The labor world. [volume] (Duluth, Minn.) 1896-current, 1917-08-25
PATRIOTS AND BRICKBATs.

PATRIOTS AND BRICKBATS.
1t is probably the popular thing
to condone the action of the soldiers
who last Saturday evening demol-
ished the headquarters of the l. W.
w., but it is the same thing to con-
denim such crimes by no matter
whom they are done. The fact that
number of soldiers marched in an
orderly manner to the building &C.
cupied by the I. W. w. does not
excuse or justify the wrong, any
more than if it were done by an
excited and angry mob. Indeed the
act of the former is less pardona BILE
because it was deliberate and we'll
planned.
People otherwise law abiding en-
dorse without reserve the crime
committed by the men wearing the
uniform of an American soldier, but
such roughneck methods ill become
q body of men to be entrusted with
carrying the banner of freedom and
democracy to the old world It is
admitted that the I. w. w. is an
outlaw organization and for it's acts
against the United States it should
be severely dealt with. However,
there is an orderly way to do this,
and if there ever was time in the
history of our country when the law
should be respected and order MAIN
tanned that time is now.
One of our chief duties is to
solidify the nation and get all men
In heart-sympathy with her while we
are engaged in this fierce conflict
with Germany. All factions within
the country should be united, and
they can be united if we are patient
and tolerant and reasonable. Self
restraint during this exciting and
provoking period is the lesson all
who claim to be patriots should
learn. We cannot make patriots
over night with men whom we have
long neglected in teaching the great
i. ness and glory of our institutions,
and whose labor we have exploited
to the limit.
Breaking up meeting halls in a
lawless manner of misguided work.
ingmen who have been lured into l.
W. W. camps by smooth lingo and
ingenious sophistry only tend to
make martyrs of the victims of such
raids. There is chance to get them
to think right and to teach them to
know the difference between the I'M
American I. W. W. and the tried and
true American trade union way,
One destroys; the other builds. One
fails; the other accomplishes. One
promises; the other executes. One
stands for revolution; the other for
progress, the only way by which
labor through all the centuries has
been able to keep pace with the
march of civilization.
II the workingmen who have been
baited into the 7. W. w., can be
taught these truths that pirate or
ganization will disappear as if by
magic. 1t will be buried in its self
dug grave and it's spirit will depart
Into the ignominious oblivion from
whence it came.
You can't make patriots with brick
bats, but by precept, example and
the recognition of the ordinary rules
OF justice, men, when they see the
light, will fight for their country
and their fellows with zeal that
will set the world afire. The I. w.
w. has among it's membership men
who have been oppressed by capital-
1stic tyrants. Many of them are
good fighters. They are not afraid
to make personal sacrifices. They
are not towards. They are Simply
misguided. In their desire to throw
OH the yoke that has bent them low
they have been charmed by the +
w. W. rainbow which is ever
radiantly shining before them. II
they knew more about the history OF
the rise and progress of the working
Masses and the frightful struggles
that have been made in the past by
the laborers of this and other gene.
rations they would lose no time in
deserting the will-o'-the-wisp, I. W.
w., and they would join such an or
ganization as the American Fedora
ZION of Labor whose loyalty to
country and fidelity to labor are
blazing the way for the fullest
. measure of political and industrial
freedom for the peoples of the world,
2 The work among the working
/ classes for the betterment Of their
Il. ...:,.. y Il. =: J. /.