Was there any party that came into power with their help of "swinging the labor vote" towards that party-that didn't betray their promises? Did they not find themselves at every election appealing to abor to turn out the elected traitors, only to put new ones in? We challenge this trio to prove to us workers, if the laboring Hlasses of this country has ever received any direct or indirect benefit from any government as a whole or a part, that was in power, or is unless by the threat of our real direct action weapon the General Strike. We forced them, or rather scared them into putting on their statute books, such laws as we have ready enforced by our economical power as producers on the economical field! Can this trio or any labor politician deny this great truth? How did the Railwaymen get the eight hour day By the Adamson law, or Supreme Court, or by their vonomical strength which forced the Supreme Court to declare "constitutional" that which the railwaymen themselves were just about to declare "constitutional" by the General Strike? When this trio appeals to the workers to throw out the l-trayers, we question their sincerity and honesty in doing so, for, none know it better than they do, that Governments exist for the purpose of helping capitalism to cleanse us workers f of our produced commodities, and no matter which of them ts in things will continue as they always have been, or, f the Socialists get in, we shall have to give away all of our produced commodities to the State (Government). We have a ¡articular right to question the honesty of Mr. Gompers when aly on June, 1920, he said at the Montreal convention: - "There never has yet existed any government, no matter how idealistic, but that it soon became a power of tyranny." No greater truth has ever been uttered by him, but if he lieves this to be the truth, then how can he as an honest man, day in and day out, to beg and barter with Government rials, or ask Labor to participate in the election of any governnt official when he considers every form of government, Tothing else but what it actually is, a "Power of tyranny?" Does not such action show a far worse hypocrisy and betrayal of Gompers and Co., who are supposed to be "our representaves" than of all the politicians of capitalism put together? The politicians are in the pay and service of capitalism, so we annot expect anything else from them, than to fool and betray , as long as we allow them to do it. But what right has this trio of labor "officialdom betray us still more at every election by telling us to turn oc: the old traitors, only to replace them with new ones? How evident, then, that it is not ignorance, but plain dishonesty that prompted them. W We, as Anarchists, appeal to you, men and women of America to stop, Reason and Think, about all this. It is not a questia of a change of new traitors in place of the old; that is the "paramount issue" of this or any other election, neither is it a question of wages or the cost of living, that is the issue. But it is a question of the whole present system of society that is based on wages and profits, supported by the force of Government, which is the only real issue of which no political candidate has ever dared or will ever dare to speak! We, the workers of the country, actually keep the life of the country going. Let us stop producing, and the life of the cour try stops. We, workers, have never gained nor ever will, a single beneficial thing by the participation of electing at? power of tyranny "-government officials. 66 The General Strike which has been the workers weapon hitherto - has now proved to be only of seeming value, since no actua benefits were ever really derived from it. For, no matter what gains we have achieved by our strikes, they were always broug down to no value, by the continued rise of Government taxations. and the increased cost of living. This should make us realize that something more essential must be done, if we are ever materially change our conditions for the better. The capitalist system is so well organized, that no matter whom you elect, or what we gain by strikes it amounts to nil. W: remain in the same destitute condition as before. The only way in which we can make an effective change is not by replacing old traitors with new ones, or by strikes, ba by eliminating both institutions that make way for traiters— capitalism and governments! These are the foundations of present system that must be crushed, destroyed and annih forever! It is a long, hard struggle, we know, but everything of value in the history of mankind has ever been difficult to atta Was the emancipation of the black slaves an easy task! Or vis our freedom from English domination easily gained! For rea Freedom everything is worth while. When at your union meetings, A. F. L., I. W. W. or any other labor organization, discuss the ways and means, not of how to "elect" traitors, but of how to abolish our economic and political slavery. We Anarchists propose, that the only way in which we can ever change our present system, is by Arising in a Social Revolution, and overthrowing the entire present state of society. How shall we do it? First of all, stop participating in any elections of government officials. Refuse to pay any taxes to them, and through and with our united revolutionary action -we should go and take possession of all warehouses, food and clothing stores in the country. If we can supply, with our labor, all the food and clothing stores for capitalism and governments, we shall surely be able to run them for the use of all those who will participate in the new society, the Anarchist Commune Society, based on Equality, Freedom, mutual cooperation, and the pursuits of happiness that is the right of every human being. Think about this workers! Let us all get ready for the great battle the battle of the Social Revolution! Meanwhile: Refuse to vote! Refuse to pay taxes! Refuse to listen to labor leaders. Revolt instead of vote! Issued by Anarchist Groups. NOTES ON SUB-SECTION III REVOLUTIONARY INDUSTRIAL UNIONISM Note on Chapter I. Industrial Workers of the World................ VI, VII-VIII. Amalgamated Clothing Workers of [1919] 1921 1972 |