Development of A.W.I.U. 400
INCE THE beginning of the twentieth century there has always been a great rush of the migratory workers to the wheat fields of the Middle Western states. Many have gone in response to advertisements especially in the Eastern papers to the effect that big wages are being paid for the very commonest kind of work. Upon their arrival they usually found conditions to be of the very worst kind, long hours and small pay, instead of good wages, hours and conditions, as had been pictured to them.
The men were unorganized and therefore helpless until the Industrial Workers of the World came along and took the lead and organized the agricultural industry the same as many others.
Since the formation of the Industrial Workers of the World in 1905, much agitation had been carried on amongst the agricultural laborers, but it was not until the Agricultural Workers' Organization was chartered, April 21, 1915, that a real effort was made to organize the men following this line of work. The new organization proved a winner right from its inception, in spite of the fact that there were some who predicted dire failure and who were constantly raising the cry, "You cannot organize the harvest stiff."
While it is true that these few crepe-hangers were
