Kentucky Irish American. (Louisville, Ky.) 1898-1968, 1913-03-29
Property Destruction and Disre-
gard of Law Its Chief
Tenet.
Facts as to Its Origin and Scope
AS Avowed by
Leaders.
OPPOSED TO The TRADES UNION

The strike of the Akron rubber
workers has introduced Ohio to
"Syndicalism," which it is declared
threatens to bring the world face
to face with the greatest crisis of
modern vilization-perhaps of any
civilization" The most succinct
definition of Syndicalism which can
be given is that 1t is revolutionary
Industrial unionism. 1t is Socialist,
but it repudiates the prevailing form
OF modern political Socialism, it is
an exclusively labor organization,
but it is opposed to the orthodox
trade unions, and particularly to the
American Federation of Labor. 1t is
conglomeration of revolutionary
trade unionism, Socialism, Anarch-
ism and Nihilism-with special feat
ures of its own. Syndicalism is in
ternational in origin and aims to be
ultimately so in scope. 1t was
hatched in France a dozen years
ago, then taken to italy, where it
flourished and grew among the
Anarchists of that country, without,
however, attracting any particular
attention; but it made the world
"sit up and take notice" when it
crossed the Channel to England, and
its leaders assumed managerial
direction of the unprecedented
strikes in that country within the
last two years. It found a lodgment
in the United States about eight
years ago (naturally in Chicago) f,
but it did not make itself known
outside the inner circles of revolu-
tionary Socialists until the textile
strikes at Lawrence, Mass, last year,
and this year at Akron. The Ameri-
can Syndicalists are the Industrial
Workers of the World, better known
by the initials /. w. w.
The following are the tenets and
objects of Syndicalism, either as
formally declared in official utter
ances or avowed by acknowledged
leaders Of the movement, it being
observed that in some countries
more stress is laid on some of the
objects than is the case in others:
First-Organization of the wage
earners into industrial groups" in
stead of craft unions" as is the rule
now.
Second-Fostering the spirit of
not only "class consciousness" Gas is
the aim of the Socialists) but of bit
ter, irreconcilable class hatred on
the part of all wage earners against
al members of the community who
do not perform manual work and
Who are Capitalists" or who re-
.eeive their means of livelihood
through profit on industry or income
from investments.
NATURALIZATION of all forms of
political organization and of parlia-
n:entary action, and the denial OF
the legitimacy of all forms of gov
ernment, constitutional and repre-
sentative, as well as autocratic.
Fourth-Indifference to all ameli-
oratiye and reformative labor, social
and political measures.
Fifth-Especial opposition TO the
police and military.
Sixth-The habitual use of the
strike, particularly the general
strike" not so much to remedy
fpecific grievances or to establish
improvements in conditions OF labor
and then only for training" pur-
poses--as to cripple and ruin EN-
ployers, and to paralyze the indus
tries OF the country.
Seventh-The use of "sabotaga''
that is, damage to and the de-
struction OF machinery and the
means OF production and distribu-
tion, including such damage TO
plants as will prevent the operation
o. what are classed as ''public
utilities" and any means to inter
tere with the process OF production
end transportation.
Eighth-The possession of the
means or production and distribution
by the wage-earners In each indus
trial group, either by the collapse OF
capitalism through the general
strike or by forcible seizure. il nee
essary, in either case no compensa-
tion 70 be paid.
Nlnth-The establishment OF an
Industrial Commonwealth" 10 be
ruled by executive committees of
each labor group, which shall take
the place OF all civil government as
now constituted, including parlia-
ments, congresses, legislatures and
N@-N III NAGtullNG ana A0-
ministrative officers, and all courts
no matter whether the form OF gov.
ernment be republican, monarchical
or autocratic.
The great danger that this awful
movement would bring Is revealed
oy the criticism of Bax, the noted
revolutionary MARKHAM Socialist. who
asserts that Syndicalism sis by ma
means a new phenomenon IN the
evolution OF Socialist thought. Sc
TAR from being a new doctrine IL Il
put thinly disguised Anarchism
seasoned with "reminiscences OF
Proudhon and the constructive
theories OF Louis Blanc and OF
Lassalle." The Syndicalists, like the
Anarchists. believe In the abolition
o. all forms OF government as now
Ia operation, but they also contem.
Plate the substitution OF the regula,
ton and management OF industries
by executives appointed by the dif