The labor journal. [volume] (Everett, Wash.) 1909-1976, 1913-01-03
BY Robert Hunter.

/ Courtesy of The National Socialist
1t is a curious fact that the Hay
market riot in Chicago, gave to the
present French labor movement the
idea of the General Strike.
\ In this country the Haymarket af-
fair brought terrible reaction. The
labor movement lay stunned after its
brief filtration with anarchy The
union men drew away from the anar-
chist agitators, and, taking their in
/ formation from the capitalist press
\ only, concluded that Socialism and
anarchism were the same thing, and
would, if tolerated, lead the move
ment to ruin and disaster. Without
doubt, the bomb in Chicago put
back labor movement for years. 1t
ended the great national movement
/ for an eight-hour day and did more
I to induce the rank and file of trade
unionists to reject all associations
with revolutionary ideas than per-
haps all other things put together.
In France it had an altogether diff
! ferent effect. From that moment on,
the anarchists took new heart The
General Strike became the subject
of the hour, and little by little, the
conservative" believers in political
action were forced by the "Revolu-
tionary' direct actionists out of the
leadership of the French unions.
In 1888 the French unions meeting
at Bordeaux voted the following res
olution:
considering: That the monopoli-
zation of the instruments of labor and
of capital gives to the employers
only as the strike puts power in the
hands of the workers;
'That capital is nothing if it is
not put in action by labor; That,
therefore, in refusing to work the
workers would destroy by a single
stroke the power of their masters;
considering: That the partial
strike can only be a means of agita-
tion and organization, the congress de-
clares:
"That the General Strike alone,
that is to say, the complete stoppage
of all work. or in other words, the
social revolution, can lead the work
ers toward their emancipation"
The French trade unions had for
many years advocated working class
political action, and this was a move
on the part of the anarchists to put
the Federation of Trade Unions in
opposition to political action The
opposition was increased when the
French socialist party, meeting in
opposition was increased when the
Lille, in 1890, defeated a resolution
declaring for the General Strike. AT
the various congresses thereafter,
both trade union and Socialist, the
General Strike became the great bone
of contention. The trade unionists
began to look upon it as of vital i'm
portance; and the Socialists in op-
posing it, were placed in an apparent
ly indefensible position.
At this moment a great orator ap-
peared on the scene. The young I'M
unknown lawyer, Arisides BRAND, as
sumed the leadership of the advo-
Gates of the General Strike. There is
no question that BRAND is master
of oratory, and behind him were
many able direct actionists who had
set out to divorce the Unions from
political action.
The history of this episode has
much in it that even today lies in
darkness. All sorts of rumors are
rife concerning the reactionary forces
that were behind BRAND at that time,
and however one may look at his brief
career as a revolutionist, there is
much in it that points to double-deal-
ing. A bit of history will illustrate
! The capitalist politicians had for
many years tried to break the great
power of the Socialists in the trade
union movement. The anarchists
were, of course, active to the same
end. Some of the unions were in
deed at that time dominated by anar
chists The Revolutionary" anar
), chist unions, however, were always in
need of funds because the anarchists
) have, as every one knows, utter con
, tempt for organization and for pay
ment of dues. This led certain rad
ical politicians to urge the French mu
inequalities to take, what seems t(
!, many. the most extraordinary act o
any government, and that was to vote
funds for the support of its most bit
ter enemy, namely, these most VIC
lently Revolutionary" unions.
J Trade union halls were built by thu
cities; funds were voted for their up
keep; and these trade union head
J quarters were turned over to the u.s.
I, of the unions. Despite the fact tha
the government placed its agents il
these halls to watch and report upoI
the union movement, the anarchists
found these government halls an ac
centahle and inexpensive arena fol