The Daily Missoulian. [volume] (Missoula, Mont.) 1904-1961, 1917-07-30
THE |. W. W.

We wonder at times whether the
people really know what the Industrial
Workers of the World stands for. Since
comparatively few people outside Its
own ranks attend the meetings, and
since its literature is rarely seen ex-
cept among the weaker minds to which
1t appeals. 1t is reasonable to believe
that its doctrines are not understood
as they should be at this time.
Most people think along the easiest
routes and have an instructive dislike
for studying problems that are un-
pleasant. It Is difficult to arouse the
average mind to think OF conditions
that may produce disaster. As the
average man prefers to eat well and
dress well and enjoy life. SO his mind
chooses to dwell on the thoughts that
leave the most pleasant Impressions.
Upon that very common and every
day mental attitude lies the great diff
flculty in arousing the people OF this
country to war.
That we regard as the explanation
OF why the l. w. w. has not had more
serious attention from the rank and
file Of worthy citizens who own prop
erty, however small, who have fam
lilies whom they love and protect, who
are either engaged in business OF their
own or are employed.
Too many people have come to re.
gard the !. w. W., generally speaking.
as a class Of petty disturbers who
could be put down at any time. They
say that they should be rounded up
and that something must be done about
the matter but so long as they do not
extend their violent methods to the
point where they directly affect our
daily welfare there is no occasion for
serious alarm. These same people are
too prone to blame the newspapers for
magnifying the doings of the L. w. w.
as altogether beyond their Importance.
That attitude is wrong. Taking adj
our nation finds itself, the l. W. w.
is spreading its deadly prOpa ganda
with disastrous effect and unless the
movement is stopped in some form, we
may find it a most serious handicap
in winning the war.
The Industrial Workers of the World
are open and declared revolutionists.
The conditions Of which they complain
in industrial centers are mere subter-
way to their real purpose, and
that Is, to quote their preamble, Take
possession Of the earth and the ma
chinery of production and abolish the
wage system" Their methods are
further announced openly in these
words: Labor produces all wealth.
Labor is therefore entitled to all
wealth. We are going to do away with
capitalization by taking possession Of
the land and machinery of production.
We don't intend to buy them. either
With our power we will take back that
which has been stolen from us. We
will demand more and more wages
from our employers. We will demand
and enforce shorter and shorter hours.
II We gain these demands We are di-
minishing the profits of the boss. We
are taking away his power. We are
getting that power ourselves. We fold
at a standstill."
The I. w. w. has, of course, nothing
In common with other labor organiza :
tions. In fact it wars upon them
quite as well as upon capital. This Is
announced in one of the planks of thei.
platform. which says: This warfare i.
directed against trade unionism just
as Vtrulenuy as against capitalism
because 1t is warfare against every.
thing In the form of private or indi.
vidual possession, whether it be land
houses. tools or Skill special privi
iege or any sort of manual dexterity.'
Thus the L W. W. stands strict,
opposed to the very common theor,
that a man skilled or possessing spe
ctal knowledge or able to work NOR
rapidly than another should receiv
better reward than one unskil,ed 0
ignorant or less willing to speed u
his work.
The I. w. w. approves and teache
sabotage. which Il defined as guerill
warfare. and encouraged in every wa.
Listen to their definition of sabotage
'Auy conscious and wilful act on tn