The I.W.W. of Grand Rapids, Michigan was based in the large furniture industry of that city, which had seen years of confrontation. Here activists ‘invade’ enemy territory to debate the ‘Yellow I.W.W.’ of the Socialist Labor Party as well as put forward their revolutionary industrial unionism to an aghast audience of midwestern middle class church-goers.

‘I.W.W. Invades Church’ by T.F.G. Dougherty from Solidarity. Vol. 3 No. 50. December 7, 1912.

Solidarity:

Grand Rapids, Mich.

Not content with bearding the capitalist jackal in the mills, mines, factories, railroads, and breaking into the masters’ jails, the I.W.W. has crowned all this by stalking with heavy tread into the “sacred” precincts of a CHURCH where the despoilers and oppressors of our class “worship” the big policeman commonly known as God.

Like the above mentioned breaking into jail, this crowning “glory” was not of our seeking. We were SOLICITED to come forth and present ourselves and inform the masters of the bread as to our form of organization, principles, methods and objects and, like obedient slaves, we responded to the gracious call and handed out the desired information, pure and unadulterated, straight from the shoulder.

Yes, my fellow workers, for five successive Sundays the members of Local 202 have been in joyful attendance at the class in Religion and Life of All Souls’ church. We were the “life” of the occasion and, as usual, victory perched on the blood red banner of the Workers of the World.

Be it known, that a large number of the churches in this industrial community have evolved a new scheme for the purpose of stimulating interest in that institution. which has for ages been one of the most potent factors in keeping the workers in subjection. The church–ignorance, superstition, fear is the hallowed trinity which has been used to control the minds of the slaves in the masters’ interests. But the church is losing its hold and the clergy has been hard put to deliver the goods satisfactorily to those who contribute so largely to our religious institutions and also to keep themselves from being forced to “discover” other methods of procuring those material means of subsistence so essential in restraining the belly from sticking too closely to the backbone. The result is that all sorts of stunts are pulled off at these mystic shops. Here in Grand Rapids the prevailing amusement is “class” for the discussion of all sorts of topics; the class meets after the regular program has been pulled off and one hour is devoted to the consideration of the subject which has been presented by the speaker. All of these classes have high sounding names, a committee is appointed to arrange a program of subjects and secure speakers, the sessions begin in the fall and are continued until warm weather sets in. Each class endeavors to outdo the others, and I guess the class at All Souls’ church has carried off the prize this season. Early in October, Rev. H.B. Bard called and asked me to speak before his class, giving me a choice of two subjects. I told his reverence that I did not care about it, as talks in such places were of no value to the workers, but finally consented, especially when Bard informed me that be had secured Herman Richter, “general secretary” of the “Detroit I.W.W.” to handle the subject, “The Industrial Workers of the World: Their Principles and Aims.” Fact is, that was the deciding factor.

Richter Holds Up “Civilized Plane.”

So, on Sunday, October 20, about 20 of the members of No. 202 assembled at the church to hear Richter and, if opportunity offered, to expose him and his “organization.” Notwithstanding the fact that this meeting bad received notices in all the papers, there were only 20 persons present, exclusive of I.W.W. members. Richter read a paper which bore the familiar signs of having been carefully prepared for him by Daniel DeLeon of New York City. Richter did not seem at all familiar with his paper and at times a very surprised expression appeared on his countenance, as though he were about to exclaim: “Well, what the ‘ell is this; must I read that? Well, here goes.” When Herman, old scout, reached that part giving DeLeon’s version of the I.W.W. “split” be almost spat blood. Curses, the dropping of the political “plank” from the Preamble, and the kicking of the politicians out of the organization was one of the “worst blows at civilization,” and the “Chicago” I.W.W. had fallen from a high plane to barbarism, yea, verily, to savagery. According to Richter-De León all the workers have got to do is to organize in the “I.W.W.” and S.LP.. pay dues and vote. No direct action, no sabotage, no strike–just vote; and some day, when enough votes have been cast; Dan the “grate” will draw aside the curtain and expose to view the “industrially organised” workers, with Richter at their head with a “civilized plane” in one band and DeLeon’s instructions in the other, and all will be well, according to this self-sacrificing bunch of dues collectors, fakirs and disrupters.

When Richter concluded he was heartily applauded by the few capitalists and their retainers who were present, his statement that “all these reforms would be brought about by peaceful political methods” evidently striking a responsive chord. I got the floor and proceeded to refute Richter’s statements and expose his “organization,” and I had all the documents necessary to substantiate my statement. I was making it so warm for Richter that the chairman, a furniture factory owner, called me off and refused to let me proceed. I objected, but had to subside. Richter was then asked a few questions and some of his answers were indeed brilliant. Here is a sample: In reply to a question he said: “When I go to work in the factory I am a commodity: when I am outside of the factory I am a citizen.” Oh, joy! When you haven’t got a job, you are a citizen. Well, if you remain a citizen very long, you’ll soon get planted. The unemployed army is NOT; the army of citizens IS: Carry the news to Berger. In answering his last question, Richter padded it out with venomous vilification of the “Chicago” I.W.W. and prolonged it to the time for closing the class so that I would not have the opportunity of replying to him. When be ceased to erupt, I tried to get the floor, but the chairman said that time was up and the class dismissed. I put it up to him to leave it to the class, but be declined, and so the session closed.

Sacrilegious I.W.W.!

On Sunday, October 27, Fellow Worker Edwin Ruthven spoke on the “General Strike” and be handled it in good shape.. November 3 the writer presented “Syndicalism and Sabotage” to the largest audience of the series. November 30, Fellow Worker George Swasey of Chicago gave a good talk on “The Effects of the Anarchist Philosophy on the Modern Labor Movement.” All the subjects were presented in a plain, straight-forward revolutionary manner. In fact, our frankness as to our purpose and methods made the capitalists and their retainers gasp, while our unflinching bearing, our sarcasm, determination and earnest, vigorous and bitter onslaughts on capitalism left no doubt in their minds that the industrial revolutionists mean business. Most of the questions and “objections” were mere jokes. They can’t refute our arguments: they could not frighten us and their flattery was lost on us. We rejoice in their enmity and welcome their antagonism; scorn their friendship and resent their patronizing condescension.

November 17 was an “open” Sunday and it was announced in the papers that on this day the I.W.W. would “get theirs.” It was stated that Rev. H.B. Bard and George P. Hummer, a capitalist and chairman of the class, would read papers replying to all our statements. On November 10, Hummer, at the close of the session, pleaded with us to be sure and come; to be “fair,” etc. Guess he thought we were afraid. In reply to Hummer I made it plain to the audience we were there on invitation, not to “convert” any one, but to good-naturedly furnish a little entertainment for them; told Hummer I’d as soon think of asking him to commit physical suicide as to ask him to commit economic kari kari.

Well, we were on the job, expecting to hear the I.W.W. in general and ourselves in particular roasted to a frazzle, but it failed to materialize. Hummer, the chairman, made the opening talk and his position was not so positive and assured as at first: there was an admitted doubt in his mind; all they could offer was the old stock objections about “human nature” and endeavor to impress on the minds of those present that the I.W.W. only recognized “manual” workers, and not those who think. You see, this is natural for a capitalist; he looks upon all workers as mere “hands” and himself as the brains. If Hummer displays no more brains in conducting his business than he did in trying to answer the “hands” who flattened him and his supporters out on November 17, it is apparent that it wasn’t his brains that “built up his business.” As for the minister, he made no attempt at reply; just spread a little sky-pilot salve. The rebels had everything their own way. In fact, our victory all through was so easy that it isn’t worth crowing over. It was one big joke. But it did the workers good. It showed them that all that is necessary is for the workers to recognize the identity of THEIR material interests and stand together, united in the struggle for economic freedom. They saw that the capitalist trembled at direct action and sabotage and stood aghast at the impelling force of the militant minority, while they (the capitalists) applauded and encouraged political action with its peaceful reforms through a legal majority. They saw the minister and the capitalist stand shoulder to shoulder, in opposition to the revolutionary workers. T. F. G. DOUGHERTY.

The most widely read of I.W.W. newspapers, Solidarity was published by the Industrial Workers of the World from 1909 until 1917. First produced in New Castle, Pennsylvania, and born during the McKees Rocks strike, Solidarity later moved to Cleveland, Ohio until 1917 then spent its last months in Chicago. With a circulation of around 12,000 and a readership many times that, Solidarity was instrumental in defining the Wobbly world-view at the height of their influence in the working class. It was edited over its life by A.M. Stirton, H.A. Goff, Ben H. Williams, Ralph Chaplin who also provided much of the paper’s color, and others. Like nearly all the left press it fell victim to federal repression in 1917.

PDF of full issue: https://www.marxists.org/history/usa/pubs/solidarity-iww/1912/v03n50-w154-dec-07-1912-Solidarity.pdf