Page:Marcy (1919) The I. W. W. Convention.pdf/2

JULY, 1919     11 of Philadelphia; Axelrod, of the Metal and Machinery Workers, and many others.

Was it John Dewey who said that the highest type of man today is he who can best adapt himself to a new environment? We suppose this is true of men in any age. Certainly the I. W. W. as a revolutionary labor organization possesses this quality above all others, for its members have not only adapted themselves to the conditions imposed upon them by public officials during the past months of suppression and terrorism, but they have grown in the process.

Their papers have been suppressed; their editors have been sent to prison; their defense funds have been seized, their mail held up, destroyed; papers have been confiscated; organizers, officers, editors, active men have been sent to prison. But the members of the I. W. W. met the test and proved themselves. They merely adopted new methods and new tactics, tactics not of terrorism, as the newspapers would have us believe, but tactics and methods for reaching, educating and organizing the workers in the industries.

The reports showed that their papers have increased in number and circulation. The One Big Union Monthly has doubled its subscription list in three months. At the Convention it was decided that all periodicals should hereafter exchange mailing lists so that in the event of one being held up, its readers might be supplied by another.

The General Executive Board reported that there are at present fourteen Industrial Unions, two Local Unions and a general Recruiting Union with a membership of 35,000. Besides these there are now three new Unions, the "Oil-Workers' Industrial Union, the Coal Miners' Union, and the Fishery Workers' Union.

The Convention decided that while the authorities had made it almost impossible to carryon agitational and propaganda work from the soap-box and platform, the fruits of past work in this line and the effects of the war upon the workers themselves, had rendered this function unnecessary it). the future. It was decided to continue the methods adopted through war-time necessity. Every member of the I. W. W., no matter where or in what industry he might be employed, was to be regarded as a "job delegate," or what we would call a "job organizer," one who organizes while he works on the job. These job organizers receive no pay, but are empowered to receive new members into the organization, to give out due books and to collect dues.

The new "stationary delegates" are to be organizers in charge of headquarters, to which the migratory workers may go for literature, supplies, etc., etc. Naturally, they are paid men. What the Convention calls a "travelling delegate" is a paid member who carries "universal credentials," travels from job to job to consult with job delegates for the welfare of the organization. He may initiate a man into his· appropriate industrial union of the I. W. W. at any time or any place. It was the purpose of the delegates that every member of the I. W. W. should receive "universal credentials" if he desired them.

The Convention reaffirmed and amplified the old position of the I. W. W. on the question of Agreements, as follows: "Agreements. No part of the I. W. W. shall enter into any contract with an individual or corporation of employers binding the members to any of the following conditions:

"(a) Any agreement wherein any specified length of time is mentioned for the continuance of said agreement.

"(b) Any agreement wherein the membership is bound to give notice before making demands affecting hours, wages or shop conditions.

"(c) Any agreement wherein it is specified that the members shall work only for employers who belong to an association of employers.

"(d)Any agreement that proposes to regulate selling price of the product they are employed in making.

"(e) Any agreement entered into between the members of any Industrial Union or organization subordinate to the Industrial Workers of the World, and their employers, as a final settlement of any difficulty or trouble which may occur between them.

"(f) No Industrial Union or any part of the Industrial Workers of the WorId shall enter into any agreement with any labor organization contrary to the principles of the I. W. W."

The delegates maintained the old union position against entangling political affiliations, refusing "all alliances, direct or indirect, with existing political parties, or anti-political sects," etc. And it was unanimously voted that

"Any officer or employee of any part of the Industrial Workers of the World seen in public in a state of intoxication shall, upon sufficient proof, be at once removed from his position by the proper authority having jurisdiction over such officer or employe, and upon conviction, shall not be eligible to hold office in any part of the organization for two years thereafter. "

The position taken by the delegates on the power and purpose of the District Councils was a remarkably far-sighted one. The District are composed of delegates from local branches of several different industrial unions. The Convention refused to fix the powers and purpose of these Councils, it being the belief of the delegates that by serving and functioning in emergencies, the District Councils would become, or grow into, the· form best fitted to serve the working class in its struggles against Capitalism. The Recruiting Unions were reduced to the active work of feeding the industrial unions.

Formerly organization work was conducted through the General Office. In future unions will carry on this work themselves. Hereafter the Central Office will