﻿CONFLICTING ‘MOTIONS 
 
We must never admit we intend to dethrone the “master of our obsequis”—a soft mushy word turneth away wrath—let us say we are gonna de-drone him. ‘T amounts to the same t’ing. 
Katharine Mayo tells about the wonderful success of state-police law in Pennsylvania— 
4 bank robberies per year—(which year?) 
54 in Illinois in 1924. 
Chicago might try employing robbers as cossacks—nothing like legalizing “the income” even if it doesn’t reduce it. Horseback riding too, is very healthful, and four robberies is enough. 
Art Brisbane is nervous about foreign airships dropping bombs on our unprotected heads. 
Brace up. Art, the chances of them making a direct hit (on either of us) are small—and, if worst comes to worst, I will write a sizzling denunciation of the crowd that drops anything on your head. I will write your epitaph (in rhyme) and obituary notice (in pathos). 
There aro two men that should be supprest. Art Brisbane and one Baker. 
Baker for praising T-bone Slim and Brisbane for giving hope to the enemy by divulging the state secrets of our unprotected heads. Right now half of our available enemies think our gun isn’t loaded—mebbe it isn’t, mebbe it isn’t. . . . 
Use discretion, Art, use discression! 
You’re liable to “sick” the whole “kyoddle’“ upon our neck. 
May I gabble—I mean gargle: 
When progress comes to “check your time” 
And “overhaul” your THOUGHT 
It counts not that you won or lost 
But marks the HOW you fought. 
The labor condition in Chicago is a problem—a puzzle. 
The problem is not 
Whether one ever thought 
Or did—a certain thing. 
The problem indeed 
Is—did he succeed 
And WHY didymake that swing? 
 
Ex: Why did I kiss that girl. 
Why O-Y-O-Y? 
He doesn’t inquire “Did eye “didn’t eye kiss or “Did eye miss, nor “How did eye miss, or “kiss . . . No. The problem is “WHY did eye—And I don’t blame him. I’d want to know the reason myself. 
The judge says, “Did you hit this man?” But the crowd wants to know “WHY” the haymaker was adjusted. “What was it all about?” That’s the problem—the real problem. How, when, where, who, did or didn’t are no problems. The one and only live problem is “WHY?” 
Hardly enough organization on the job to furnish ex-politicians and lame (duck) leaders “tenderloin plain”—in the craft unions. In the I. W. W. there is the headquarters, no hall. Chicago is badly in need of organizers. One or two organizers to gather our membership together to organize a branch of some kind—Chicago, you know, is the “strategical” Industrial Empire. 
The draft-union officials and guardians of Illinoi politics, manage to eke out a living and hall-rent by collecting 5 cents per hour from non-union workers and from Wobblies — (a condition) — Don’t ask me why the Wobblies pay it—I’ll tell you, give me time. As I was saying, we need organizers—the pay is 70 cents per hour less 5 cents which equals 65 cents, take it or leave it. It is all done within the capitalist system, March 28th AD 1925 in Chicago. 
I do not pretend to be an organizer and therefore cannot be expected to understand organization work. And I do not mention the five cent drag as an example of what should be done by our organization. I would rather see these men organized, and let them pay direct dues in a monthly lump sum—say fifty cents per month—instead of fifty cents per each ten hours. There are 4 weeks plus, 260 hours or 26 days in each month, and non-union men when they pay five cents per hour, pay $13.00 per month dues into a union (?) without being allowed voice and vote—and when a Wobblie does it he pays $13.50 per month. Ten such men could afford to rent a hall! $130! 
Note: All wages are subjected to a draft whether or not a union gets any of it. There are no full wages. “Paid in Full” is a melodrama). The boss’ living, etc., is deducted from all wages. 
A little ging-seng—yes, by heck! 
‘S deducted from the ol’ time check— 
If stylish shoes develop corns 
A shrunken hat is cause for horns— 
And not—as some poor pervert said, 
That horns bedeck an empty head. 
And not the looseness of its drape, 
Nor yet its tensil strength or shape; 
For be it sharp or be it dull, 
The horns denote a swollen skull. 
 
But this is more true (komplete knowledge being missing) of organization than it is about men. Once’t an Org. hits the rut it will follow it instead of making one of its own. Once’t it formulates laws copying laws of the then prevailing system—capitalist system, for example—it will be like the system or IT WILL BE THE SYSTEM, with but slight EVOLUTIONARY advantages. 
Now that the plot is laid, may I ask, what are we going to do with our Departmental laws, our District counsel laws, etc? When will we use them? Where’s the need? Are they excess baggage and shall we continue paying storage on them? And other laws? I ask this because it is getting more difficult every day (ivory day) to find consolation and guidance in our laws—speaking for T-b S.