International May Day and American Labor Day

iCt;

M Weekiy People OFFICIAL ORGAN OF THE SOCIALISTOLABOR PARTY OF AMERICA

OFFICIAL ORGAN SOCIALIST LABOR PARTY International May Day

. . and . .

A revolutionary Socialist journal. Dedicated to the idea that American Labor Day the emancipation of the working class must be the class-con- BY scious work of that class. The WEEKLY PEOPLE teaches BORIS REINSTEIN that a political victory of the working class is "moonshine"

unless the might -f the workers in the shape of a revolutiona-

ry industrial union is behind that victory. It teaches further that the organization of the working class can not be accom- plished by dragging the revolutionary movement into the rat- A HOLIDAY holes of anarchists and "pure and simple" physical forcists Expressing Working Class Emancipation generally. The WEEKLY PEOPLE ruthlessly exposes the Versus scheming "pure and simple" politician as well as the "pure A HOLIDAY and simple" physical forcist. In doing this it at the same time Exalting Labor's Chains time imparts sound information regarding Marxian or scien-

tific Socialism. It is a journal which, read a few times, be- comes indispensable.

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45 Rose Street, New York City

Weekly People, 45 Rose St., New York City. AMERICAN LABOR DAY

of political powers in the hands of an oligarchy, small in numbers, and finally in the person of a single individual, the political autocrat, while on the other hand the masses of the people were concentrating in the camp of the po- PREFACE. litically disfranchised and disinherited. In Prance, for instance, after a struggle running through a long series of During the period in History that the present generation generations, concentrating the political powers in fewer is going through the struggle for supremacy between and fewer hands, the point of autocracy was finally [Capital and Labor is occupying a more and more prominent reached. The former "peers" were reduced to the position position at the front of the stage. Here in America the material of mere dependents and hangers-on at the court of the conditions necessary for the triumph of Labor in this struggle,— autocrat; the mass of the people, politically absolutely dis- for the realization of Socialism—are by inherited, could only bend, its neck, and the autocrat, Louis far more ripe than in any other country. The old XIV, with boots and spurs on and whip in hand, could system of wealth production in small shops, !" With crude proclaim haughtily and defiantly, "l'etat c'est moi (The tools, by the application of the labor of one, government, it is two or a I!) and could sway the destinies of the handful of workers, is practically extinct. Through nation with the stroke of his pen. the use of up-to-date improved machinery, through co-operation From this point it was only a comparatively short step to of thousands and sometimes tens of thousands of the point when the millions of "subjects of the autocrat," workers employed by one concern, and the consequent concentrated in the camp of the disinherited, realized that subdivision and specialization of labor en- hancing they had only one head to chop off, and did literally chop its productivity; through capitalist concentration and amalgamation it off in the person of Louis XVI, in order to assert their of individual concerns into corpora- tions and trusts, eliminating rights by establishing the political democratic republic. waste of labor incidental to competition and anarchy Similarly in the realm of economic development. The in production, through all that the productivity difference only is that in enlightened of labor became plentiful to the point' of this age, with the being marvelous. modern press and other means of disseminating After centuries of struggle society at knowledge last has within and information all over the globe its grasp the means of assured, carefree in a few minutes, big- existence and untrammeled progress. ger strides along the path of progress are made within de* With" regard cades and years than were made formerly within centuries to the power of the political State and the political rights and generations. of the people the historical development of the civilized In this country, under the single generation, nations was along the lines of concentration eyes of a -

* INTERNATIONAL MAT DAT AMERICAN LABOR DAT 5 -—fixe present generation—a veritable Social Eevolution workmen and other dependents, whom the capitalists so has taken place. When the gray-haired men of to-day far have not succeeded in hitching up to the machinery in were young the overwhelming majority of inhabitants in their factories, constitutes already the overwhelming this country belonged to the property-holding class and majority of the entire population of the country. were consequently self-sustaining. They had some farm- Th« forces of social evolution have thus already created, ing, commercial, or industrial property. They did not as far at least as this country is concerned, that other in- have much but enough of it to be able to eke out a living dispensable factor for the success of the impending Social without being compelled to hunt for and beg some em- Eevolution. They have created that class, the proletariat, ployer for a job to save themselves from starvation. To- whose mission it is and which is strong enough to free day what remains of the independent farmers and middle itself and the whole of mankind from exploitation and class are hanging by the skin of their teeth to their little oppression by the capitalists, the master class of our time. property, the source of their "economic independence/' as While these forces o£ social evolution were thus de- they feel that property slipping through their hands. It composing the present social order, divorcing the wealth begins to dawn on them that even those of them who still producers from the sources of wealth-production, driving retain some business property are rapidly becoming mere the millions of these wealth producers into the camp, of dependents and hangers-on at the court of enthroned the proletariat, there was at the same time another process capital. of concentration going on, the concentration of the wealth But already a big percentage of formerly independent of the formerly independent American citizens in the American citizens and the sons and daughters of a still hands of a small number of gigantic capitalist concerns. bigger percentage of them, are found to be stripped of all Out of their ranks the industrial autocrat is to rise,—the income-bearing property, driven into and concentrated in "one head" that the disinherited millions are to "chop off' the camp of the proletariat, the propertyless wage-earn- — in order to come to their own by the institution of the ing class—towards which, like iron filings towards a power- Industrial Democratic Eepublic. ful magnet, are gravitating the rapidly increasing millions The rapid progress towards this stage of industrial of ruined, formerly independent citizens, the modern pro- autocracy was already marked, and not a few years ago at letariat. According to recently published figures^ to the that, by the historical YanderHlt exclamation, "The public camp of the wage-earning class belong now no less than be damned P—the modern version of Louis XIV's "The thirty-three and a half millions of men, women, and child- !" government, it is I <|r«B, mot younger than fifteen years of age. This gigantic Still more light on the progress made in that direction army, witK the little children, the wives of some of the under the very eyes of the present generation is threwn !

AMERICAN LABOR DAY $:' 6 INTERNATIONAL. MAY DAY realize they the by the figures which recently made the rounds of the daily millions of wage-slaves to that can have lives off from press. They deal with the growth of the volume of busi- power and must,—to save their own —throw Industrial ness and power wielded by one single capitalist concern, their necks the Iron Heel of modern Autocracy all these material con- the J. Pierpbnt Morgan banking firm in Wall Street, New In point of development of Eevolution, York. The figures show that the business capital of that ditions, as prerequisites for a successful Social America procession all nations. In concern alone, the stocks and bonds of all the innumer- leads the of modern one important respect, however, lags far behind able enterprises, commercial, industrial, etc., controlled by America the procession. It is with regard to the economic organiza- it represented the amount of $527,282,564. But that was tion labor, movement. 21 years ago, in 1892. Gigantic as this mass of capital of with regard to the labor union yet this strategically vital determining field is in was it was insignificant compared with the proportions it As and the possession of the reactionary forces the American reached in subsequent years. In 1897 it was $1,396,506,- of Federation of Labor, the organization that is doing all in 231; in 1902, $3,852,940,908, and in 1912 it was estimated to be $26,854,254,628. In other words, nearly TWENTY- its power to check the growth of Socialism in this country, SEVEN THOUSAND MILLION dollars of busi- to perpetuate the capitalist system of wage labor. ness capital are controlled by the one man at The supremacy of this organization in the economic field the head of this single concern, whose mere stroke of the labor movement- exercises upon the American work- of pen would suffice, if he saw fit, to turn the ing class, eagerly though that class is seeking its own eman- key in the lock of the door of thousands of fac- cipation, an influence which, in the political field likewise, tories and other business concerns where millions of prevents it from organizing and fighting on proper lines, workers must earn their daily bread. The lives of millions The baneful influence of the American Federation of of workers and of many more millions of members of their Labor thus threatens to render nought the otherwise ripe families actually depending upon the will and the whim material conditions, and to render abortive the impending

of a single individual! How much more is needed to Social Eevolution. complete the evolution, towards industrial autocracy, the Whether the coming crisis in the life of this nation wil gate to Industrial Democracy? The power of political result in the rearing of the Dome of Socialism and In dnstrial autocrats, of Czar Nicholas of Eussia, of Louis XIV of Democracy, or whether it will lead only to a mos< France, etc., is like that of children, compared with the stupendous slaughter of the working class, to the erection of economic power wielded by this colossus of Twentieth a "Caesar's Column," and to complete and hopeless sub- jugation of the masses depends largely on reorganization Century capitalism. It will not require, . it cannot require, of the union movement from the craft union basis of the centuries or generations for the thirty-three and a half 8 INTERNATIONAL MAY DAY American Federation of Labor to a correct and sound industrial union basis.

Unfortunately among the Socialists of America the educational work needed as a pre- vital importance of the MAY DAY AND LABOR DAY—A CONTRAST. requisite for the reorganization of the labor union move- too fre- ment of the land is very little recognized. Oflly The workers who are more or less familiar with the quently one meets Socialists who innocently assure them- Labor and Socialist Movement in this country and espe- selves and others that they "believe in industrial unionism" cially in European countries, often wonder why most and are "opposed to the A. F. of L." merely because they American workingmen celebrate "Labor Day" on the first try to hit back when Gompers attacks their party. The Monday of September instead of May Day, on the first of knowledge possessed by such Socialists as to the essential May. features of the A. F. of L. unionism, which mikes of that We shall endeavor, in this pamphlet, to give a sketch organization a veritable trap that holds the working masses of the difference in the character and effect of these two fast and helpless against the capitalist exploiters, is very holidays of Labor. indistinct. The literature, the press, the lectures, etc., that Except that both these holidays are dedicated to Labor mold the views of such Socialists avoid, for sundry reasons, and are primarily participated in by working people, there the dissecting and exposing of the dangerous features of is nothing in common between them. In fact, they con- craft unionism. As a rule, in the minds of such Socialists tradict and stand in opposition to each other, the same as there is only a vague idea that "there is something wrong the organized International Socialist and Labor Move- with the American Federation of Labor/' and they are ment, which established the May Day, contradicts in all mostly inclined to find that "wrong" in the opposition of essentials and stands in opposition to the American Federa- the A. F. of L. leaders to the political work of the So- tion of Labor,—the organization under whose auspices the cialists. Most of them are only too ready to forget and American Labor Day is celebrated. forgive the "mistakes" of that organization if it would created by a resolution adopted, upon only "leave the Socialists alone." May Day was the initiative of American Socialists, at the International It is to stimulate the study of the essential and distinct Socialist Congress held in Paris, France, in July, 1889. features of A. F. of L. craft unionism, and as a contibru- The resolution had for its prime object to get the working- tion towards that study that this pamphlet is offered to men of all countries, races, climes and nationalities, speak- the working class. ing all the innumerable languages of the earth, to celebrate BOEIS EEINSTEIK on the same fixed day their own holiday, and thus graphic- 10 INTERNATIONAL. MAY DAY AMERICAN LABOR DAY 11 ally to demonstrate to the world that, in spite of all the away. So was the Labor Day created by the political differences in language, nationality, etc., they are all mem- agents of the American capitalists to fan the sleeping- bers of the same class, the proletariat,—the propertyless giant, the American working class, while the capitalists wage-earning class—that their interests are the same and, are sucking its blood. like members of the same family, they stand for the « American Labor Day can also be considered as a "Workers^ Brotherhood, International Solidarity and Uni- modern, capitalist version of the ancient custom of the versal Peace. days of serfdom and slavery. : In those days the masters, May Day was thus created by the workingmen them- for recreation and amusement, often-times set aside one selves, in defiance of the capitalist class and its govern- day to celebrate the "environment of slaves.*' They would ments, and up to the present people in time the working take a slave, take the chains off his limbs, put him on a many countries are compelled on the First of May to fight mock throne, put a mock crown on his head and, bowing for their holiday at the sacrifice of their jobs, liberty, to him in mock humility and obedience, would humbly blood, and even life. When the police and cossacks of dif- serve him and overwhelm him with flattery. And the Silly ferent countries appear on the scene on May Day it is Fool on the mock throne would throw out his chest and always for the purpose of clubbing, maiming, arresting, swell with pride. But the day of mockery over, the chains killing and working people; for the police and cossacks were again clapped on his limbs, and the miserable slave, recognize that May Day is the drilling day for the Social groaning, would resume his life of a beast of burden. Eevolution. Likewise with the unawakened American workman on The American Labor Day, on the contrary, was a "gift" Labor Day. On that day the chains of wage-slavery are, which the workers received from their masters, the capital- figuratively speaking, taken off his limbs; he is made the ists, through the capitalist politicians. That first Monday hero of the day; his masters, the capitalists, stand before in the month of September was made a legal holiday un- him in mock humility; their spokesmen in the press, pul- der the name of Labor Day, at first by the legislature of pit and on their political platforms, overwhelm him with one state some thirty years ago; the politicians of other flattery; and the modern Silly Fool, likewise, throws out states followed the clever example, so that at present Labor his chest and swells with pride. But, the day of mockery Day is a legal holiday all over the country. and of the Fool's Paradise over, the masters,—who during A vampire, when he settles down upon the body of a this day are only slyly smiling—break out into sardonic sleeping person and sucks its blood, is known to fan his laughter—though unheard by the slave—clap the chains victim with his wings, to soothe the victim's pain, and to back on his limbs and he again hears only the crack of the prevent from waking him up and driving the vampire whip of Hunger and Slavery. 12 INTERNATIONAL. MAY DAY

It is only natural, therefore, that when the capitalist masters AMERICAN . send out on Labor Day their hired bodyguard— LABOR DAY the secure immediate relief, police and militia—they send them not to molest or respond to its luring call and flock io its banner. The injure the workingmen, but to march, as honorary escort gathered masses are then cut up into innumerable at the head of their Labor Day parades. "independent and autonomous" craft di- visions. They are taught to respect the claim And why shouldn't they? Don't they know that the of "Brother Capital" and to be guided in their actions American Labor Day is only a day for the annual injection not by the consideration of solidarity and identity cf a new dose of narcotic "dope," of the antidote against of interests of all workers of the the Social Revolution?! world, not even of those of the working class of America, not even of those of the American work- What, indeed, is the keynote to the speeches delivered ers belonging to the same craft, but merely by the con- at Labor Day gatherings in America by the capitalist po- sideration of the interests of their personal jobs. liticians, clergymen and professional "labor-lieutenants" Accordingly, . to monopolize of the their jobs they proclaim capitalist class—the Gomperses, the Mitchells, the; the principle of Duncans, "America for Americans," and try to build the O'Cormells, the Lennons, etc.? It is the a Great Chinese biggest Wall around America by means of re- Lie of the Age, the lie that wealth is the joint pro- actionary anti-immigration duct of Brother laws and, in the meanwhile, Capital and Brother Labor, that is, of the build innumerable small Chinese walls around capitalist class and of the working class; that the their unions interests by means of high, often prohibitive, initiation of both are identical or reciprocal, that the two can and fees, dues and assessments; apprenticeship rules, catchy, tripping should live in harmony, peace and brotherhood with each examinations of applicants for other, and membership ; system of that the aim of the Labor Movement is to main- "closing books" to all new applicants; forcing tain indefinitely that harmonious equilibrium, and thus "trouble- some" members out of the union and jobs by unjust perpetuate the capitalist wage system by securing for the and excessive fines, etc. workers "a fair day's pay for a fair day's work" by means It is again only natural that labor "unions" of an "equitable division" of that "joint product of Brother of this type, built upon the principle Capital and Brother Labor." of CLASS PEACE instead of CLASS STRUGGLE, discard the up-to-date ammuni- Craft Union "Organization" tion from the arsenal and Spirit. of modern social warfare and per- For sistently train their this purpose the American Federation of Labor— armies of "organized labor" to use the the celebrant worse than worthless wooden, of .Labor Day—gathers the masses of the swords and wooden bullets workers, of conciliation, mediation who in their blindness, ignorance and anxietv to and arbitration. Every careful observer of the American Labor Movement knows that the only effect of these weapons always was to break the 14 INTERNATIONAL. MAY DAT AMERICAN LABOR DAY 15 Labor aroused fighting spirit of the workers,; to lead the elec- Day plays a considerable part in the politics of the tricity of the social storm into the ground; to make work- country no person familiar with the question can deny. ers lose the advantageous position and opportune momenta It must be remembered that America is a county where for most securing substantial gains; to put them;, broken in of. the workingmen, and now a rapidly growing num- power and demoralized in spirit, at the mercy of their ber of working women, have a right to vote, and, as the masters, and to give their false loaders the opportunity working class—in America, of all countries—is the class they so much crave for "settling the strike" and, feather- to which — the overwhelming majority of the people belong, ing their own nests financially, politically, or both. no politician can get his fingers into the public pie, and the capitalist Likewise is it only in keeping with this spirit and char- class cannot secure the control over the powers acter of the heroine of Labor Day, the American Federa- of government they need so badly, without employing some means tion of Labor, that much of its time and energy is spent in of fooling the working people out of their fratricidal jurisdiction fights, fights over the question votes. whether it should be the exclusive privilege of this, American Labor that or Day is one of the institutions that is the other union to control certain made to serve kinds of jobs. that purpose, too. The capitalist politicians have These jurisdiction fights, together with the system of conveniently fixed it for the early part of September, about two agreements and contracts concluded by separate craft months before Election Day, the season when the unions with the employers, without consideration of the politicians make or prepare to make their nominations of candidates. interests of the other unions, and of the welfare of the The big gatherings of union men, voters, at Labor Day labor movement generally,—contracts by means of which parades, mass meetings and picnics, supply splendid opportunities the members of the contracting unions are delivered over for advertising the candidacy of some capitalist to the employers tied hand and foot and deprived even of politician claiming to be a "friend of Labors They the right to strike,—lead in innumerable cases to acts of give the false and treacherous leaders of the unions a chance, betrayal and even of direct scabbing of members cf one in expectation of good reward, to render these politicians union against those of another. a good service by securing them as speakers at these gatherings, and otherwise advertising Labor Day and Politics. them. They also give these false and ambitious union If the American Labor Day does not represent real leaders a chance to boost their own stock on the political unity and solidarity of the workers in their immediate field market by demonstrating to the politicians what a big the economic field crowd of — —what wonder that it represents the voters the leader can influence for the one or the same disruption and betrayal in the political field? That other political party of capitalism. It is in this respect —

16 INTERNATIONAL MAY DAY AMERICAN LABOR DAY 17 both surprising and amusing how easily the labor fakers succeed in advertising their value on the political market bluff and swindle at this game the politicians, who are or who render valuable services to capitalists, is to have otherwise supposed to be such shrewd men. them supplied with good political jobs. Not to mention smaller in- It is therefore not an accident only that at most, if not instances of local character, few of the many at all of the Labor Day gatherings, prominent politicians stances of prominent appointments could be cited as illus- are invited to speak, and that those parades generally lead trations. the mass of the workers past the City Hall other such Ex-President Taft, following the example of his pre- and , buildings, from the windows of which the politicians re- decessors, as soon as he assumed power, appointed a "labor- view the parade and flatteringly cheer the tramping hosts leader," Daniel O'Keefe, of the Longshoremen's Union, to of poor, deluded workers. What is needed to reveal the the office of Federal Commissioner of Immigration, with a true political significance of the performance is that the fat salary and fatter emoluments. President Wilson union leaders,—hungry for political jobs or nominations appointed two prominent "labor leaders" to positions should order a big banner carried in the parade bearing an on the Federal Commission on Industrial Relations—they were: John B. Lennon, of the Journeymen Tailors', an inscription about as follows : "Look, gentlemen-politic- anti-Socialist ians! See what a big herd of voting cattle we have this and member of the National Executive Com- mittee of the capitalist organization, known as the "Na- time to sell ! Now, what are you going to bid for them ? tional What nominations will you give to us, the leaders; what Civic Federation/' and James O'Connell, of the In- ternational Association of Machinists, also appointments to political jobs will you promise to us if we and a member of the National Executive deliver the votes of this herd to you ?" Committee of the reactionary "Militia of Christ," organized by the Roman-Catholic Judas Reward of "Labor Leaders". political machine to fight Socialism. The Commissioners And the result generally is that the politicians gen- are paid more than liberally by the Government. erally conclude, in order to insure the success of their capitalist parties, to bait their political hooks with some Case of Secretary of Labor, Wm. B. Wilson. prominent "union leaders" whom they nominate for some The United Mine Workers have among their leaders in insignificant office on their tickets, and the mass of deluded Pennsylvania a certain William B. Wilson. He soon be- workers, out of misplaced loyalty to their brother-union came a proprietor in the mining business, but retained man, swallow bait, hook and all, dividing their forces be- membership and leadership in the miners' union. That tween the leading capitalist parties. helped him to get nominations on capitalist tickets, and

Another form of rewarding the union leaders, who he was thus elected Congressman on such a ticke.t. In the 18 INTERNATIONAL MAY DAY AMERICAN LABOR DAY 19 y? the Congress in Washington he became the leader of the want to be expelled from the union, and lose his value to

so-called Labor Group, that is, of other such Congressmen the capitalists, to give up that job and get out of the de- with union cards in their pockets, upon several of whom bauched and debauching Civic Federation. Poor John, Col. Mulhall has since cast considerable light. When agi- shedding the tears of sacrifice and martyrdom, left the tation- was begun to create the Department of Labor as a Civic Federation. But he did not like to remain long in new department of "the Federal Government, with a seat the ranks of the "unemployed." Though even during the for the Secretary of Labor in the Cabinet of the President period when he had no "steady job" he was "turning an of United States, President Gompers and other leaders of honest penny" lecturing all over the country as the apostle the American Federation of Labor began to agitate that of Peace between Capital and Labor, charging good admis- "our Bill," Mr. William B. Wilson, should be given the job sion fees to his lectures, having the railroads run special and the power of Secretary of Labor. Accordingly, when excursion trains to the towns where he lectured, etc., he the Department of Labor was created and President was still yearning for a steady position. Woodrow Wilson assumed power, he immediately gave to Finally the Democratic capitalist Governor Sulzer of "our Bill" the job of Secretary of Labor, with a salary of New York, believing that such virtuous men must be re- $12,000 a year, and power to distribute a large number of warded properly, and anxious to boost his own political good political jobs to his friends. One of the first things stock by demonstrating his appreciation of the services of William B. Wilson did when he became Secretary of Labor the Labor Leaders, took upon himself to champion the was to give to the son of Samuel Gompers one of the best cause of John Mitchell's career. There is in New York jobs at his disposal. It was thus a complete case of one State a good paying political office known as Commissioner hand washing the other. of Labor. Its chief and real function is to act as peace- maker whenever Brother Capital and Brother Labor are John Mitchell Case. engaged in any of their interminable scraps. When the Take again the case of John Mitchell, the former Tammany Hall politician Dix was Governor he gave that

e President of the United Mine Workers and still a national job to a labor" politician Williams, who boasts of car- leader of that organization. He is likewise a member of rying in his pocket the membership card of the Carpen- the National Executive Committee of the anti-Socialist ters' Union. Williams' term recently expired, and Gover- "Militia of Christ." He belonged to the National Civic nor Sulzer, Dix's successor, seized the opportunity for Federation too, and held there a job of "settling" big playing "labor politics," He appointed John Mitchell to strikes for which he received $6,000 a year salary. But the the position of Commissioner of Labor at an increased union miners woke up and compelled him, if he did not salary, bringing it up to $8,000 a year. But here he struck AMERICAN LABOR 'DAY 21 20 INTERNATIONAL MAY DAY would distribute among his labor leader friends the many a snag. Such a fat job was bound: to make the mouth other jobs at his disposal, but—"there is many a slip 'twixt water not of Mitchell alone. Mitchell is not the only the cup and the lip/' as poor Sulzer and Mitchell learned Labor Leader on the political market. There are other to their sorrow. politicians, among Labor Leaders and otherwise, who The State Comptroller, who is responsible for the pay- would be glad to get hold of such a job, and besides, these ment of salaries to state official*, took the stand that he others are more partisan Democrats than. Mitchell is, and. had no right to authorize the payment of salaries to Mitch- Consequently, enjoy the support of the more strictly Demo- ell and his appointees on the ground that Governor cratic partisan members of the Senate of the State of New Sulzer had no legal right to appoint Mitchell without the York, who must ratify Governor Sulzer's appointments. consent of the State Senate, even if it was as a "matter of Accordingly the Senate refused to ratify the appointment emergency" during the recess of the Legislature. Attor- of Mitchell to the position. Sulzer sent to the Senate for ney-General Carmody of the State of New York took the the second time the appointment of Mitchell to the same same stand. The fight over poor Mitchell's job was taken position. The Senate again refused to ratify and therefrom stage to stage till it reached the highest court in the upon the legislature adjourned for the summer. Here, State, the Court of Appeals, which finally settled the fight thought Sulzer and Mitchell, was .their chance to put by deciding against Mitchell and Sulzer. If Mitchell lost through their deal. Since the term of Commissioner Wil- this fat job, it was only because of too strictly partisan liams had expired, and he was only holding over awaiting politics played in this case, because Mitchell was not strict the appointment of his successor, Sulzer, Mitchell, and enough a Democrat to suit the Democratic majority in the Williams put their heads together and hatched out a nice State Senate.. It was not opposed to him as "represent- little scheme. Williams put in his resignation from the ative of Labor." And there can be no doubt that Mitchell office to take place immediately. Governor Sulzer accepted will not remain long on the list of politically "un- it and, since a vacancy was thus created and the Legis- employed," that at the very first opportunity he will be lature was not in session, he, as a "matter of emergency," given a good fat political job. immediately appointed Mitchell to fill the -vacancy at 'a Oh, you can leave it to the capitalists, they know how salary of $8,000 a year. Mitchell, on the spot, took the to appreciate such friends of theirs, how to take care of oath of office. He then turned around and appointed Wil- such "labor lieutenants" of theirs, as the late capitalist liams to act as his first Deputy Commissioner of Labor, and leading politician Senator Mark Hanna called the at a salary of $5,000 a year. Everything appeared to be leaders of the American Federation of Labor. smooth ' sailing. Mitchell was already planning how he 22 INTERNATIONAL, MAY DAT AMERICAN LABOR DAY 23

Who ? Jim Lynch ? Case of James T. Lynch. ! Isn't he one of the most bitter, rabid enemies of Socialism? Isn't The latest instance of this policy he a member of the ^ of the capitalist poli- National ticians Executive Committees of both the National Civic occurred only a short time ago. When Governor Sulzer, Federation and of the Ultramontane Koman-Catholic of New York, was finally prevented by the Court "Militia of of Appeals Christ"? from rewarding his pet John Mitchell with "Beautiful! that fat job Now to his record in the struggles be- of State Commissioner of Labor, what did tween Capital and Labor, what is it?" he do ? He looked around in the market for other avail- Why, it can't be beat able "labor ! Lynch is the most prominent lieutenants/' and found a whole raft of them apostle of sanctity of standing in contracts between employers and em- line waiting for their political rewards and ployees, the most faithful ready to be watch-dog of the employers' in- "seduced" without much coaxing. His atten- terests and upholder of the tion was attracted employers' claim to the lion's to the big, towering, Taft-like figure of share of the wealth produced. James T. Lynch, He not only preaches it, of Syracuse, N. Y. Governor Sulzer be- but practices it with an iron hand. gan to do some figuring: When the Newspaper Solicitors' Union in "First—Has San Francisco, in 1910, was compelled Lynch enough of a following and in- to declare a boycott against fluence in the the publishers of a local capi- Labor Movement to be able to 'deliver the talist daily, and the goods/ boycott was endorsed and taken up by to influence his followers in favor of myself and the entire force of organized labor my Democratic party?" in that city, it was Lynch who telegraphed to them to stop Why yes, Jim that boycott, got Lynch is the International President of the International Presidents the International of Union Pressmen, Stereo- Typographical Union, one of the pillars types, etc., to send and similar telegrams, and finally suc- most influential leaders of the American Federation ceeded in breaking of Labor. that boycott with the aid of President Gompers himself. "Good! Next. How about his politics? Is he a good Again, enough Democrat? when the union pressmen were locked out Won't I have the trouble with him I by the newspaper had about Mitchell's appointment?" publishers in Chicago in 1912 and the Don't union stereotypers joined their fight worry! Lynch is a solid "a number one" Dem- to help them in the trouble and union ocrat. compositors of the I. T. U. intended to do likewise, it was Jim "Fine Now, what is Lynch who rushed to Chicago and ! his position in the Labor Move- by threats ment? Is he safe of withdrawing their charter compelled and sane? May be he is one of those the union compositors to radical, Socialistic Labor Leaders ?" stay in and scab it on union pressmen. The International President of the union stereo- !

24 INTERNATIONAL MAY DAY AMERICAN LABOR DAY 25 typers followed a similar policy, actually taking away the State Commissioner of Labor with yearly salary. charter of the an $8,000 union stereotypers who were struggling to- May God have mercy on the souls of the working people gether with the pressmen, and thus both he and Lynch of broke the New York State when James T. Lynch is in charge of light of the union men against the daily papers the in Chicago. Labor Bureau! Don't worry. Jim Lynch never hesitates to While handing out this political to break a strike plum Lynch, of union men when his and his friends', the Governor Sulzer, to make assurance doubly sure, gave to employers', interests are crossed. another "labor lieutenant," Charles J. Chase, leader of "That's bully ! Why, Lynch is even better than Mitch- union locomotive engineers, another good political job. He ell. Now, one more thing. Would he be willing 'to be made him insulted' member of an up-state Public Service Com- by the offer to him of a nice, juicy political job ?" Would V mission. he? Just try him! Wasn't he only a few weeks Many more such cases of "labor politics" could be ago fishing in Washington, D. C, for the appoint- cited, but the above will suffice ment to the federal to show the character of job of Public Printer ? He came very near landing the political fruits of the American Federation of Labor. that job, only it slipped off the hook as Mitchell's job And the Sun of Labor Day helps to ripen them in New York State slipped off. "It's 0. Iv." concluded the Governor, approached Jim Corrupting Influences. Lynch,— and discovered, or at least surmised, that he was The demoralizing and corrupting effect of the general the very man who was pulling the wires through his character and the whole atmosphere of the American friends, the politicians, to prevent the State Senate from Federation of Labor, the celebrant of the Labor Day, is ratifying Mitchell's appointment so that the job should go also seen in the matter of "controlling the jobs by the to him, Jim Lynch. The friendship between dogs ceases workers." One of the aims of the Labor Movement is to when a bone is thrown to them. The friendship and "soli- secure such changes in the run of things that "the workers darity" between "labor lieutenants" of the capitalist class should own their jobs." Well, some of the unions of the ceases, and they are ready to stab each other in the back, A. F. of L., bakers, printers, etc., have secured such a hold when a good job is at stake. As to the Governor, it made upon their trade in certain localities that they succeeded no difference to him who got the job, Mitchell, Lynch or in putting into anybody their contracts with the employers provi- else, so long as his political fences were thereby sions that the union mended. is to act as the employment agency So the upshot of it was that Jim Lynch who was for drawing the employer, and the latter, whenever he needs help, $3,500 yearly salary as President of the Inter- must take whomever national of its membership the union will send Typographical Union was named for New York to him. On the face of it it looks as though "the workers — !

26 INTERNATIONAL MAY DAY AMERICAN LABOR DAY 27 control their jobs/' a step to "the workers' owning their Day. These rag-time melodies and patriotic hymns send jobs/' In reality this "victory" is only an additional the cheer of joy and hope and triumph to the hearts of source of corruption in these unions. The actual power of capitalists and politicians. But to the ears of awakened distributing the jobs is in the hands of the business agent class-conscious wage slaves and revolutionists these tunes of the union and his hangers-on, or of the chairman of the are aspira- union chapel of the shop. This power to manipulate the worse than a funeral dirge for the hopes and tions of proletariat assignment of certain members of the union to more the Such is the true character, steady, easier and better paying jobs, and others, on the aim and spirit of the Amer- ican Federation contrary, as mere "subs" to jobs for only few hours or days of Labor under whose auspices Labor Day is celebrated. or for half-time jobs, or for harder and poorer paid jobs, inevitably leads in the selfish and corrupt atmosphere of the A. F. of L. unions to exactions of bribes by the leaders How Different the May Day! from the unemployed union members, to favoritism, to keeping of the "kickers" against leaders on the unemployed It is the awakened, intelligent, class-conscious Working lists or on bad jobs. This nicer upon the American Labor Class of the World that stands back of the May Day. In Movement has led even to the formation among the union America May Day is celebrated by the revolutionary So- printers, under the leadership of the above mentioned Jas. cialists in the political arena and, besides a few progressive T. Lynch, of a secret malodorous organization, known as locals of the American Federation of Labor, by the Indus- "Wahneta," within the International Typographical trial Workers of the World in the economic arena.* Union. The key-note to May Day is the greatest Truth of the Age, the solidarity of the working In view of the above features of the American Federa- class of the world and the struggle for the overthrow tion "unions,"—and they by no means exhaust the list of the capitalist class and its wage system. it is only natural that when the "hosts of Labor" are the Preamble marching in Labor Day parades they do not march to the As of the Industrial Workers ©f the World, one of the most compact utterances strains of the battle-hymn of the modern revolutionary of a revolu- proletariat,—the "International" or the "Marseillaise"— *The original Industrial Workers unless some misguided Socialists disgrace Socialism by of the World, formed in Chicago in 1905, and having at the time of this writing participating in such parades. ~No, it is to the tune of the its headquarters in Detroit, and not the Anarcho-indus- vulgar rag-time and of the stale, capitalist patriotic hymns trlalist "Chicago I. W. W", is meant in this and subse- that the "organized labor" forces are marching on Labor quent paragraphs, 28 INTERNATIONAL MAT DAT 29 tionary workers' AMERICAN LABOR. DAT organization, expresses it: Lessons Taught to Labor. "The working class and the employing class have nothing m common. There On May day, of all days, the men, women and children can be no peace so long as hunger and want are of the working class, whatever line of work they may be found among millions of working people and the few, who make engaged in in a given industry, are appealed to by indus- up the employing class have all the one compact union of good things of life. trial union representatives to form the industry, and all such industrial unions "Between these two classes the workers of a struggle must go on until all union of the working class. the toilers come together on to form one nation-wide the political, as well a8 on the taught that to accomplish this unification of industrial field, and take They are and hold that which they must be an open union; produce by their labor the labor forces the labor union a single that it is criminal and suicidal for labor to prevent "The rapid gathering of wealth and the centering of creed, color, nationality or Tace the management of wage-earner, whatever his industries into fewer and fewer hands a member of the make the trades may be, from becoming or remaining unions unable to cope with the ever- exclusion industry ; that, consequently, growing power of the employing union of his or her class, because the trades of any race or nationality what- unions foster a state laws against wage-earners of things which allows one set of assessments and dues, catchy workers to be pitted ever, high initiation fees, against another set of workers in the for membership, prac- «n* industry, thereby trade examinations of applicants helping defeat one another in wage "closing of union tically prohibitory apprenticeship rules, imposition "These books," driving of members from the union by sad conditions can be changed and the interests similar meas- * of unjust and excessive fines, that these and CkSS Uplldd nly ° h a * organization formed1! ? ? contrivances to prevent the forces of Labor m such a way that ures are only all its members in any one industry, country and throughout the world from or in all industries, throughout the if necessary, cease work their common interests. whenever a strike coming together to advance or lockout is on in any department there- a true, up- ol, thus making The workers are taught on May Day that an injury to one an injury to all" true that Fully to-date labor union must recognize that it is not m keeping with these basic principles are the and labor, in other sentiments wealth is the joint product of capital and ideas given utterance to at May Day cele- capitalist class and the working class whose brations, as are also words, of the the functions and the work of the be harmonized through "collective organizations, both claims can and should political and industrial, which unequi- methods of conciliation, mediation and vocally ranv der bargaining" and ™ the Bannep Qf the Intemational ^ arbitration. LABOE It must recognize that, on the contrary, 30 INTERNATIONA^ MAY DAY AMERICAN LABOR DAY 31 ALONE PEODUCES ALL WEALTH and TO LABOB itism, corruption and demoralization the membership of BELONGS ALL IT PRODUCES. the union must retain in its own hands and not entrust It must recognize that the employing class as a class in the hands of a leader or leaders the final power of of social parasites, has no. real claim to any part of the ordering or calling off strikes, control over distribution of wealth produced that the workers should be hound to jobs,, etc. respect. - The Goal—Emancipation. It must recognize that instead of the absurd aim of Organized into securing "a fair day's a compact body of workers of a whole pay for a fair day's work" the labor union movement industry and guided by the spirit of class solidarity the must aim to secure for the wealth pro- union ducers the opportunity at last will be free from suicidal jurisdiction fights to enjoy with their families every and be able particle of the wealth they to present a solid, united front against the helped to produce and all the common enemy, the capitalist benefits of a civilized society. class. A prominent feature It must recognize of May Day, distinguishing it that such a union, planted upon the from Labor Day, is also ground of the the recognition of the fact that class struggle instead of class peace, must, in order "knowledge is power/"' that education of the workers in to succeed, be militant in character, democratic true in conduct, and principles of the Labor Movement, is a vital thing. be guided in all its acts and utterances by That is the reason one never sees ignorant the spirit of brotherhood and treacherous and solidarity of the inter- politicians disgrace the Labor banner by speeches at May national working class. It follows therefrom that: Day meetings as they do at Labor Day gatherings. To preserve and develop its militant spirit the union As the key-note of May Day is UNITY of the working must leave the work of providing for sick benefits, death class with regard to international solidarity and industrial benefits and other such ambulance and insurance features union action so it represents the principles of united action to insurance companies, fraternal orders and other such of the workers in the political arena as well. On May Day organizations outside of the union proper; the working people are appealed The to to unite politically as a union must never conclude contracts or agree- class, as well as industrially. But they are appealed to ments with employers which in the least interfere with to stand and pull together politically not for 'the purpose the right of any member of the union to strike or deal of begging from the masters for political alms or to se- any blow at the employers whenever considerations of self- cure a political job for some "labor leader," but to protect preservation or of solidarity of the Labor Movement re- and secure what improvements may be possible under the quire it; present social system and prepare that material force— To protect itself against being sold the out, against favor- industrial organization of the working class—which is !

BANG: INTERNATIONAL MAY DAT GUSTAV necessary to secure the final emancipation of the working class. CRISES IN EUROPEAN Accordingly, while the Labor Day does not object to tiie yoke of capital being kept upon the neck of Labor indefinitely HISTORY and, at best, is emblematic of the attempt to have the yoke padded, the Petersen International May Day as even Translated by Arnold its battle hymn, the "International" expresses it-is a chal- lenge STUDENT OF to the capitalist class, A PAMPHLET WHICH EVERY is a demand upon them to sur- render, is an appeal to the AND ECONOMICS SHOULD POSSESS wage slave class of the world HISTORY to close their ranks, to rise and fight to secure their own crises in emancipation, better "As an economic interpretation of three important future for their children, to redeem perhaps one. of the best, considering tne human race. European history it is best the brevity of the work. Dr. Bang here employs to the May Day marshals the what forces for the impending Pro- advantage the Marxian key, ana succeeds in unravelling eamabon of Labor's usually appear to be mysteries or near- Independence- It to the average reader fa the harbinger mo- oi the Social Revolution mysteries. As the author explains in his introduction, the tive power of historical changes is to be found' in the econom- and ic basis of a given society, in the methods of production exchange peculiar to that society. To put it in this manner teaching that is, of course, to lay oneself open to the charge of the economic "basis, and nothing else, influences the histor ca'i processes. Dr. Bang, however, in the concrete examples chosen 'furnishes ample evidence to show that while that un- important doubtedly is the chief, and in the long run the really factor, the line cannot be drawn too sharply between qause and effect, seeing the effect frequently reacts upon the cause, stim-

ulating it and aiding in accelerating (or retarding temporarily, as the case may be) the historical process."—From the preface.

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