The Deadly Parallel

_{Graphic from the Industrial Workers of the World magazine, the ‘Industrial Pioneer’, June 1925}

Table of Contents:

Warning: The Deadly Parallel
A Patriot
Frank Little on the Draft
Were You Drafted?

Warning

A poster and article contrasting the positions of the Industrial Workers of the World and American Federation of Labor on the First World War, with the article version appearing on the front cover of the IWW newspaper, ‘Solidarity‘, March 24, 1917, Chicago, Illinois (minus the “Warning” part of the poster’s headline), and later entered into evidence in the anti-IWW case, ‘United States vs. William D. Haywood, et al.‘, as well as the civil suit, ‘Michael Simmons vs. the El Paso and Southwestern Railroad Company’ (as noted by the University of Arizona’s ‘Bisbee Deportation of 1917‘ web exhibit)

A Declaration
By the Industrial Workers of the World

We, the Industrial Workers of the World, in convention assembled, hereby reaffirm our adherence to the principles of Industrial Unionism, and rededicate ourselves to the unflinching prosecution of the struggle for the abolition of wage slavery, and the realization of our ideals in Industrial Democracy.

With the European war for conquest and exploitation raging and destroying the lives, class consciousness, and unity of the workers, and the ever growing agitation for military preparedness clouding the main issues, and delaying the realization of our ultimate aim with patriotic, and therefore, capitalistic aspirations, we openly declare ourselves determined opponents of all nationalistic sectionalism or patriotism, and the militarism preached and supported by our one enemy, the Capitalist Class. We condemn all wars, and, for the prevention of such, we proclaim the anti-militarist propaganda in time of peace, thus promoting class solidarity among the workers of the entire world, and, in time of war, the general strike in all industries.

We extend assurances of both moral and material support to all workers who suffer at the hands of the Capitalist Class for their adhesion to the principles, and call on all workers to unite themselves with us, that the reign of the exploiters may cease and this earth be made fair through the establishment of the Industrial Democracy.

Pledge Given
To Nation by American Federation of Labor

We, the officers of the national and international trades unions and of America in national conference assembled, in the capital of our nation, hereby pledge ourselves in peace or in war, in stress or in storm, to stand unreservedly by the standards of liberty and the safety and preservation of the institutions and ideals of our republic.

In this solemn hour of our nation’s life, it is our earnest hope that our republic may be safeguarded in its unswerving desire for peace; that our people may be spared the horrors and the burdens or war; that they may have the opportunity to cultivate and develop the arts of peace, human brotherhood and a higher civilization.

But, despite all our endeavors and hopes, should our country be drawn into the maelstrom of the European conflict, we, with these ideals of liberty and justice herein declared, as the indispensable basis for national policies, offer our services to our country in every field of activity to defend, safeguard and preserve the republic of the United States of America against its enemies, whomsoever they may be, and we call upon our fellow worker and fellow citizens in the holy name of labor, justice, freedom and humanity to devotedly and patriotically give like service.

War’s Toll

Casualties in entente armies 5,719,400, in Teutonic forces 3,384,800, since war began, figures at Washington show.

Washington, D.C., March 11.—There have been 5,719,400 casualties in the entente armies and 3,384,800 in the Teutonic forces since the war began, according to authoritative figures obtained here today. The classified figures by countries follow:

Killed | Wounded Permanently Disabled | Captured and Missing | Total

England … 205,400 | 102,500 | 107,500 | 415,400
France … 870,000 | 540,800 | 400,000 | 1,810,800
Russia … 1,500,000 | 784,200 | 800,000 | 3,084,200
Italy … 105,000 | 49,000 | 55,000 | 209,000
Belgium … 50,000 | 22,000 | 40,000 | 112,000
Serbia … 60,000 | 28,000 | — | 88,000

Totals … 2,790,400 | 1,526,500 | 1,402,500 | 5,719,400

Germany … 893,200 | 450,000 | 245,000 | 1,588,200
Austria-Hungary … 523,100 | 355,000 | 591,000 | 1,469,100
Turkey … 127,000 | 110,000 | 70,000 | 307,000
Bulgaria … 7,500 | 7,000 | 6,000 | 20,500

Totals … 1,550,800 | 922,000 | 912,000 | 3,384,800

Ten million human lives stand as a monument to the national patriotic stupidity of the working class of Europe! Who will be to blame if the workers of America are betrayed and led into the bloodiest slaughter of history? Who?

A Patriot

From ‘Industrial Worker‘, April 14, 1917, Seattle, Washington

(Contributed by Salt Lake Local)

I love my country, yes, I do.
I love my Uncle Sam.
I also love my steak and eggs
And bread and beans and ham.
If I were dead I could not eat
And ‘tho I’d not be missed,
I’d miss my feed — Oh, yes, indeed;
I guess I won’t enlist.

I love my flag, I do, I do,
Which floats upon the breeze.
I also love my arms and legs,
And neck, and nose, and knees.
One little shell might spoil them all
Or give them such a twist,
They would be of no use to me;
I guess I won’t enlist.

I love my country, yes, I do,
I hope her folks do well.
Without our arms, and legs and things,
I think we’d look like hell.
Young men with faces half shot off
Are unfit to be kissed,
I’ve read in books it spoils their looks;
I guess I won’t enlist.

Frank Little on the Draft

Excerpt from ‘Rebel Voices: An IWW Anthology‘, which includes quotes from Ralph Chaplin’s book, ‘Wobbly’

[…] “If we oppose the draft, they’ll run us out of business,” Richard Brazier had said.

“They’ll run us out of business anyway,” insisted Frank Little. “Better to go out in a blaze of glory than to give in. Either we’re for this capitalist slaughterfest or we’re against it. I’m ready to face a firing squad rather than compromise.”

But compromise the Executive Board did. Chaplin was instructed to write a signed editorial for Solidarity which advised I.W.W. members to register for the draft as “I.W.W. opposed to war.”

The morning after the [July 1917] meeting broke up, Frank Little came up to Chaplin’s office on his way to Butte, Montana, where he was to be killed a few months later.

“You’re wrong about registering for the draft,” he told Chaplin, “It would be better to go down slugging.”

Were You Drafted?

From ‘Solidarity‘, July 28, 1917, Chicago, Illinois

Where the I.W.W. Stands on the Question of War.

The attitude of the Industrial Workers of the World is well known to the people of the United States and is generally recognized by the labor movement throughout the world.

Since its inception our organization has opposed all national and imperialistic wars. We have proved, beyond the shadow of a doubt, that war is a question with which we never have and never intend to compromise.

Members joining the military forces of any nation have always been expelled from the organization.

The I.W.W. has placed its self on record regarding its opposition to war, and also as being bitterly opposed to having its members forced into the bloody and needless quarrels of the ruling class of different nations.

The principle of the international solidarity of labor to which we have always adhered makes it impossible for us to participate in any and all of the plunder-squabbles of the Parasite class.

Our songs, our literature, the sentiment of the entire membership — the very spirit of our union, give evidence of our unalterable opposition to both capitalism and its wars.

All members of the I.W.W. who have been drafted should mark their claims for exemption, “I.W.W.; opposed to war.”

Editor [Ralph Chaplin], Solidarity