The Glasgow courier., 1918-06-07

A perusal of the l. W. w. platform
tPreamble) is sufficient to convince
the most skeptical observer that the.
organization is founded on principles
with tendencies bordering on anarcn,
ism, as the following excerpts will
illustrate.
"The working class and the employ
ing class have nothing in comman; oe-
tween these two struggle must 60
on until the workers of the world or.
ganize as a class. take possession OF
the earth and the machinery OF pro-
duction and abolish wage system
moreover-the trade unions aid the
employing class into believing that the
working have interests IN common
with their employer" I'm
stead of the conservative motto: "a
fair days work for fair days pay,"
we must inscribe on our banner the
revolutionary watchword, abolition OF
the wage system"
According to the |. W. W. the en-
ployer, no matter if corporation,
farmer, contractor, or peanut vendor
If an employer, rich or poor, ne has
ceased to be a necessity in industrial
or social life and is merely super
t1uous parasite. They point out that
any lasting agreements between en-
ployer and employee is impossible. In
fact the most basic and adhered to
principle of the I. w. W. is that: Ar
bitration and permanent settlement
cannot be countenanced by the organ
ization." They declare there is no
good employer" they all look alike
there can be no peaceful pursuit of
employment, no truce for the employ
er or society, nothing but relentless
warfare through sabotage and strike
till the present form of government is
overthrown.
Seattle Calls Halt.
In the latter part Of April, 1918,
Mr.. Belmont, a prominent l. w. w.
speaker and organizer, after a pas
sionate plea TO his radical hearers not
to forsake the application Of sabotage
anytime, boldly and with dramatic
elocution, remarked: "The United
States is the most uncivilized nation
in the world today" "our civilization
is below that of the Igorrote head
hunters of the Philippine Islands" A
few days later Mayor Ole Hanson, the
fearless patriotic mayor of Seattle,
and Chief of Police Joe Warren de-
cided the time had come to call halt
and raided the l. w. w. hall arresting
213 members. Chief Warren put a
paddock on the door and at this writ
ing it is still there. The l. w. w.
members were taken to the police sta
tion and searched, the officers finding
over $4,000 in their wallets, but not
single liberty bond or Red Cross but
ton. This factor appeared significant
to me and l interrogated score Of
genuine l. w. w. members as to their
unpatriotic attitude toward the gov
ernment in this critical time of need.
The replies were not ambiguous in
any instance, there was no attempt to
conceal their radical anti-government
sentiments, 1--WE recognize no country,
and no flag but the "Red flag" Why
should we loan money to our enemy.
The present form of government is
simply haven and protection for the
capitalists, and the fact Of the matter
is the capitalists are the government
and we hate the capitalists, therefore
we would be crazy to loan money to
the government we are trying to over
throw" And l can truthfully and con-
servatively say that every genuine l.
w. w. emphatically carries the same
sentiments in his heart.
The l. w. w. are "direct actionists'
$50 called because they do not believe
in the ballot to overthrow the present
form of government but rely wholly
on the power of systematic sabotage
and strike to gain that end They Dc
not believe in q congress, president
legislature, governor or court, or ir
any form of law making or law en-.
forcements as provided by the consti
tuition, but would control and rule by
direct action referendum and no indi
vidual would hold a more authoritative
position than the most menial work
er.
will now define the most cherished
and damnable doctrine of the l. w
w., doctrine that is responsible il
great degree for the partial failur
: of the airplane program:
Elizabeth Gurley Flynn, the note
4 I. w. w. agitator, describes sabotag
j: under several heads, the principa
y y among which are: "Adulteration;
4 The slowing down of work; The gen
!: eral reduction of efficiency; Placin
3 3 kerosene in ovens to make food unfit
u Intimidation, Coercion and any mean
9 necessary to gain the end. In a fu
=. factory in Philadelphia, before stoE
n ping work the cutters were instructe
p to alter the size Of the patterns O
q which the fur coats had to be mad'
e Every cutter followed this advice an
q reducted by one-third of an inch a
q patterns he could lay his hands OF
e page 80 Sabotage.)
e Adopt Sabotage.
# Spargo, noted authority, writes
# part;
e "Of course the sabotage idea we
Y easily extended-a little dust in tt
z bearings, especially emery dust, woul
e do much. Soap in boilers would r.
= tard the development of steam-jud
= cially planned accidents might easi
= cost the employer far more than
= slight increase in wages. Keep tn
= up it was urged, 'and in a short tin
= the employer will be on his knees
# "Any conscious and wilful act {
y the part of one or more workers. j
"a tended to slacken and reduce the ou
y put of production any ski
= full operation on the machinery of pr
= duction intended not to destroy it, b
= to temporarily disable it and put it o
- of running condition. Sabateurs a
= the Eclaireurs, the scouts of ella
= struggle"
= Bosquet, after bitter denunciati
y of the present system, says:
- "The simple stoppage of work
- not sufficient to realize the aims OF