Communism; Industrial Workers of the World; Socialism
"This organization publishes at least five newspapers in the
English language and nine in foreign languages. This list comprises
only official papers of the organization and does not take into
account the large number of free lance papers published in the
interest of the above organization."
In the April 19, 1913, edition of "Solidarity," the eastern organ of the
I. W. W., we are informed that "among other diseases common to all
nations and particularly prevalent in the United States is respect for
law and order." The same edition of the paper extends greetings to "all
Rebels" from its new home in Cleveland.
During the 1913 Paterson strike, which was managed by the I. W. W.,
Quinlan, one of the leaders, declared on May 17th:
"Paterson is a dangerous place to live in just at this time, no
matter in what direction you are looking. The longer the strike
lasts, the stronger and more bitter and the madder the workers are
growing. Out of it all we want to build up an organization that
will be able to fight efficiently, and fight to win--to fight to
win, if necessary, by dying.
"And we are going to win this strike or Paterson will be wiped off
the map. If the strike is not won Paterson will be a howling
wilderness and a graveyard industrially, because the workers will
not stay there. We have had too long and bitter a fight to lay down
what we have gained so far. Heaven might fall and hell might break
loose, but the strike is going to be won."
Boyd, another speaker, is reported as saying on the same day:
"We are going to get what we want whether the courts want it or
not. We are going to call a general strike, if it is necessary, to
free our fellow-workers. We are going to cut off the lights in
Paterson, and tie up the street car system. We shall reduce the
city to a condition of absolute helplessness. We are going to
paralyze Paterson, and we are going to win in Paterson just as we
are going to win in New York City."
Robert Plunkett, said to be a former Cornell student, who was introduced
as a "fellow-worker," urged the strikers and their sympathizers to use
every means to free their leaders, even if Paterson had to "starve or go
naked." He said that the lights would be put out in Paterson, and that
the street cars would be tied up, so that Paterson would become a dead
city.
Mohl, who also made his appearance at the silk mills strike in Paterson,
declared on May 18, 1913:
"The American flag is pretty to look at. Its colors are
striking--red, white, and blue, with two or three twinkling stars
here and there, but it is not good to eat."
The I. W. W. is, of course, an atheistic and anti-religious
organization. In the March 1, 1919, issue of "The One Big Union
Monthly," page 40, we read under the caption, "Help Wanted, Male or
Female:"
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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