St. John says if you are not here to build a common organization, move on.

‘The Disruptor Must Vamose’ by Vincent St. John from the Industrial Worker. Vol. 2 No. 22. August 20, 1910.

General Headquarters Industrial Workers of the World, 518 Cambridge Bldg., Chicago, Ill.

The Industrial Workers of the World is confronted with a situation at this time that calls for the harmonious and energetic efforts of the membership. The work of organization is today, as it has always been, one of great difficulty and it is this reason that makes it so imperative that there be no senseless division in our ranks. If there is, it is foregone conclusion that the Industrial Workers of the World will not achieve its mission.

This organization, whose fundamental principle is the unity of the working class, must at all times practice the doctrine which we advocate. The only exception is wherein fundamental principles of the organization may be involved. It is only by working together that we can at all times be in a position to throw our entire power into the movement against the employing class, and its most potent ally, the American Federation of Labor.

We have in the past, and are at this time, pointing out to the wage workers a division that exists in the ranks of the workers organized on craft union lines. We are pointing. out the weakness and the faults of that organization, and on the other hand we are claiming for the Industrial Workers of the World a principle and a plan of organization and education that will remove these obstacles to the solidarity of labor.

It is easy to be seen what effect petty jealousy, mean and underhand insinuations and personal ambitions are going to have on the minds of those who are within our ranks in an earnest endeavor to do their part toward fulfilling the mission of the working class, to say nothing of the ammunition that is furnished our enemies to combat our propaganda among the great mass of unorganized workers. It matters not how well they think of the principles and plans of organization of the I.W.W, they will not enroll themselves in an organization that consumes its time and energy with useless and senseless bickering and insinuations without foundation, or in jealous attacks of incompetence upon every member who endeavors to do their best towards building up an organization.

If the membership of the Industrial Workers of the World is going to continue to allow any part of the membership to threaten or continue to balk the efforts of the organization, there can be big one result and that is, that the I.W.W. will have to give way to some other organization, in which ́event the time and labor of the past five years will be entirely wasted.

It is the height of folly for the membership of the I.W.W. to allow a continuation of this policy of disruption, of unjust criticism and of baseless slander and insinuation against every member who is doing his part in the work of organization and education. And it is worse than folly when it develops that those who cry out against leadership the loudest are found to be followers of would-be leaders whose dishonest ambition can find no other satisfaction than attempting to destroy the organization of the I.W.W., because they cannot use it for their own purpose; members who are entirely lacking of courage and who in the struggle of a comparatively easy ordeal showed the yellow streak in a manner that would disgrace the most cowardly.

It is up to the membership of the Industrial Workers of the World if they desire to put an end to this condition of affairs, that hereafter when any member or non-member of the organization makes any insinuation or casts any reflection on the integrity of any other member of the organization, that they be compelled to product their proof; that they be compelled, if they are members of the organization, to back-up their assertions by filing charges as provided for in the constitution. In the event of their not doing so, the membership are then in a position to know the amount of credit to be given anything that they may say.

At the present time, the existence of the Industrial Worker, the official organ of the Spokane locals, is threatened because of the attitude of that portion of the membership who will do nothing themselves and, if they can prevent it by slander and abuse, allow no one else to accomplish anything. Their project is to reinstate some of their false gods and in order to do this they are willing to destroy the work of years.

It is incumbent upon every member of the I.W.W. who is honest in his efforts for their class, to make an extra effort to see that this work of disruption is ended at once and for all and that the continued existence of the Industrial Worker is assured.

The organization is doing everything within its power in spite of all difficulties to spread the message of Industrial Unionism and it is entitled to the full support and cooperation of every member in those efforts. Even though the membership today are comparatively few in numbers, our numbers are sufficient, providing we will work and pull together, to accomplish wonders in the way of education and organization.

In conclusion, I want to impress upon you to the best of my ability this fact: That unless the I.W.W. membership realizes what the occasion calls for and set about seriously to prove equal to the task, those members of the organization who are now earnestly striving to accomplish something in the way of organization and education will soon cease to waste their time and efforts in a hopeless struggle.

It is useless to expect that men and women who are in earnest will always continue to fool away their time and see their efforts rendered futile because of the criminal actions and disruptive tactics of a few who are long on philosophy and short on action, or anything else that is necessary in our struggle for economic freedom.

Sincerely trusting that the membership will understand the necessity for these lines and that they will be the means of getting the required action. I am, Yours for Industrial Freedom,

VINCENT ST. JOHN, General Secy-Treas.

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/iw/v2n22-w74-aug-20-1910-IW.pdf