Pointers

Industrial Unionist, Volume 1, Issue 3, 1 April 1913, Page 4

Pointers

(From Solidarity)

Why does the “political tail” always hind itself wagged by the “ economic dog?”

A f-o\y is not a churn, and if you wan: any butter you have got to milk lhe cow first, in the same way, (he unskilled or machine proletariat can-gain nothing from poli - tical action, since the machinery of government is useful simply for Ihe propertied classes in the exploitation of the propertyless, and in determining what business principle's shall lie enacted into law as the rules of the game among themselves and in their exploitation of the masses.

“ Monopoly” represents a higher form of industrial development—based upon perfected machinery of production. The problem of “ Monopoly,” then, can not be solved through “ political control.” It resolves itself into a question of Economic Control. Economic Control means simply the control of the processes of production and the exchange of wealth. That, in turn, resolves itself down to the question of controlling the producers of wealth. The producers—the workers—are controlled because they are u ooi*ganised. Industrial organisa--1 ion is the key to the problem of Monopoly.

hi is not the industrial union that the Capitalists fear, but the teaching of men who advocate concerted action of a class against a class. Educate the individual members so that no leader is able to fell the rank and tile what is good for them, but the rank and file tell the leader what he is to do. This is what the pirates fear.

The master considers it right to speed up the slaves at work to the limit of their endurance for subsistence wages. The slaves rebel against this intensity of toil and low wages. They strike; stay out for a time, are forced back to work —beaten for the time being. They resort to other means—sabotage— to gain their ends. They terrorise the boss until he comes to terms — grants more wages and less work. Who shall say that such sabotage is wrong ? Why, only the master and all his supporters, of course! The I.W.W. is all wrong, from their standpoint.

Labour produces all wealth. It follows logically that Labour has a right to all it produces. Anything which furthers the aim of getting all wealth for those who produce it is right. Our ethical code is interpret <d solely from the standpoint of lb Working Class and its interests.

The worker must not look for one to better his condition, but act for himself whenever and wherever he gets the chance. His religion must be the Idea of Emancipation. His country, the World. His demands, the full product of his toil. His power. Solidarity. His morality, to free his sisters from prostitution. His weapon, Education in attacking the present system with all his might, using whatever tactics are necessary to win, as everything is bnr in war. and war it must be, un1' 1 ,1P has won the World for the workers.

The bread and butter question has got to be settled first, and settlHghf. Do away with poverty, establish equality of consumption 111 tlle good things of life, and then you can depend on human nature to find itself morally.