if I am elected editor the matter will get as thorough an
investigation as lays in my power.... At Berlin a few months
ago Jouhaux, secretary of the C. G. T. [_Confédération Générale
du Travail_], in a large public meeting advised them to give
up their attempt to create a new movement and to get into the
conservative unions where they could make their influence felt.
At Budapest he extended the same advice to the I. W. W. _via_
myself, and I am frank to state that I am convinced that it
would be strictly good tactics for both movements to adopt it.
I am satisfied from my observations that the only way for the
I. W. W. to have the workers adopt and practice the principles
of revolutionary unionism ... is to give up its attempt to
create a new labor movement, turn itself into a propaganda
league, get into the organized labor movement and by building
up better fighting machines within the old unions than those
possessed by our reactionary enemies, revolutionize those
unions even as our French syndicalist fellow-workers have so
successfully done with theirs.[597]
Upon the arrival of Mr. Mann, Mr. Foster again took up the cudgels for
the opponents of dual unionism.
Among many of the syndicalists [he said] the sentiment is
strong, and growing ceaselessly, that the tactics followed by
the I. W. W. are bad, and that endeavors should be made inside
the A. F. of L.; that it is in the existing unions that the
syndicalists must struggle without ceasing....[598]
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