I.W.W. General Secretary Vincent St. John responds to the imminent outbreak of World War One.

‘The Working Class and War’ by Vincent St. John from The International Socialist Review. Vol. 15 No. 2. August, 1914.

THE wage workers of the world are the only class that is really concerned in abolishing war. It is they who furnish the victims and reap no benefit whatever for their class. All wars, past and present, are in the interest of the employing class of some particular political division.

From the viewpoint of working class interests, no war is justified except it be for the purpose of overthrowing the wage system and establishing industrial control of, by and for the working class.

The only practical method whereby the workers can abolish war is to organize within the industries in such a manner that they can refuse to support an armed force in times of peace and refuse to produce the necessary wealth for carrying on the struggle in time of war, by refusing to produce the implements used in warfare, to enlist in the army, and by paralyzing the industries of any nation or nations the rulers of which show a desire to involve their respective countries.

As members of the working class, we should view all disputes from the working class standpoint. We are not concerned in how international disputes can be settled best, or at all, for that matter, so long as the working class do not have to pay the penalty in the settlement. It might be suggested as a matter of settling international disputes, that the workers organize so as to compel the interested parties in the dispute to settle it between themselves. The same methods by which the workers can abolish war are the methods by which they can protect their interests in the case of international disputes. This, of course, means that they must be organized to a sufficient degree and educated as to their class interests so that it will be impossible to induce them to furnish the armies and do the fighting for their respective employers and rulers.

Peace societies are nothing more or less than schemes whereby certain parasites of the present system amuse them- selves or gain a livelihood. There is no record that they have ever accomplished anything except create a demand for printer’s ink, paper, and furnish an avenue by which some individuals can exploit their ego. The U.S. standing army should be abolished forthwith in the interest of the working class. This can be accomplished by an active campaign against militarism and the workers organizing and refusing to enlist in the army or support it in any way, shape or form. The increase in the U. S. regular army and the increase in the number of unemployed are significant. It is proof that the employing class of that country are in possession of information that causes them to strengthen the army in defense of their private interests. As the army of unemployed grows, it means that ever increasing number of hungry, homeless, and consequently reckless men and women. In time it will have but one result — an attack upon the property of the parasites in order to satisfy the need for food, clothing and shelter. It is to provide against this contingency that the ruling class and their agents are bending every effort to increase the standing army of this so-called land of the free and brave.

With the workers properly organized the profits the employing class now reap would be absorbed by the workers in the shape of increased wages and better working conditions.

The working class in Switzerland are not any better off, regardless of the fact that they are citizen soldiers. Military training, however, could be of benefit to the working class providing it was supplemented by proper working class education. The citizen soldiers of Switzerland are as willing to serve the interests of the employing class of Switzerland as are the paid soldiers of any other country in the world. This phase of the problem depends altogether upon the relative strength of the organization of the workers in the shops and the education of the workers as to their class interests. With the workers organized to a sufficient degree and educated as to their class interests, they will be able to combat the miseducation and force now at the service of the employing class.

The Boy Scout movement is an attempt of the employing class to so mould minds of children that in later years they will be more apt to respond to the demand for uniformed murderers. In this connection, however, the employing class are not going to meet with the success that they hope for. With few exceptions, members of the Boy Scouts will be forced to take their places in the industries of the nation as wage workers, and the conditions under which they will have to live and labor will more than offset the false education that they received as Boy Scouts. They will learn in industry that patriotism consists of nothing but high- sounding platitudes. They will learn that even though the discipline demanded of them in the army might have been severe, the discipline required in industry is more severe, and they will also learn that when they are no longer needed to create profits in the industries of the employing class, they cannot live On patriotism and they will receive no more consideration than any others who are considered an expense upon the owning and tax-paying interests of the country.

All innovations of a military character that are introduced in any institution spring from the same source — a desire on the part of the employing class to build a stronger force to protect their interests. The state militia is an institution for holding in subjection the wage workers of any state without having to incur the expense and waste of time necessary to get regular soldiers on the job. As the state militia works for nothing except when on duty, it can be truthfully said that they are scabs on the regular soldiers and to this extent they relieve the employing class of a financial burden that otherwise they would have to meet in order to maintain an efficient military force.

The fact that the law compels every able-bodied citizen over eighteen years of age to belong to the militia, does not of itself mean anything. With proper organization and education, the workers could disregard summons for military duty and through their organization in the industries of the land, render power- less any effort of the government to force them to respond to the call to arms.

The answer of labor to militarism is organization on class lines. Educate the workers to depend upon themselves and the control which they can exert over industry when so organized.

The International Socialist Review (ISR) was published monthly in Chicago from 1900 until 1918 by Charles H. Kerr and critically loyal to the Socialist Party of America. It is one of the essential publications in U.S. left history. During the editorship of A.M. Simons it was largely theoretical and moderate. In 1908, Charles H. Kerr took over as editor with strong influence from Mary E Marcy. The magazine became the foremost proponent of the SP’s left wing growing to tens of thousands of subscribers. It remained revolutionary in outlook and anti-militarist during World War One. It liberally used photographs and images, with news, theory, arts and organizing in its pages. It articles, reports and essays are an invaluable record of the U.S. class struggle and the development of Marxism in the decades before the Soviet experience. It was closed down in government repression in 1918.

PDF of full issue: https://www.marxists.org/history/usa/pubs/isr/v15n02-aug-1914-ISR-riaz-ocr.pdf