New IWW history site

Hey all,

I started a new site a little while ago featuring writing that has appeared in the IWW press over the years. Some of it is stuff I posted on libcom long ago but some of it is stuff I've more recently transcribed. It had been several years since I did this kind of thing so thought it was time to pick it back up.

I am not sure who still posts here or what kind of things people who still frequent here are interested in, but based on the past, here are some things people here may have been interested in at one time:

(2006) “The Union On Our Own Terms” by Alexis Buss

(1969) “Another ‘labor historian’ writes a book about the Wobblies – so what else is new?” by Fred Thompson

(1934) ” For a syndicalist world movement against dual union” by John S. Morgan, x204842

(1937) ” The I.W.W. in other lands” by Albert Hanson

(1937) “For affiliation with I.W.M.A.” by New York Branch of the G.W. I.U. #310-#330

(1940) “Of men and the world: an open letter to Gurley Flynn” by Art Hopkins

(1909) “Political parties not endorsed by us” by Vincent St. John

(1937) Review by Paul Mattick: “The Revolution Betrayed” by Leon Trotsky

Love it! Wish I'd read the…

Love it! Wish I'd read the last article before I had an argument with an SWP member 30 or so years ago telling me that the SWP invented the idea that the Soviet Union was state capitalist.

(1909) “Political parties…

(1909) “Political parties not endorsed by us” by Vincent St. John:

Further investigation will prove that with the working class divided on the industrial field unity anywhere else – if it could be brought about – would be without results. The workers would be without power to enforce any demands.

The difference, then, is of laying all stress upon the essential point. The point where the working class must unite in sufficient numbers before it will have the power to make itself felt anywhere else.

Reminded of me of Ygael "Tony Cliff" Glückstein, 'Zee power of ze verker iz in the verk place.' (RIP the Yiddish nation).

I for one still see use value in the succinct text quoted above and I will keep the following in mind as I start my new role as Passenger Assistant in the employ of the capitalist state:

It is impossible for any one to be a part of the capitalist state and to use the machinery of the state in the interest of the workers. All they can do is to make the attempt and to be impeached, as they will be, and furnish an object lesson to the workers of the class character of the state.

The only power that the working class has, is the power to produce wealth. The I.W.W. propose to organize the workers to control the use of their labor power, so that they will be able to stop the production of wealth except upon terms dictated by the workers themselves.

The capitalists’ political power is exactly the measure of their industrial power...

What could not be predicted in 1909 was the military power of the lumpen, the raggamuffin, the post industrial proletariat.

great stuff! I mean we would…

great stuff! I mean we would love to have anything which isn't on libcom already here as well, but understand issues of time etc if that isn't possible.
There isn't that much discussion here anymore but the site gets more readers than ever.

Steven. wrote: great stuff!…

Steven. wrote: great stuff! I mean we would love to have anything which isn't on libcom already here as well, but understand issues of time etc if that isn't possible.
There isn't that much discussion here anymore but the site gets more readers than ever.

One of the reasons I decided to do this actually is I was seeing some complaints from people when official IWW social media accounts reposted stuff from here. I was worried that this would result in this stuff being looked over because maybe people didn't want to deal with complaints about reposting stuff from a Libertarian Communist site.

Also, that's good to hear libcom gets so many visitors. I assume that is primarily from Google Search and Working Class History social media? It seems most libcom social media presence has gone dark .

Juan, perhaps this an…

Juan, perhaps this an opportune moment to rebuff the following:

It's a public secret that the IWW is run by Stalinists... Can't remember what org the American [libcom.org] admin is member of, but IWW is likely.

Juan Conatz wrote: Steven…

Juan Conatz wrote:

Steven. wrote: great stuff! I mean we would love to have anything which isn't on libcom already here as well, but understand issues of time etc if that isn't possible.
There isn't that much discussion here anymore but the site gets more readers than ever.

One of the reasons I decided to do this actually is I was seeing some complaints from people when official IWW social media accounts reposted stuff from here. I was worried that this would result in this stuff being looked over because maybe people didn't want to deal with complaints about reposting stuff from a Libertarian Communist site.

Also, that's good to hear libcom gets so many visitors. I assume that is primarily from Google Search and Working Class History social media? It seems most libcom social media presence has gone dark .

That's really interesting. I mean it's a silly criticism but understandable.
The vast majority of traffic here is from search engines, primarily Google.

westartfromhere wrote: Juan,…

westartfromhere wrote: Juan, perhaps this an opportune moment to rebuff the following:

It's a public secret that the IWW is run by Stalinists... Can't remember what org the American [libcom.org] admin is member of, but IWW is likely.

I'm not really interested in arguing about the IWW or about myself.

That's good, Juan. Thanks…

That's good, Juan. Thanks for posting the St John article. It is brilliant.