International Items

Industrial Unionist, Volume 1, Issue 6, 1 July 1913, Page 4

International Items

INTERNATIONAL SYNDICALIST CONGRESS.

The call, issued by Dutch and English workers, for an international congress of revolutionary unionists agd direct-actionists appears to be meeting with a good response. It will probably be held in London or Holland —during September or October. The following have been suggested for the programme : —l, Theory and Tactics of Revolutionary Syndicalism. 2, Syndicalism and War. 3, International Bureau or Secretariat. This Congress may be expected to strike a more definite note on Syndicalist Theory. RUSSIA. There are many evidences that the workers in this Czar and Go-vernment-ridden Hell-on-Earth are shaking their chains and organising. In Southern Russia 5,000 shipyard workers laid down their tools to demand the dismissal of a factory policeman who had manhandled a workman without provocation ; the strike, which lasted a week, ended in victory for the men.

We extract the following from a translation of an account of the brutal treatment of Russian prisoners : —“ At this moment, when the Czar and his wretches are being sustained by the great potentates of the world, the enlightened proletarians of the world must vehemently protest against these tortures from which the unhappy subjects of the Czar suffer. And THESE PROTESTS MUST COME FROM LABOUR CONVENTIONS held to denounce such outrages against humanity and be published in all the Labour Press.” Protests should be sent to the Social Democratic Section of the Duma, Sabotage on Russian ships, if understood, might hasten matters. AMERICA. It is useless to attempt to record much of what is taking place in America, The American Branch of the I.WAV. is growing by leaps and bounds. Many big fights are on. Many organisers and prominents are being arrested. Many victories are being won. The I.W.W. —the only militant organisation of any scope —has been conducting a big struggle in the Textile industry in New Jersey. The American Federation of Labour' leaders, incapable and treacherous, tried to break the strike. The striking miners of West Virginia have held pitched battles with the “mine guards,” thugs, gunmen, and venerealised militia. Armoured motors have been used against the strikers, and they have used their rifles freely and effectively ,in self-defence; numbers have been killed on both sides. Many of the miners are camping in the mountains —waiting for a more favourable season, and the possibility of civil war is being discussed. It is believed that the I.W.W. is preparing to swoop down on the situation, then —