‘Died Refusing to Scab’ by J.S. Biscay from Industrial Worker. Vol. 3 No. 16. July 6, 1911.

A Victim of Oppression and Persecution- Died Rather Than Scab

Capitalism reaped another victim on the 25^th of June when our fellow worker George Drogowicz was killed while hunting for a job. Little is known of how it all occurred except that his mangled body was found on the N. P. track outside of Seattle. He had no money—a half loaf of bread was all that stood between life and starvation when the train put an end to his struggles and misery. The section foreman saw him pass down the track on his way to Tacoma and soon after the body was discovered. This worker held membership in the I.W.W. for eight days. He joined Local 322 on June 17, mentioning that he was pretty low in cash, but that he would not be satisfied until he had a card proving that he was one of us. That was the last we saw of him.

He was one of the number who left Vancouver rather than take the proffered jobs to scab on the workers on strike. Like this fellow worker, there are many who walked out of town, with a loaf of bread in the pocket, resolved to bear any hardship rather than be a traitor. Tis the fault of the present system which forces men to hunger and undergo privation in order that another may live in luxury and sensual abandon. It is such struggling workers like out deceased fellow worker who are fighting for better conditions: for condition when men will not need to be tramps, searching for work while little children are dying from overwork.

It is not the loud mouthed person that makes the revolutionary movement go, but often the silent worker who, though he may be in want, friendless, homeless, and alone: yet he clenches his teeth with grim determination to stick to the end and never heard squealing.

To which we uncover our heads.

J. S. BISCAY.

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 original issue: https://www.marxists.org/history/usa/pubs/industrialworker/iw/v3n15-w119-jul-06-1911-IW.pdf