There is power, there is power
In a band of workingmen.
When they stand hand in hand,
That’s a power, that’s a power
That must rule in every land-
One Industrial Union Grand.
-Joe Hill
Hellraisers Journal, Wednesday October 10, 1906
Chicago, Illinois – Will I. W. W. Survive 2nd Convention?
This week’s Appeal to Reason offered a first hand account of the turmoil which prevailed at the Second Convention of the Industrial Workers of the World held in Chicago from September 17th to October 3rd:
DE LEON DOMINATES
—–S. L. P. Leader Captures I. W. W. Convention
at Chicago and Rules With An Iron Hand
—–BY F. M. EASTWOOD.
Staff Correspondent Appeal to Reason.
—–
CHICAGO, ILL., Sept. 24-The convention is dragging along into the eighth day with its organization not perfected and the really important work delayed by the bickerings of DeLeon and the time-consuming tactics of his untrained and untamed following. DeLeon is making strenuous efforts to promote himself as the apostle of the only revolutionary element in existence by showing all opponents of himself to be “reactionary”.
DeLeon is decidedly in control of the convention; and unless some means of reducing his personal influence on the floor to the measure of the membership which he represents is adopted, the entire convention will become a farce that will wholly dishearten the delegates who are working in good faith for the welfare of the working class and the up-building of the organization.
On the morning of the 20th the consideration of contestants from locals in the Transportation Department was resumed. Not withstanding the admitted fact that most of the local organizations from which the contestants held credentials are not in good standing, the departmental organization was ignored and the contestants were seated. McDonald, of the Western Federation of Miners, insisted that only those in good standing be seated; but the impatience of the delegates, irritated by the delay and the protracted oratory of irrepressible wind-jammers, was taken advantage of to railroad the measure through in defiance of parliamentary usage and the express provisions of the I. W. W. constitution.
Would Rule or Ruin.
This is only one of many instances wherein the DeLeonistic delegates showed their contempt for regulations of any kind. The only virtue that appeals to this crowd is the loud-mouthed claim of being revolutionary with emphasis on the “u”; and their conception of the revolutionary spirit consists in a readiness to upset anything that stands in the way of S. L. P. supremacy, even to the repudiation of reasonable rules made by the former convention, which are certainly worthy of observance until such time as the present convention adopts others to take their place.
On the 22d the question of seating the delegate from the Housesmiths’ and Bridgemen’s union, of New York City, was considered, and the delegate, Daniel McKinnon, was seated. While this question was pending, DeLeon continually badgered the chair with motions to no purpose and appeals to the house from the chair’s decisions that served only to intensify the feeling of irritation. Two delegates, one from Pittsburg and another from Chicago, refused to take further part in the convention, and withdrew.
When the convention, which had been for several days in committee of the whole for the purpose of considering contests, rose and reported to the convention, McMullen, of the Western Federation of Miners, inquired whether the contestants whom the committee of the whole had recommended as eligible to seats in the convention would have a vote on the motion to concur. The chair decided that they would; whereupon McMullen appealed from the decision of the chair, insisting that such a ruling would give contested delegates a vote on seating themselves; but the chair was sustained, and the motion to concur, after lengthy and useless debate, was carried.
Waste Time in Wrangling.
An attempt was made Saturday afternoon to have committees on rules and order of business, constitution, resolutions, and a special committee to investigate the status of locals in the Transportation Department, appointed so they could meet Sunday and be ready to report Monday morning; but the time was consumed in wrangling until adjournment was taken to Sunday morning.
On Sunday morning Deleon’s motion that committees on rules resolutions and the Transportation Department be appointed by the chair with the consent of the house, and that the committee on constitution be elected from the floor, was taken up and carried. The following committees were appointed by President Sherman: Rule and order of business, E. R. McDonald, Geo. Abbott and W. J. Hammaman; resolutions, Max Hendricks, Paul Augustine, Wm. Cleo, Albert Ryan and Albert Linkenfelder; special committee on status of locals in the Transportation Department, Daniel DeLeon, Vincent St. John and C. H. Duncan.
At this point DeLeon coolly unmasked his guns and gave the convention to understand that there was a minority and a majority faction on the floor, and that he represented the majority; and that the appointments of the president were not pleasing to him, inasmuch as they contained too many from the minority side. He insisted that McDonald was incompetent to serve on the committee on rules, notwithstanding the fact that he is mayor of the city of Rossland, B. C.; besides he was of the “minority”, which means that he does not worship at the shrine of DeLeon. He also objected to allowing Hammaman to serve on the same committee, because he also was guilty of the crime of sympathizing more with the “minority” than with the boss of the infallible majority; and he moved that McDonald’s and Hammaman’s names be stricken from the list and the names of Fox and Cleese substituted. This demand that Fox be given the first place on the committee instead of McDonald, because of McDonald’s alleged incompetency, is the more remarkable from the fact that Fox had already made as many bad breaks on the floor as the average delegate and had certainly shown no particular knowledge of parliamentary affairs. But the motion was carried by “majority” vote.
DeLeon Over-reaches Himself.
Then DeLeon objected to Max Hendricks being at the head of the committee on resolutions, and moved that Augustine be made its chairman, not-withstanding the well-known fact that fairness and custom give the committees from deliberate bodies the right to organize themselves and choose their own officers. Of course Augustine was of the “majority”, which explains the purpose of the motion. But Delegate Petrielli drew the attention of the convention to the situation by moving as an amendment that Albert Ryan of the Western Federation of Miners be made chairman of the committee, whereupon DeLeon got busy trying to withdraw his motion. DeLeon finally move to table his own motion, which carried, of course, by the vote of the “majority”.
Then DeLeon moved that the name of Fox be substituted for his own, modestly pleading his incompetence for service on that particular committee. The change was ordered by common consent. Vincent St. John declined to serve on the committee, and the name of Parks was substituted by common consent.
Deleon then moved that six members of a committee on constitution be elected; and, that the musicians, when seated, be allowed to select another member, making a committee to consist of seven members. After a long wrangle the motion prevailed, and the convention elected as members of the committee, J. J. Kinnelly, Vincent St. John, A. Michaele, D. McKinnon and E. J. Foote.
The delegate from Montreal, Canada, local which was not in good standing was given a seat and vote with the understanding that his local would settle its indebtedness to the general office immediately upon his return home. The delegates from the locals in the musicians sub-division of the Public Service Department were seated with votes to be determined by investigation of the membership in good standing in their several locals. For the third time the question of having the convention stenographically reported and the minutes printed came up, and the secretary was instructed today, after the convention has been in session a week, to secure the stenographer.
Delegate Mrs. Speer, of Grand Junction, Colo., was called home yesterday, and the request was made through another delegate that Delegate Veal be permitted to cast her vote in her absence. The request was denied, and the secretary was instructed to notify all locals whose delegates had withdrawn.
In the Grip of the Boss.
When the convention assembled after the noon hour today it was evident that the Industrial Workers of the World was, for the time being, in the hands of the S. T. & L. A. element of which DeLeon is the boss. Unless the western delegates arise to the situation and set this foxy leader back to where his real following and importance entitle him, the history of the I. W. W. can be only a repetition of threat of the Socialist Labor Party and Socialist Trade and Labor Alliance, already wrecked by DeLeonism and perpetuated only by amalgamation with the new elements that make up the real strength of the I. W. W.
The Industrial Workers of the World is on trial before itself. A disgusted delegate remarked today: “These men are trying to organize the industries of the world, and are unable to organize themselves.” The reason for this condition so aptly stated is not hard to find. DeLeon and his fanatical followers, whether consciously or unconsciously, have worked themselves into a frame of mind bordering on, if not identical with, anarchy. They are disorganizers rather than organizers. They respect no law or regulation-not even the rules made by themselves. They pride themselves on being r-e-v-o-l-u-t-i-o-n-a-r-y, and interpret the revolutionary spirit as a contempt for agreements, regulations, parliamentary rules and political action.
They Repel Affiliation.
So long as this spirit of “to hell with the constitution”, as expressed by one of them, dominates the I. W. W., the logical thing for Socialists to do is to waste no energy on such an impossible organization but to center all their energy on the political propaganda. There are few Socialists who do not believe in the real revolutionary principles of industrial unionism; but no principle can be advanced where the situation is controlled by an element that delights in tearing down everything and in building up nothing.
Previous to the convention it was predicted by many that the delegates from the Western Federation of Miners which is a genuine labor organization would go into the convention and remove the disrupptionists, root and branch. A. M. Simons, editor of the International Socialist Review, a believer in industrial unionism and one who helped to form the first I. W. W. organization pointed out the desirability of such a course in the August number of his publication. Even if not prepared or willing to go to that end, DeLeon should have been given to understand that he is not the “majority” of which he boasts.
As it stands, DeLeon has the delegates from the Western Federation of Miners divided and the whole convention whipped to a stand-still. The APPEAL has taken no part in the controversy between Socialist members of the I. W. W. and the A. F. L. The writer came to Chicago, wholly unprejudiced, to estimate the worth of the new organization, and found that its growth, as reported by the national secretary, was all that could be desired; but, contrary to the reasonable expectations of impartial and friendly investigators, it not only has failed to do its most important work of housecleaning, but has actually placed in control an individual backed by an element that is antagonistic to any organization of any kind.
Such Leaders Are Perilous.
The revolutionist who rebels against the institutions of the capitalist system and works consistently for the establishment of the Co-operative Commonwealth is worthy of Socialist support; but the so-called revolutionist who rebels against everything but his own sweet will or the dicta of an irresponsible leader is a good man to leave very much alone, and especially is this the case when by unquestioned ability backed with questionable means he assumes the leadership. Socialism is for the working class-both organized and unorganized; and, while the Socialist movement is bound by its principles to befriend any organization of workingmen that bears the brunt of battle in the war of the classes, it cannot afford to be led into a trap set by anyone who professes devotion to industrial unionism but seeks to control organized labor through a mob of disrupting anarchists. Down with DeLeonism; up with Socialism!
[Photograph added.]
SOURCE
Appeal to Reason
(Girard, Kansas)
-Oct 6, 1906
https://www.newspapers.com/image/66994554/
IMAGE
Daniel De Leon (1852-1914), in 1902
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Daniel_De_Leon
See also:
Proceedings of the Second Annual Convention
-of the Industrial Workers of the World
Chicago, Illinois, Sept 17-Oct 3, 1906
IWW, 1906
(Search with both: DeLeon, De Leon)
https://books.google.com/books?id=vQlQAAAAYAAJ
Socialist Labor Party
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Socialist_Labor_Party_of_America
Socialist Trade and Labor Alliance
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Socialist_Labor_Party_of_America#The_Socialist_Trade_and_Labor_Alliance
The I. W. W.: A Study of American Syndicalism, Volume 83
-by Paul Frederick Brissenden
Columbia University, 1919
https://books.google.com/books?id=4QkAAAAAYAAJ
Chapter V. The Coup of the “Proletarian Rabble” (1906)
https://books.google.com/books/reader?id=4QkAAAAAYAAJ&printsec=frontcover&output=reader&source=gbs_atb&pg=GBS.PA136
There Is Power in the Union
Lyrics by Joe Hill
http://www.folkarchive.de/power.html