As I sat in the hot, stuffy, smoky room of the convention hall day after day and heard the discussions, and saw how little regard the delegates had for grammar and the truth, and realized that most of the delegates knew as much about the real labor movement as they did about psychology, and that they cared little about the broad principles of freedom, ... I marvelled at the big things the I. W. W. have done during their short career; ... and I said to myself,—"God! Is it possible that this bunch of pork-chop philosophers, agitators who have no real, great organizing ability or creative brain power, are able to frighten the capitalistic class more than any other labor movement organized in America? Is it true that this body of politicians were able to send 5,000 men to jail in the various free-speech fights?... Are these the men who put a song in the mouth and a sense of solidarity in the heart of the hobo? Are the activities of these men forcing the A. F. of L. and the sociologists to recognize the power and necessity of Industrial Unionism?" And as I looked at the delegates and recounted their various activities, I felt that each one could say, "Yes, I'm the guy." And then I wondered how they did it.[639]
The I. W. W. was by this time developing some slight capacity for introspection. A few of the leaders at any rate clearly understood some of the weaknesses of the organization. The editor of the official organ makes the frank admission that "at present we are to the labor movement what the high diver is to the circus—a sensation marvelous and nerve-thrilling. We attract the crowds ... [but] as far as making industrial unionism fit the every-day life of the worker, we have failed miserably."[640]
FOOTNOTES:
[596] E. Pouget, La confédération générale du travail (2nd ed.), p. 47.
[597] "As to my candidacy," Industrial Worker (II), Nov. 2, 1911.
[598] The Syndicalist (London), March, 1913.
[599] Vol. xiv, p. 394 (Jan., 1914).
[600] "An appeal for industrial solidarity." International Socialist Review, March, 1914, vol. xiv, p. 546.