The toiler. [volume] (Cleveland, Ohio) 1919-1922, 1921-06-18

much condemned Dy SynulcallStS
d others that is would do well to
ote the resolution at length to learn
arx's views.
Unionism and Revolutionary
Struggle.
"Trade Unionism arose from
the attempts Of the workmen to
resist the despotic behests Of
Capital and to prevent or at least
to check the competition among
the workers themselves, in order
to obtain such conditions which
would raise them above simple
slavery. The immediate aims of
trade unions is therefore confined
to the daily struggle between
capital and labor, or in short to
wages and hours Of labor. These
activities are not only legitimate,
they are absolutely necessary
they cannot be dispensed with as
long as capitalism exists. More
over they should be made gen.
eral through an alliance Of the
workers of all countries.
"The Trade Unions form, how
ever, on the other hand centres of
organization for the Whole work
ing class, just as the guilds and
corporations formed in medieval
times the centres of the rising
middle class. If the trade unions
in their former capacity arc ab-
solutely necessary for the daily
contests or guerillas between
labor and capital, they are all the
more important as organized
bodies for the abolition CO wage
labor and of the domination of
capital. They should act con-
sciolsly as the foci Of the organi-
zation of labor in the interest of
their complete emancipation. They
should support all social and po-
litical movements which tend in
the same direction. They should
act as champions and represen-
tctives of the whole working class
so as to emancipate the down
trOdden millions"
Marx called for the organization Of
political parties, and, furthermore
,ried to harmonize the conduct of the
class in the field of worlt
politics. Thruout the General Council
Of the international, he declared
against the Muscovite danger to Eu
rope and the necessity for the re
establishment of free and united
Poland. Upon the reelection of Lin
coin, Marx wrote in the name Of tn,
General Council, praising him for hi,
struggle against the "oligarchy tha
had dared to inscribe slavery upon tn,
banner of revolt" In later years, h,
defined the position of the Interna
tional toward the Franco-P -Prussiai
War and the Paris Commune. At tn,
same time the International was in
fluential in checking the importation
of cheap labor from the continent int,
England to be used as a strikebreak
er; it collected funds for the aid O.
strikers, in many cases the aid of tn,
International contributing actively t,
the victory of the workers. The Inter
national came to be blamed for an,
strike that broke out on the con
tinent.
Growth of the International.
By the year 1870, groups and as
sociations of workers in England
France, Germany, Italy, Spain, Bel
gium, Switzerland Hungary, Poland
as we'll as America, had becom
members of the International. TIL
National Labor Union Of America il
convention held in Baltimore passe'
resolutions similar to those adopte
at Geneva, and by 1870 Cameron an
nounced the adherence Of severa
hundred thousands Of American work
ers to the principles of the Interna
tional. The latter became the fear @
statesmen as it became the hope Q
the class-conscious workers. But
was a fear inspired more by the vas
possibilities Of the movement than b
the actual strength. At the openin
of the year 1870, Europe was muc
disturbed by working class activitie
and it appeared that the gigantic prt
gram of Marx for n general risin
Of the European proletariat at Leaf
IL the great centres might soon
realized under the guidance Of u
International. 1t was the only boo
that had either the information or Il
brains at its command to give Il
various movements in different coul
tries a definite and, eventually,
combined organization. The Franc
Prussian War and the defeat Of Il
Paris Commune were soon to destr,
these hopes. But more than that,
was to expose the real conditions, tn
action was still lacking.
Tka n,c,,attoo NJ Codon aoJ M