THE I.W.W.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXVI, Issue 8258, 22 October 1912, Page 4

THE I.W.W.

NOT A BONA FIDE LABOR OR-

GANISATION

Recently the “Alaoriland quoted from the “Aimers’ Magazine a passage speaking enthusiastically ot tho Socialist party, and tho “Worker added the remark: “This is something tho Professor will not quote.” Inasmuch as the Socialist party m America stands for tho position of the United Labor Party in New Zealand, there is no reason why tho utterances of tho “Miners’ Alagazino” should not be quoted with endorsement, but why the advocate of a party which calls itself a Socialist party but has no platform, no declaration of principles, nothing by which ouo can determine what it is except by its tag, should bo quoting words spoken in favor of a party in tho United. States whoso platform is the same as the United Labor Party in this country, which it condemns, is as difficult to understand as is most of the utterances of that oracle. But suppose the “Maoriland Worker,” just for a change, should quote tho following also from the “Aliners’ Magazine” :

The Western Federation of Miners was, to a groat extent, responsible for the birth of the Industrial Workers of the World, but when such an organisation, through its representatives at a convention, ignored the constitution and laws of the organisation that were adopted by the membership and flagrantly trampled every principle of democracy under foot, it became imperative for the Western Federation of Aliners to sever its connection with an organisation whose conduct could add no lustre to the history of the labor movement of this continent.

The material interests of the working class will not bo advanced by blood-curdling circulars of professional slanderers, whoso fanaticism has led them to believe that they have a license to hiss their venom at ©very man in the labor movement who refuses to recognise them as the profound expounders of real unionism. Hunger strikes and sabotage are not weapons of intelligent men in the labor movement. Insulting or spitting on the American Hag is no more proof of intelligence than an assault by a bull on a red flag. Wo are unalterably opposed to their tactics and methods and are in complete harmony with the action taken by the Western Federation of Miners when its membership, by referendum -ote, refused to recognise the I.W, W. as a bona fide labor organisation.

Industrial unionism will not come through soup houses, spectacular free speech fights, sabotage or insults to the flags of nations, but will come through tho logic and argument that appeal to the intelligence of the working class. Men will not be organised or educated by means of violence, for means of violence are but tho weapons of ignorance, blind to tho cause that subjugates humanity and sightless to the remedy that will break tho fetters of wage slavery. Tho “Miners’ Magazine’’ stands for the principle of industrial organisation within tho labor union movement, but it' has little patience for the kind of fellows that have been trying to build up a personally conducted movement for principle by, insulting and blackguarding the regular trade union movement at ©very opportunity.—The “Miners’ Magazine.” This is what the “Miners’ Magazine” says for itself. And yet the “Maoriland Worker” would have one think that the “Miners’ Magazine” stands for the tactics her© which it condemns at home.