LABOUR AND THE I.W.W.

Dominion, Volume 12, Issue 154, 25 March 1919, Page 7

LABOUR AND THE I.W.W.

VIGOROUS DENUNCIATION

QUEENSLAND MANIFESTO

In the course of an official mamiesto, issued by the Queensland Central Executive of the Australian Labour Par ty, and si-nod, amongst others, by tho Premier (Mr. Evan), the Treasurer (Mr. Urndoro). tho Speaker (Mr. M'Cormack), the Minister for Eailwnys (Mr. Fihelly), and Air. .1. Page, M.H.K., as members 01 the executive, it is stated:— ;. "The Queensland Central Executive oi the Australian Labour Party, being desirous of consolidating tho industrial and political wings of the Labour movement, in order that a united front may be. presented to those conservative and reactionary forces opposed to it, dec ares that any element in the ranks of Labcmi nohtical or industrial, which defects the movement from its true aim..the securiiW of the full results of '.heir industry to all wealth-producers, or which destroys its discipline or undermines its authority, or which, by unfair or ] unwarranted criticism, endangers its solidaiitj. is detrimental to the interests of the movement, and must bo combated Ihe movement looks to education, and such ■social and political reforms as strike at the root of the injustice from which tho masses now suffer. By .loyalty lo piiiiciple. unity of purpose, aim, and method alone can we succeed. The rules are but the means of securing unity oi action; nevertheless, their observance and recognition are essential to success. "The Queensland Central. Executive fully recognises that, suppression of bona fide' and honest criticism is noons in principle and reactionary in effect, ni.d would nevitably result in the fctaguauon and early decay of the Labour I any. ATOhout the driving force of the iett or extreme wing of Labour, and intelligent and advanced criticism, progress and virility are impossible. At no period of working-class history has il.ere e-er been such revolutionary changes in the thoughts and desires of men ae at the present time. Tho heresy of to-day r.ay become the orthodoxy of to-morrow; the minority riow that was rejected with ficorn yesterday, to-day gains acceptance and becomes the determined pchcy of the majority. Therefore all sections of thought that make for the .idvancsraent of Labour on eane and class conscious lines are welcomed by organised Labour, as long as tho great underlying basis actuating its advocates is the earnest desiio to improve and solrclily the Labour movement, to strengthen, aim not to disrupt, to build 'and not to destroy tho power of the organised Labour movement. Its effectiveness, as an organisation and its unity of aim aru ho outcome of rigid solf-disciplmo on the part of its supporters, and strict adherence to its own methods and principles. Lately advocates of other doctrines have insinuated their way into the ranks of the workers, and are seeking to spread crafty and disruptive propaganda in tho woTking-class movement. Tho chiof opponents of theso cults are avowed or covert supporters of the- .Industrial Workers of tho World, and the doctrines preached are wholly yt variance with Labour principles, and their declared methods are contrary to t.io methods endorsed by the Labour Party. "The effect of this propaganda will be, and, indeed, its acknowledged object is, to turn Labour from tho course it has planned,'and to induce Labour supporters to abandon their long-recognised methods and to adopt a definito programmo of destruction. Tho essential difference botwSen tho I.W.W. and tho Labour movement is that the former adheres to a policy of . violence and sabotage, condemns .political action for the working-class movement, and scoffs at tho minor industrial nnd social reforms, whilst on tho other hand, Labour methods are educational and constructive The Queensland Central Executive, speaking as the authoritative head of tho organised Labour movement of Qnceneland, unh.esitaliii&lj' 'Aopudiates tho I.W.W. and its doctrines and all Eiimilar propaganda which strike at tho fundamental precepts of Labour. The Queensland Central Executive deolar&s that the Labour movement is no placo for thoso who hold or voice such viows, and calls upon tho various organisations affiliated with tho Labour Party to repudiate all those who fail lo conform to the .plicy laid down, by tho Labour Convention, which alone is authorised to extond, modify, or vary the Labour programme.

"Tho Labour movement docs not pretend to bo tho last word in working class organisation, nor is it asserted that it stands for Hi© highest ideal* lilint can be conceived for the emancipation of tho toiling masses, but it does represent tho most effective mnchinory that lias been devised, in existing circumstances, to perform tho functions ordained for it, and it does stand for the best objective oml set of principles that the combined intelligence of its membership and organisation bavo constructed. If in the past the policy has not coincided with tie more advanced thought of tho movement, as interpreted by certain industrialists, then they have only themselves to blame for their culpable apathy and neglect to avail themselves of the opportunity offered. The .remedy is not to condemn tho Labour Party for failing to carry out a policy not yet embodied in its platform, but for -those- industrialists themselves to shake off the apathy hitherto existing, and to obtain adequate representation on (lie Labour Convention, and there formulate the policy desired. It is within the power of the oreanised workers, whenever they are sufficiently enlightened, to take the complete control of the machinery of Government, and to give effect to the platform which they have drawn up, but to secure ifliis end them must be intelligent understanding of their objective and the constructive wocesses necessary to its attainment, and above all, discipline among tho •workers themselves."