THE TRUTH ABOUT THE I.W.W.

Dominion, Volume 7, Issue 1936, 19 December 1913, Page 8

THE TRUTH ABOUT THE I.W.W.

. .FORCE OR PHANTOM 2 MEMBERSHIP & UNITY WEAK. • The revolutionary methods and ideals of the New Zealand Federation of Labour are, in many ways, not dissimilar from those of tho I.\Y.W. (Industrial Workers of tho World) who move and havo their being in America. "At this distaiico many people—revolutionary Labourites especially—are Inclined- to the belief that, the i.W.W. is a strong, progressive, and very formidable body. It seems, however, that the reverse is tho case, A recent issue of tlio Journal, of Political Economy, published by tho Chicago Universtij; Press, contain#, an' interesting article in whisli Professor iiosie paints the I.W.W. as it is. "Instead of being the grim brooding power- pictured in popular imagination. (writes Professor Haste), tho Industrial Workers of tho World is a body utterly , incapable of strong, efficient, united action and tho attainment of results of a permanent character. Tho I.W.W. is weak in membership and organic unity. It possesses no . financial resources even in a slight degree adequate to.advance and maintain its proposed organisation of tho working class or to carry forward any' consistent assault upon capitalism. "Tho American public' has been frightened by the impressionist school of reporters and magazine writers into a vital misconception and tremendous over-estimate of tho power and, significance- of the Industrial Workers of the World.

"Tho first significant, fact revealed by tho eighth annual convention of that organisation in Chicago late in September, and by the whole history of the I.W.W. as well, is that this body, which claims as its mission tho organisation of tho whole working class for tho overthrow of capitalism, has failed utterly in its efforts to-attach to itself permanently a considerable body of men reprc* sen ting any section of American workers. Not More Than 14,000 MombflM. "11l spite o.f eight years of organising effort and unparalleled advertisement-, the official roll of tho convention indicated that its present paid-up 'membership entitled to representation does not exceed 14,000 men. .

"Its first great organic tasks are the displacement of the American Federation of Labour, the railway "brotherhoods, and the Socialist narty; but it has not been able to organise effectively for these purposes .1 body of men equal to 1 per cent, of tlio membership of tho American Federation of Labour alone, or to one-sixtieth of these who act with the Socialist party, it proposes a united and successful direct industrial assault | upon capitalism, but it has not drawn to itself a permanent enrolment equal in number to the employees of many -a single capitalist enterprise. "The I.W.W. must depend for the bulk of its membership on the least capable, least developed, lowest trained, and poorest paid of Afiierbnn workmen. To theso may be added an clement niado up of irresponsible atonusts who are so constituted that to them all authority is an ever-present challenge. No American workman of constructive mind will permanently affiliate himsc-lf with a revolutionary' industrial organisation which abhors half measures aiid. political action so long as he call see ahead ..the hope of immediate betterment through tho gradual development and enforcement of an improved system o'f working rules and conditions.

Faces a p'erpetual Dilemma. ' "The I.Yi'.W,laces a perpetW dilemma. The hulk of American workmen ; want., more here and now for themselves and their immediate associates and care little for the remote, future or tte revolutionary.. ideal, These will have none j of the I.SV.Wj .Viewing the situation in a reasonable light, the Industrial | Workers of the World as a positive social factor is more an objeet of pathctio interest than of fear, "It has succeeded in impressing itself nprm the ..popular imagination as a mysterious, incalculable force likely to appear and work destruction at any time and place. It has terrified tho publra becausc its small body of irresponsible and footloose agitators sccnt trouble from afar and (lock to the point where social rupture seems to lie for the imminent moment. ~ "They are ,'iko Morgan's rumors. J.iy rapidity of movement and sheer audacity t-hev have created tho impression of a nreat organised force. In reality they are incapable of anything but spasmodic and disconnected action.