The labor world., 1922-03-04
|. ". " POINTS OUT WRONG WAY
FOR tired WORKERS T0FOLLoW
Andrew Ffussh Exposes Hypocrisy Of WObblss; Analyses
Preamble and Constitution 1 nd Shows Inconsistency;
Used BY Enemies Of Labor TO Destroy Labor Unions.

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! ) BY ANDREW FURUsETH, : 1.
sPresident, International Seamen's
Union. r.: ,.- =.
I Some months since. while on the
Pacific Coast and while / was COM
pairing the laws OF. the I. w. w. and
the laws of the International Sea-
mems Union of America. q very
mouthy member OF the I. W. W.
asked: "Why don't you tackle the
Preamble?" I stopped long enough
to answer: 1.-THE preamble is most
ly birdlime and some day shall deal
with it. just now I have no time;
but tomorrow is also day" It is. iii
accordance with and to keep that
promise that this analysis is written.
The preamble and constitution of
the I. w. w. are truly remarkable
documents. They are remarkable
each for itself, but still more 80
when read together and analysed In
the light that each throws upon the
other. shall, however; look mainly
at the preamble, using, as I think
must be allowable, some parts Of the
constitution to help to shed some
light in the darkness.
The preamble>>in its outline fol-
lows the so-called scientific system
ofslegislation Ostehsibly doing one
thing while really seeking to do an
other Its first part is q descrip-
tion of the want and suffering OF
the. working people The second
part (section) seeks to destroy such
rights and hopes as may exist by
pointing out the wrong way and
urging the tired traveller to follow
it. The third part (section) is a
| qualified promise and then bene-
diction. Through the entire text of
the preamble runs a., condemnation
OF existing industrial and politicar
systems, but more especially against
the workers making any use, Of the
political machinery to- obtain relief.
l. w. w. Is OPPOSED to Political
Action.
The 1. w. w. is opposed to any
and all political action (see consti-
| tution); it is opposed to Government
by law. In disregard Of the fact,
proclaimed by itself. that present
| conditions result In want and suffer-
ing, and, OF the further fact, which
it overlooks, that sthe present condi-
tion, be it what it may, IS made by
law, it is opposed to the use Of the
Legislative system for the purpose
of obtaining relief. Relief must
come If at all by revolution. AS
basis for the whole philosophy it
assumes that the people are divided
in two classes The employing class
and the working class.
The photographer defines the
word class as follows: -
"A number or body Of persons
with common characteristics, or in
like circumstances, or with a COM
mon purpose, occupation, ETC., such
as the wealthy class, the learned
class, the working class" This last
word class. is in capitals.
The photographer recognizes the
lingual usage, but he questions its
correctness as well as he may under
the definition given The workers
as considered and addressed by the
peamble are not a. number: or
body" they are the millions in want
and suffering They cannot under
any reasonable definition be called d
class They have nothing in COM
mon unless it be the hunger and
want. The have neither q common
purpose nor a common occupation.
They are not exclusive; they have
neither Individual nor class pride.
They accept members, real or ex-
PEELED, Of the employing class as
leaders; they borrow ideas, thoughts
language, phrases, manners and Gus
toms from the employing class
whom they look up to and consider
their betters; they are so eager tc
get out Of their class, that they are
willing to do, almost anything even
risking prison to get up as they cal
it. 1T is 1erding such as the into
mixed assemblies" that they are te
create The Army that is to upse
existing society-better equipped
than at any time fn tie worlds his
tory to defend itself against revolu
. tionists.
Distinct Hostility to Craftsmanship
- and Skill.
This is not to say that real work
ers may not have some =, common
characteristics, which properly un
i. derstood and cultivated would not o,
could not 1llo1d. them into d genuin;
class, Notwithstanding their Erea
. numbers. In the old religions, nov
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