Foster in Paris writes on the so-called Apaches, France’s violent proletarian, declasse subculture abhorred by France’s violent bourgeois, imperialist official culture.

‘French Rebels Active’ by William Z. Foster from Industrial Worker. Vol. 2 No. 27. September 24, 1910.

Paris, Sept. 7, 1910. Fellow Worker and Friend:

France, at present, in regard to “labor troubles,” is experiencing the calm that ofttimes precedes the storm. Except for a few strikes of minor importance the situation is one of suspicious quiet. The air is full of expectancy, of wonderment as to the result of the negotiations now pending between the railroad workers and their employers. In case of an outcome unfavorable to the workers, it is confidently expected by many who thoroughly understand the situation that a general tie-up of all the French railroads will immediately follow. It is also expected that a general strike, to support the railroad workers, will be attempted if the situation seems to demand it. The general strike is being broadly hinted at, and the fear of this much talked of social weapon has goaded the employers into redoubling their efforts to keep the railroad slaves from touching off the bomb that may end French capitalism. The usual channels used by them to influence the minds of their slaves are flooded with appeals to the patriotism, religion, etc., that the slaves have been reared on. But these appeals are being largely unheeded; as the French worker is awakening to his true interest, and it is confidently asserted that the railroad workers will respond en masse to the strike order if it is given by their committee.

After the wonderful exhibition of class solidarity shown by the Swedish working class in the general strike of a year ago, who will attempt to place a limit to the capacity of the French working class, which has ever been in the forefront of revolutionary movements, and which has for years been educated by much more radical propaganda than has the Swedish working class? But it is futile to speculate or prophecy. We must await the outcome of the negotiations, and, if a general movement takes place, profit by the lessons it will teach.

The most important strike now taking place in France is the “plumbers strike” in Paris. This conflict, between 1,500 plumbers, helpers, roofers, etc., on one side, and the organized contractors of the city on the other, has been bitterly contested for the past six weeks, and as yet there are no signs of a settlement.

Of course, the blame for this lamentable affair rests entirely upon the strikers. They are insisting, in their usual haughty manner, that their hours of work be reduced and that their pay be increased. As an instance of the insolent and unreasonable demands of these industrial tyrants, let me cite the case of the plumbers and plumbers’ helpers. At present the scale for these workers is 10 hours’ work per day for the princely sum of $1.60 and $1.20 respectively; and, although beefsteak costs but 30 cents a pound, potatoes 2c, bread 4c and other necessities in due proportion, they have the unmitigated gall and inconsideration to demand an eight-hour day, with wages of $2.00 far plumbers and $1,50 for helpers. The strikers have offered to accept a committee of architects to arbitrate the matter, but they have been ignored by the contractors. These gentlemen seem determined to scotch the C.G.T. Needless to say, they are stepping on a very dangerous snakes Several men have been killed in the brawls growing out of the strike.

During the past month the prices of bread and wine have,been raised 26 per cent. As these are perhaps the two most important articles in the diet of the French working class, there is a great how being set up by the radical papers, who blame the advance entirely upon the monopolistic powers of the bakers, restaurant keepers, etc. The matter is furnishing excellent propaganda material for the syndicalists and they are making the most of it. On every side one can see posters “knocking” the bosses and “boosting” organized labor. Times are getting very appreciably harder, the wheat and grape crops are failures and there is an unusually large number of unemployed men for this season of the year. The streets are infested by hands of “Apaches,” who make life interesting for the belated wayfarer. So bold have these “illegal” thieves become that the middle class public has become thoroughly alarmed and drastic measures are being employed to suppress this ungentile and unorthodox species of the gentle art of robbery. Some of the leading papers are advocating the introduction of the whipping post into the already generous list of punishments meted out to the unfortunate proletarian thief.

With the cost of living advancing by bounds of 25 per cent, and wages being kept stationary. Paris can expect to develop many more “apaches” in spite of all the jails and whipping posts the “good” citizens can erect. Of course the newspapers are very careful to avoid pointing out the connection between the hard times and the increase of crime.

A few nights ago I had a reminder that I am in Europe. An agent of the police paid me a visit to examine my papers and inquire into my business. It happened that when he arrived my table was loaded with some dozen radical French papers, which I was doing my best to decipher. After getting what information he came for, the police agent asked how I happened to have so much doubtful literature scattered about, and I had to fall back on the old “No savce” gag. The papers simply happened there; of course I didn’t select them because they were radical, etc., etc. I had my fingers crossed all the while, and he looked skeptical, but I suppose it is all right as I haven’t heard anything further in the matter.

Yours for the I.W.W.

WM. Z. FOSTER. Bureau Poste Restante, Place de al Republique, Paris, France.

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/v2n27-w79-sep-24-1910-IW.pdf