Communism; Industrial Workers of the World; Socialism
"Instead of the conservative motto, 'A fair day's wages for a fair
day's work,' we must inscribe on our banner the revolutionary
watchword, 'Abolition of the wage system.'
"It is the historic mission of the working class to do away with
capitalism. The army of production must be organized, not only for
the every-day struggle with the capitalists, but also to carry on
production when capitalism shall have been overthrown. By
organizing industrially we are forming a structure of the new
society within the shell of the old."
Giovannitti, editor of the New York City Italian Socialist publication,
"Il Proletario," one of the official Socialist organs enumerated in the
"Proceedings[9] of the 1910 National Congress of the Socialist Party,"
writing in the April 5, 1913, edition of his paper, says:
"The aim of the Socialists and of the Syndicalists is precisely
that of dispossessing the middle class by transferring property to
the working class.
"We shall take possession of the industries for three very simple
reasons: because we need them, because we desire them, and because
we have the power to take them.
"Whether it is just or unjust, moral or immoral, it is no concern
to us. We shall waste no time whatever in providing the validity of
our legal titles, yet, if it will be necessary, after the
dispossession will have been accomplished, we shall engage a couple
of lawyers and judges to adjust the contracts and to render the act
perfectly legal and respectable. So, too, if it will be necessary,
we shall find a couple of most learned bishops to sanctify it.
These matters can always be arranged--all that is strong and
powerful becomes in time just and moral--and for this reason, we
Syndicalists maintain that the social revolution is not a question
of necessity and justice, but of necessity and strength."
"The New Unionism," by Tridon, on page 112, informs us that Arturo
Giovannitti was, in turn, a minter, a bookkeeper, a theological student,
a mission preacher and a tramp. Ettor, in "Industrial Unionism," page
15, speaking of the I. W. W. principles of morality, says:
"New conceptions of Right and Wrong must generate and permeate the
workers. We must look on conduct and actions that advance the
social and economic position of the working class as Right,
ethically, legally, religiously, socially and by every other
measurement. That conduct and those actions which aid, help to
maintain and give comfort to the capitalist class, we must consider
as Wrong by every standard."
"The New Unionism," page 104, gives us Vincent St. John's statement of
the methods and tactics employed by the I. W. W., of which he has been a
prominent leader:
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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