Denver labor bulletin., 1917-09-01

In some quarters, particularly IN
business circles, there IS a prevalent
notion or idea that the Industrial
Workers of the World are identified
with and are a part Of the system of
labor organization upon which the
American Federation Of Labor is
builded. Nothing could be further
from the truth. The two organizations
have no interest or principle IN COM
mon. Rather should we say that their
interests conflict, and that the atti-
tude of the /. w. W. is one of antag-
onism to the aims and objects of the
American Federation Of Labor, which
proceeds along conservative lines to
reach the goal for which it is organ
ized-the emancipation of labor and
the recognition of its rights through
peaceful and orderly agitation.
The American Federation of Labor
is not a socialistic nor anarchistic or
ganization. 1t does not advocate the
destruction of property rights. 1t does
not advocate the policy of sabotage"
which has for its purpose the wilful
shirking and destruction of labor
power to the disadvantage of the en-
ployer In this connection the Bull
letin reproduces the following from
the Galveston News which, in brief,
reviews the organization and purposes
of the American Federation of Labor
in contradistinction to the objects and
pernicious activities of the /. W. W:
The /. W. W. was formed in Chi
cago on June 27. 1905, following on at
tempt of certain socialist leaders to
gain control of the American Fedora
ton of Labor. Disaffected members of
the latter organization determined to
organize a distinct and more radical
union of labor; and to that end the
Western Federation of Miners, the
United Metal Workers. the American
Labor Union and the Socialist Trade
and Labor Alliance met in convention,
declared in favor Of international So
cialism, and adopted the platform of
the socialist party.
Perhaps no better insight into the
aims and purposes of this new body
can be obtained than from the perusal
of the preamble of this Chicago con-
vention:
THE working class and the employ
ing class have nothing in common.
Between these two classes struggle
must go on until the workers of the
world organize as a class, take pos
session of the earth, and the machin-
cry of production, and abolish the
wage system. We find that the CEN
tering of the management of the in
dustries into fewer and fewer hands
makes the trade unions unable to cope
with the ever-growing power of the
employing class. The trade unions
foster state of affairs which allows
one set of workers to be pitted against
another set of workers in the same in
dustry, thereby helping to defeat one
another in wage wars. Moreover, the
trade unions aid the employing class
to mislead the workers into the be-
lief that the working classes have in
terests in common with their employ
ers. These conditions can be changed
and the interest of the working classes
upheld only by an organization formed
in such way that all its members in
any one industry, or in all industries,
if necessary. cease work whenever
strike or lockout is on in any depart
ment thereof. thus making an injury
to one an injury to all. Instead of the
conservative motto, "A fair days
wages for a fair days work. we must
inscribe on our banner the revolution
ary watchword, Abolition of the wage
system 1t is the historic mission of
the working class to do away with
The army of production
must be organized. not only for the
everyday struggle with capitalists, but
also to carry on production when cap
italism shall have been overthrown
By organizing industrially we are
forming the structure of new society
in place of the old"
Thus. as will be seen, the /. w. w.
is organized on the industrial basis
rather than the trade basis. The l.
w. w. is not only at enmity with cap
italism, but with its fellow laborers
who belong to the trade unions. This
enmity is founded in an adherence to
the doctrine of syndicalism.
The I. w. WIS believe that the pres
ent day capitalistic order should be