A Plea for the I.W.W.

Maoriland Worker, Volume 3, Issue 60, 3 May 1912, Page 3

A Plea for the I.W.W.

By T. H. MARSHALL.

Tho issue of our paper dated April 4 could well havo been styled the "Up with Industrial Unionism Number." The front pago breathed it, tho centre swelled with it, the other pages wore largely devoted to it. So moto it be. Hickey's article on possible unity was timely and telling; Bluenienthal on "Parliamentarism" was useful and debatable; tho leader was forceful and appealing, whilo "Semple's Mission from "Tho Barrier Truth" was re-; freshing reading. Yet hi all this array ! of words, in all tho boosting of Indus- j trial-Unionism, there was one aspect: (and that tho most vital of all) studious- ; ly avoided —let us hope from ignorance and not a moro subtle cause. \. Tho aspect of an organisation that appeals to the workers first and fore- j most is tho financial one; we may de- j plore the fact, but it is there, and we j must, face it. Tho workers of New j Zealand are paying enormous sums toi tho cause of unionism (?), and are today practically an unorganised rabble, j The host of paid officials of unions is deplorablo to my mind, and bears eloquent testimony to tlie crass stupidity of workers as a whole, whilo it also displays their superstitious, bondage to tho cult of leaders. No official should receive a higher wago than those ho serves. Pligher wage means higher position ; higher position mentis above, hence leader, autocrat. And the Now Zealand wage-slave has paid and is paying dear for this. No official should bo hoisted on the pedestal of pride to bo semi-worship-ped by tho class he belongs to. He should bo feared and hated by the capitalist class as a foreo —not because of what he is, but becauso of what ho represents. He should havo the respect and command tho confidence of his own class, but the superstition of heroworship, with its concomitants of flattering addresses, presentations of baubles, and sentimental trash, should bo relegated to tho dead past. One has very ! Tittle respect for tho men who allow themselves to bo subjected to such practices, and only disgust for the perpetrators. Unfortunately, tho N.Z.I- L. is not free from this abuse, or rather vice. But one digresses. Hickey in his article, 'Is Unity Possible?"* brings to the foro the necessity for a political party, or as ono understands it, a parliamentary party. Whether such a party is necessary is debatable, as witness Jlumenthal's article in tho same issue. Thero is ono par, however, in Mickey's article that ono wishes to refer to. It roads thus: "Naturally, a political (i.e., parliamentary) party would attract to it and count among its membors those who would bo ineligible for membership in tho industrial movoment, which latter must be limited to wage-workers." One is in entire agreement with that statement, but having said so much, why not say the rest? Allow mo to add what ono considers has been left unsaid: "Let all who believe in parliamentary action and are ineligible for tho industrial movement of wage-work-ers, attach themselves to tho International Socialist Party; and lot all those wage-workers, whoso _ faith is grounded on industrial action, _ get into tho International Industrialist Party, better known as the Industrial Workers of tho World, or 1.W.W." One has no intention of boosting what may appear an alien organisation to the* detriment of tho N.Z.F.L. Thore was a timo when my cussed British prejudices would not allow mo to discuss the 1.W.W., simply bocauso it was founded in Dollar-land; but, frankly, to-day tho N.Z.F.L. has reached the pinnacle of its usefulness as at present organised, and must either give} way to something better or adopt sounder and more scientific methods of organisation. My contention is that tho I.W.W. presents to us tlie soundest methods of Industrial Unionism jot conceived. Thoroughness, economy, and adaptability aro its cardinal points. An absence of billet-sccker3 and hero-worshippers among its ranks is another of its pleasant features, while an uncompromising attitude towards capitalism forms its most vital characteristic. _ Yo who clamor for Industrial Unionism, who preach Industrial Unionism, who are groping for Industrial Unionism with a vague idea of what you want —know vo this, that tho Industrial Workers of tho World, by their rricthj ods and machinery, present to you the i only organisation that can possibly | evolve into One Big Union. j Study it, ye workers; its mission is fraught with' potential powers for the i overthrow of capitalism and the cman- [ cipation of wage-slavery. "Tho slaves j must free themselves." Iloro's the key to freedom—-use it, and then march I onto the Co-operative Commonwealth— I tho only place f,., r true unity to exist ; in.