Page:American Syndicalism (Brooks 1913).djvu/173

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VIOLENCE
161

ganization to make good in their use. The question of 'right' and 'wrong' does not concern us." This removes all obscurity as to methods and their justification. Capital now has the power. It is the task of labor to get that power for itself. It is to take it from capitalists by direct action, sabotage, boycott, and the cumulative strike. The I. W. W. organs are now having rare sport over "trade union contortions" to explain the conviction and jailing of so many of its members.

Editorially Solidarity[1] thus comments:

"Doubtless all the owls of capitalism and 'political socialism,' (and especially the latter,) will labor and bring forth tedious dissertations on the 'folly of violence in conflicts between capital and labor.' We opine, however, that the I. W. W. will decline to join in this unholy medley of condemnation. Assuming that these men were really guilty of the 'jobs' charged against them, we may question the expediency of their methods, but we cannot question the sincerity of men who will stake their lives and liberty in behalf of their union. Indeed, we can only view the actions of these men as another incident in the class struggle—not perhaps as that struggle appears to fifth-story editors, lawyers and other saviours of the working class; but as it is viewed by the sturdy men who risk their lives daily that gigantic structures necessary to civilization may be put in place."

To those who fear only that the cause of labor may come into disrepute because of dynamite methods, the editor continues:

  1. Jan. 4, 1912.