Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1919-09-23
Foster, Steel Strike
Boss, Shown Up Gs
Radical Bolsheuik


OF the union leadership in the steel
strike. They have "A fear Of serious
trospie, disoIder ana perhaps biouu-
shed.
The chief cause OF government wor-
ry is Mi..iam a. Foster, the general
organizer OF the iron and steel work
ers and now in active charge OF tne
management Of the strike in the Pitts
Durgh district.
he is co-author OF a pamphlet urg-
ing direct action" This advocates u
general strike" OF all workers in all
lines all over the country, then the
overthrow OF the wage system" and
the seizing by force of ali plants and
their operation by the workers. In
them. This is bluntiy named what II
is-"revolution."
Two Points Of Interest.
In the Chicago steel district the fed
eral governments concern has been
manifested in two instances. Federal
agents indicated a desire yesterday
morning for information regarding the
sale of revolvers and shotguns in Gary
Sunday. In the afternoon secret serV-
ice men were rushed to South Chicago
to mingle with the strikers. 1t was
given out that these were only ordi-
nary precautionary measures to pre-
vent any disturbance of the peace and
to prevent the distribution of whisky.
But the ''direct action" theories or
Foster also had an influence. He is
opposed to the socialist because too
slow and conservative. He thinks that
the |. Wi WIS have n program of lest
motion in trying to build up new or
ganizations. Foster urges the intro
duction of "syndicalism' into the cx-
listing labor unions.
Ideas on Syndicalism.
The pamphlet defines syndicalism
briefly as follows:
The syndicalism movement is Ia
Dor union movement. which, in addi-
ton to fighting the every day battles
Of the working classes. intends to
overthrow capitalism and reorganize
society in such manner that exploita-
ton of man by man thru the wage
system shall cease
OF course that may mean the killing
of many peop.e. but the pamphlet says:
Observation-Disclosures favorite objec-
tion of the ultra legal and peaceful So
cialists Is that the general strike would
cause bloodshed.
This is probably true, as every
great strike is accompanied by Vio-
lence. Every forward pace humanity
has taken has been gained at the cost
Of untold suffering and loss OF life,
and the accomplishment Of the revo-
luton will probably be no exception
But the prospect of bloodshed does
not frighten the syndicalist worker as
it does the parlor socialist He Is too
much accustomed to risking himself
in the mcrtsorous industries and on the
,lellish ba,@I xsel1s in the, niggardly
service of his masters to set much
value on his life. He will gladly risk
1t once in his own behalf He has nc
sentimental regard for what may hap
pen to his enemies during the general
strike. He leaves them to worry over
that detail" "
"Ripe For Revolution"
The pamphlet says that w. u. Fos-
ter is the secretary of the Syndicalism
League of North America, which is said
to be demonstrating that the Amer
lean labor movement Is ripe for rev =
olution and that the conservative forces
opposed to this revolution are SEEM
ingly strong only because they have
had no opposition. 1t (the league) is
making them crumble before the at
tacks of the militant minSity, organ
lied and conscious Of its strength"
The introduction of the booklet on
"the situation" tells Of the starving,
Shaving masses of workers afflicted
with the terrible social scourges of un-
employment, crime, prostitution. lu-
macy, consumption, and all the other
forms Of social, mental and physical
degeneracy which are inseparaDle COM
panions Of poverty"
ION the other hand" is presented
a view OF tine Idle rich revollng in
their luxuries. tho they do nothing
useful for society. Society pours Its
vast treasures into their laps and they
suuander this wealth" in monkey din
ners, dog suppcrs. pig luncheons, hir-
ing of noblemen for servants. buying
Of princes for husbands, valuable cart
loads Of art treasures for notoriety, and
| the .0O1 insane methods of the Amer
lean aristocracy."
Opposes Government.
<AClIoH III 10 C'il-
demned 1t is charged in the book
that 'the capitalist class rob the work.
ers," exploit their slaves" and that
"the wage system is the most brazen
and gigantic robbery ever perpetrated
since the world began" 1t continues:
"The thieves at present in control
Of the industries must be stripped of
their booty, and society so reorganized
that every individual shall have free
access to the social means of produc-
ton. This social reorganization will
be q revolution. Only after such q
revolution will the great inequalities
of modern society disappear"
In the new order of things "there
will be no state" according to the
pamphlet, because. 'the syndica1ist
sees in the state only an instrument
of oppression and a bunglng admin
istration of industry. and proposes ia
exclude it from all future society"
U>ions to Run State.
The unions in each industry will
will be no slave class in society and
no ownership of the social means of
livelihood. the state win have lost the
only other reason for its existence
the keeping Of the working classes in
subjection and the regulation Of quar-
rels between the owners Of industries q
Again: THE strikers or revlutionists
will be everywhere. and will every
where seize or disable whatever capt
talist property they oar lay their
hands on" when the general strike
comes.