Advance," the official English organ, which is published at 31 Union square, New York City, and which circulates largely in New York State; the "Fortschritt," a weekly printed in Yiddish; the "Industrial Democracy," in Polish, and "Industrial Democracy," in Bohemian; "Rabochy Golos," in Russian, and "Il Lavoro," in Italian. For the circulation and character of the propaganda carried on in these periodicals see the section of this report dealing with newspapers. a CHAPTER VII The Amalgamated Textile Workers of America* An industrial union under the domination of the Socialist Party, and having a revolutionary objective is the Amalgamated Textile Workers of America. This organization is an outgrowth of the Lawrence, Mass., strike in 1919, which was promoted and assisted by the Amalgamated Clothing Workers of America. The relationship, therefore, between the organization which we now describe and that of the Amalgamated Clothing Workers of America is extremely close. The new organization took shape at a meeting held at Labor Temple, 14th street and Second avenue, New York City, on April 12, 1919, by a group of tex tile workers representing textile employees of Lawrence, Paterson, Passaic, Hudson County, N. J., and the New York Knit Goods Workers. In explaining the success of the new organization A. J. Muste, general secretary of the Amalgamated Textile Workers, says: "They were being advised and encouraged by the great Amalgamated Clothing Workers of America." (March 27, 1920, issue"The New Textile Worker.") The object of the organization is revealed in the article from which we have just quoted. Mr. Muste says: "And let us remember that the most fitting way to cele brate our anniversary is to dedicate ourselves anew to the glorious task of building One Big Union for the textile workers of America; a class conscious, honest, democratic, responsible and fighting organization; the Amalgamated Textile Workers of America. Everywhere a new day is dawning for the workers. We must do our share." The statement of principles contained in the preamble of the constitution adopted by this organization is practically identical with those of the Amalgamated Clothing Workers of America. It shows that the organization is based upon the class struggle; that it repudiates the conservative organizations of trade unions, and that the purpose of the organization is to bring about the seizure of the industry by the workers. It is in full harmony and accord with the principles advocated by the Socialist Party of America, as well as the more radical groups. *See Addendum, Part I. The preamble of the constitution is as follows: "The economic organization of Labor has been called into existence by the capitalist system of production, under which the division between the ruling class and the ruled class is based upon the ownership of the means of production. The class owning those means is the one that is ruling; the class that possess nothing but its labor power, which is always on the market as a commodity, is the one that is being ruled. "A constant and unceasing struggle is being waged between these two classes. "In this struggle, the economic organization of Labor, the union, is a natural weapon of offense and defense in the hands of the working class. "But in order to be efficient, and effectively serve its purpose, the union must in its structure correspond to the prevailing system of the organization of industry. "Modern industrial methods are very rapidly wiping out the old craft demarcations, and the resultant conditions dietate the organization of Labor along industrial lines. "The history of the Class Struggle in this country for the past two decades amply testifies to the ineffectiveness of the form, methods and spirit of craft unionism. It also shows how dearly the working class has paid for its failure. to keep apace with industrial development. "The working class must accept the principles of Industrial Unionism or it is doomed to impotence. "The same forces that have been making for Industrial Unionism are likewise making for a close inter-industrial alliance of the working class. "This inevitable process will ultimately lead to a uni versal working class organization, united along the entire line of the class struggle, economically and politically, instead of being split up and divided against itself, as it unfortunately is at present, under the antiquated teachings and methods. "For the consummation of this great end the education of the working class is most essential. This must, therefore, be a very important part of the mission of the Labor Movement. "Every oppressed class in history achieved its emancipation only upon its attaining economic supremacy. The same law operates also in the struggle between Capital and Labor. "The industrial and inter-industrial organization built upon the solid rock of clear knowledge and class consciousness will put the organized working class in actual control of the system of production, and the working class will then be ready to take possession of it." The headquarters of the organization is at 113 East 26th street, New York City. Its official organ is "The New Textile Worker," a weekly of which A. J. Muste, secretary of the organization, is editor; associate editor, Russell Palmer; general treasurer, Matthew Pluhar. The nature of the intellectual stimulus received by members of this organization is made clear by naming the speakers chosen for the mass meeting of New York Locals scheduled to be held on April 12, 1920, at Cooper Union, to celebrate the first anniversary of the Union's organization. They are Sidney Hillman, president of the Amalgamated Clothing Workers of America; Abraham Shiplacoff, Socialist Alderman of New York City; Arturo Giovannitti, an extreme radical with marked anarchistic tendencies; Scott Nearing of the Rand School of Social Science; Elizabeth Gurley Flynn, of the Workers' Defense Union; and Henry Jaeger, also of the Rand School of Social Science. Each of these speakers is thoroughly committed to the proposition of revolutionary action on the part of workers in order to overthrow the government as now constituted and substitute therefor the co-operative commonwealth. The general tactics employed by this organization in dealing with industrial disputes have been described in the preceding chapter dealing with the strike in Utica of August and September, 1919. The progress of organizing the union is illustrated by the number of locals which have taken headquarters. These are as follows: Allentown, Pa.- Room 11, Stiles Building, Hamilton street. Chicago, Ill.- Local One (Knit Goods), Local Two (Textile Trimming Workers), 1145 Blue Island avenue. Local Hudson County 347 West street, W. Hoboken, N. J. Local Lawrence, Mass.- 175 Essex street. New York, N. Y.- Greater New York Knit Goods Workers, 802 Broadway, Brooklyn. Textile Trimming Workers, 233 East 14th street, New York City. Local Passaic, N. J.- 52 Second street. Local Paterson, N. J.- 90 Market street. Philadelphia, Pa. Local One-(Cloth Workers) — 188 Dia mond street. Local Two (Knit Goods) -1202 Race street. Local Providence, R. I.— 1753 Westminster street. The following leaflet used in the campaign to recruit membership in this union illustrates the methods employed to approach prospective members, and in it can be observed the principles and policies for which the union stands: "TEXTILE WORKERS "The Amalgamated Textile Workers of America is the Union that is lining up all the textile workers of America, and there are a million of them, in one big organization. "It was organized April 12-13, 1919, in New York City, Lawrence, Paterson, Hudson County, N. J., Passaic and New York textile workers taking part in the first convention. "WE STAND FOR: "1. Democratic Control.- The rank and file rule in the A. T. W. of A., not officials. All officers are elected, all laws passed, by referendum vote. Final decisions in strike action rest, after consultation with the National office, with the Local membership. "2. Industrial Organization.- All the workers in the shop in one union, and not divided up into the old fashioned craft unions that cannot accomplish anything in these days of production on a large scale. "3. The freeing of the workers from exploitation and autocracy. We believe the workers are entitled to get all they earn. We believe that it is un-American that in indusdustry bosses should be czars and kaisers, and the workers have practically nothing to say about his job. |