at once began between the "revolutionary camp" and the "reactionaries," whereupon the revolutionists abolished the office of President, putting a revolutionist in the chair. A new executive board was elected and, on adjournment, "the old officials seized the general headquarters, and with the aid of detectives and police held the same, compelling the revolutionists to open up new offices."[1]
The third convention presented no new issue, but the fourth brought a split of more radical character in which we see the "political" pitted squarely against the "industrial socialist." It was this convention which produced the final and amended preamble, sharpening the issues between its own revolutionary method and all the halting processes that wait upon political action. Here the "general strike" of all the members in any industry or "in all industries if necessary" appears as the final resource in its assault on the wage system.
PREAMBLE
- ↑ In these beginnings, the man of widest popular influence—the "perpetual Socialist candidate" for President, Mr. Debs, was moved to say before a great audience in New York City:
"The revolutionary movement of the working class will date from the year 1905, from the organization of the Industrial Workers of the World. . . . The old form of unionism has long since fulfilled its mission and outlived its usefulness, and the hour has struck for a change."
Mr. Debs has since had his discipline with this body, but he strikes the note of antagonism to the ordinary trade union, of which we have not heard the last.
