A Rebel May Day – Industrial Worker (1909)

Birds, Martyrs and Traitors

Untitled brief articles from ‘Industrial Worker‘, April 29, 1909, Spokane

The birds sing on May Day — why shouldn’t they? They have their homes, and their families. They live naturally. Do you feel like singing, workingman, as you count the ties on the railroad, with your blankets on your back?

Let us not forget on May Day, Labor Day, to honor the memories of all our martyred dead, whose struggle, sufferings and death have made possible even the agitation for better things for the workers. Their memory is always living in the minds and hearts of the revolutionary army! Patriots? They were more! They were champions of the working class. Parsons, Fischer, Engel, Spies, Lingg — and still later, Pettibone. Ten thousand times ten thousand glorious martyrs who are still with us! Let their example give the lie to the coward who cries “the workers will not stick together.” These heroes suffered and died because the masters know only to well that the workers will stick together. Their names will be a perfume when their tormentors have rotted!

Seth Low, ex-president of Columbia University, is telling about how the Civic Federation is opposing socialism. “We are doing this at the request of labor leaders in the American Federation of Labor,” he says. This Civic Federation is the “harmony between laborers and capitalists” outfit, and like the A. F. of L., is run to chloroform the workers while they are being skinned by Brother Capital. Low also refers to “our army.” Yes! our army! which is for the purpose of keeping “our” brothers and fellow workers in slavery and to shoot down strikers. Gompers-Mitchell-Civic Federation! Judas Iscariot was a piker!

If you do not know what the I.W.W. is and what industrial union means, it’s a cinch that your boss does! The boss uses his brains to skin you and you are a sucker not to use your brains to keep from being skinned. The I.W.W. means more dinner and less work. Is this scientific?

The Rebel and His Day

From ‘Industrial Worker‘, April 29, 1909, Spokane

By Vincent St. John

Wherever the earth holds a rebel worker the first of May means much.

On this day, in every nation and land the radicals in the ranks of the workers gather to commemorate the struggles, victories and defeats of their class in the struggle for economic freedom.

On this day the rebel meets with his comrade and fellow worker in anticipation of the time to come when the workers will be masters of their own destiny.

To the membership of the Industrial Workers of the World, this day is sacred to the cause of labor.

Its observance calls for more than lip service.

It is a call to action!

In every land the workers’ condition grows steadily worse, the cares of life grow heavier and the problem of getting a living becomes more difficult day by day.

The age of the horseless carriage is also the age of the jobless, foodless worker.

The master class, surfeited wth power and plunder, grows more exacting and arrogant day by day.

From the unorganized, powerless, homeless and hungry workers the master class collects their toll.

To organize this army of the working class, is the task that confronts the members of the Industrial Workers of the World.

Not only to organize it but to drill and educate it, that it may use the power that lies dormant within its mighty ranks.

The American Federation of Labor is but a mockery and a sham.

Its high priests fawn and cringe in sychophantic servility at the feet of those who spurn and victimize its membership.

Its membership, disheartened and divided, are fast losing faith in their class and themselves.

Independent organizations are and must remain powerless to oppose the force of a world wide capitalist system.

The Industrial Workers of the World is the only organization in this country with working class principle that offers a plan of organization by which unity of purpose and power for action can be obtained.

To unite the workers in fact as well as in name; to educate them in their class interests; to waken again the spirit of revolt; to revive the courage and determination that in past battles has served to illuminate the dark pages of economic oppression.

To fight day by day the battle with the employing class, and to prepare our class to achieve its historic mission.

This is the task that the First of May bids the membership of the Industrial Workers of the World take up with renewed energy and determination.

This is the task that must be accomplished or our struggles must ever be in vain.

This is the work that is being done by the workers in the Industrial Workers of the World.

Away with outworn and useless organizations!

To the scrap pile with those who fawn at the feet of the employing class.

Turn to your class, fellow workers; put your faith in yourselves as a class.

Organize to advance the interest of your class.

Then will the International Day of Labor be devoted to the celebration of victory gained.

On with the battle! Agitate! Organize! Educate! The world is ours to gain.

“Workers of the World, unite! You have a world to gain!”