Book Description

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can usually download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1919 edition. Excerpt: ... course, the I. W. W. is most strongly entrenched in the unorganized extractive industries--lumber, agriculture, and construction work.2 In April, 1908, the General Executive Board issued an official call (printed in English. French, German and Italian) for the "First Convention of Textile Workers " to be held May 1, 1908, in Paterson, N. J. In this document the claim is made that "over 5,000 textile workers have already been organized into the Industrial Workers of the World...." J 1 Industrial Union Bulletin, Nov. 7, 1908, p. 1. Cf. appendix vi. During the eighteen months' period following the financial crisis of 1907 the I. W. W. almost entirely gave up its strike activities.4 Furthermore, the organization seemed to have secured no permanent foothold in those communities where it had been particularly militant and aggressive during the preceding year. Secretary Trautmann admitted this in his report to the Fourth Convention. "There is nothing left in Bridgeport.' he said. " nothing in Skowhegan, but in the 1 See Appendix iv, Table A. Professor Bamett's returns, however, indicate a net gain in membership from 1907 to 1909. (Quarterly Journal of Economics, August, 1916.) His f1gures, too. were secured from the I. W. W. general headquarters. The writer is not able to reconcile the two sets of figures. 2 Cf. appendix iv, Table B. 3 Industrial Union Bulletin, April 11. 1908, col. 1. In April, 1908, there was a strike of presumably I. VV. W. quarry workers at Marble, Colo. The I. W. W. papers reported that it was successful. There is also reported in August, a strike against reductions in wages by the French branch of the textile workers' local at Lawrence, Mass. Portland Oregon district the name of the I. W. W....