springs. The anarchy was increased by the fact that these labor unions, united in the Federation of Miners, were openly and aggressively socialistic. Many times I heard from members their contempt for Mr. Gompers and his Federation of Labor, because he worked with the employer instead of against him. In Teller County, I found union cards on which were printed these words: "Labor produces all wealth. Wealth belongs to the producer thereof."
There is an ominous significance in these two short sentences. If the word "labor" were largely interpreted to include all the energy, thought, direction, ability, and invention that go into the work of mining and its development, the sentence would be innocent enough. But if "labor" is held to mean the manual service of the wage-earning miner, and that alone, its meaning may spell disaster. If, as miner, I am made to believe that I am exclusively the producer of wealth, I shall feel myself defrauded if any part of it is withheld from me. What I produce and all that I produce is legitimately my own.
As the I. W. W. comes upon the scene, we are left in no doubt about their interpretation of these words. Very active in those mining troubles was one who is now National Secretary of the I. W. W. It is fair to let him state his case in his own way. In his pamphlet explaining the history, structure, and methods[1] he says, "There is but one bargain the I. W. W. will make with the employing class—Complete surrender of all control of industry to the organized workers." These
- ↑ Published by the I. W. W. Publishing Bureau, New Castle, Pa. P. O. Drawer 622.
