‘Propaganda Notes From New York’ by Henry Traurig from Industrial Union Bulletin. Vol. 2 No. 16. June 13, 1908.

I.W.W. propaganda among the English speaking elements of the West Side is meeting with satisfactory result in the shape of large audiences and good sales of literature. Since the open air season started a few weeks ago, the I.W.W. Propaganda League has held some fine meetings in different parts of the city. At the last one, Wednesday night, June 3, at 125th St. and 7th Ave., about 400 workers listened for over two hours to expositions of Industrial Unionism by James Connolly and B.H. Williams, John Walsh acted as chairman. Sixty-one Bulletins and a number of “handbooks” were sold at this meeting. The League has been compelled to increase its bundle order for Bulletins, and expects to dispose of 500 a week in a short time. In addition to three or four regular street meetings per week, the Propaganda League Is making arrangements for noon hour meetings around industrial establishments, and especially along the waterfront among the longshoremen. There is no doubt about the I.W.W.’s getting a hearing from the wage slaves of the metropolis in these times of “panic prosperity.”

A portion of “Little Italy” was invaded by the Propaganda League May 20, when at the corner of Bleeker and Thompson Sts., Ivo Baldelli and another Italian fellow worker spoke in Italian to a large and attentive crowd. Twenty “handbooks” in Italian were sold (all we had), and a number of names secured with a view to the formation of an Italian Propaganda League, carry on I.W.W. propaganda among the half million Italian workers of New York city.

Miss Elizabeth G. Flynn is taking advantage of various opportunities to extend I.W.W. propaganda in New York. She recently led the discussion at the “open parliament” in Metropolitan Temple, 14th St. and 7th Ave., among the “parlor socialists.” The subject of the discussion was, “Resolved. That Industrial Democracy is the Only Solution of Present Social Conditions.” The discussion and vote on the merits of the question that followed showed a decided majority in the affirmative. Miss Flynn has obtained a large number of subs, for the Bulletin in the past few weeks, and has also disposed of quite a quantity of handbooks and other I.W.W. literature.

Our Propaganda League, having been formed a few weeks ago. a brief statement regarding it will probably be of interest to readers of The Bulletin.

The purpose of the league is to accomplish what a resolution introduced by Fellow-Worker Hagerty at the first convention and which was referred to the G.E.B. to be carried out. Aimed at viz., to carry on a systematic education among the workers upon an extensive scale. Our aim accordingly is to make known the doctrines of the I.W.W. by means of circulating literature on the streets, in the shops and at various gatherings conducted by affiliated as well as non-affiliated organizations, and also by lectures and open air meetings. While to educate the workers is our special and most important aim, nevertheless, we will also act, indirectly as an organization force, or a sort of recruiting agency and thus widen the sphere of influence of the I.W.W. In addition to those who are already members of the I.W.W. we accept those who find themselves disassociated from it, by reason of the fact that a local union to which they might belong does not as yet exist. Just as soon, however, as such locals are formed, these members will, of course, be obliged to join them.

An important feature of our league that our field is not limited to wage workers only. The arguments, so often advanced, that the I.W.W. cannot embrace a certain class of people, who, while they are not actual wage-workers, therefore are not eligible to the I.W.W. nevertheless are very active and earnest workers for the revolutionary labor movement, and would render valuable services if but given an opportunity, we believe we have shattered, because we gladly accept any such non-wage workers of both sexes, providing, of course, he or she accepts the Preamble and Constitution of the I.W.W. There should be no fear that this element may at times gain control of the organization and run it to suit itself against the best interests of the I.W.W., because arrangements can be made whereby the league will be absolutely under the control and domination of the council or other body of the I.W.W.

Our league is a local body, and being young and inexperienced has no doubt lots to learn and will probably make mistakes, but we believe that education and agitation must to a great extent precede the work of organization. And that a propaganda carried on by a Propaganda League, especially formed for that purpose, will very often bring about better results than if conducted in particular local union. Such a league very often can reach workers whom a local union will not even interest: we are therefore of the belief that such educational Institutions should tie established throughout the country by the various locals. The suggestion recently made by Fellow-Worker Lench. of R.I., to organize lecture tours in a given locality can thus be carried out nicely and with little or no expense. In the few weeks of our existence we have held four lectures delivered by Fellow-Workers Bohn, Ebert, Edgerton and Williams. Due to an unfortunate occurrence we have been compiled to cancel the lectures we and arranged for Fellow-Workers Brown, Ufert and Nebin.

At the present time we are endeavoring to secure renewal subscriptions from Bulletin renders whose subscriptions have expired, and are circulating the propaganda stamps. We are also conducting open air meetings, and quite successful ones at that, and selling Bulletins and pamphlets. At our last open-air meeting addressed by Fellow-Workers Connolly, Vaughan, Williams and Balldeli we succeeded in inducing 12 Italian workers to form an Italian organization.

Monday., June 15th, corner of Leroy and Hudson Sts. Wednesday, June 17th, corner of 12th St. and 7th Ave. Saturday evening, June 20th, on the corner of Thompson k Bleeker Sts. During the week of June 7 three meetings, will again be held, same evenings and corners. Readers of The Bulletin and others wishing to join the league or desiring to offer their services as speakers, chairman or literature distributers are requested to communicate with the undersigned, who is the secretary.

HENRY TRAURIG. 60 Cooper Square. New York is still on the I.W.W. map.

Propagandist.

The Industrial Union Bulletin, and the Industrial Worker were newspapers published by the Industrial Workers of the World (IWW) from 1907 until 1913. First printed in Joliet, Illinois, IUB incorporated The Voice of Labor, the newspaper of the American Labor Union which had joined the IWW, and another IWW affiliate, International Metal Worker.The Trautmann-DeLeon faction issued its weekly from March 1907. Soon after, De Leon would be expelled and Trautmann would continue IUB until March 1909. It was edited by A. S. Edwards. 1909, production moved to Spokane, Washington and became The Industrial Worker, “the voice of revolutionary industrial unionism.”

PDF of full issue: https://www.marxists.org/history/usa/pubs/industrialworker/iub/v2n16-jun-13-1908-iub.pdf