﻿Rank and File One Big Union-- Solidarity 
By T-BONE SLIM 
 
On the lakes it is Lake Carriers hall; on the east-coast it is Maritime Commission hall—can it be the Lake Carriers herding was not of sufficient horse power? 

Outside of inherent solidarity and able-bodied personal stamine the seamen split up into factions—but not hopelessly. Impossible as it was for them to settle their differences under present set-up, they still can circumvent the shipowners by joining the MTWIU 510. 

Once we admit the split, no further argument for the MTWIU is neede. Splits never heal; they must be outgrown. Splits do not occur under democratic two-thirds rule. Sometime they occur under majority rule. Mostly they occur under autocratic rule—that’s why employers, press and pulpit insist that labor unions by under (good) leadership. Then at an opportune time the leadership can cause a split. (Mebbe you remember something like that of late?) 

Leadership, like an “open police charge,” can be changed almost into anything. Rank and file rule never changes. Much valuable time is lost in correcting the mistakes leaders have made. (They insist on the correction or debate their position indefinitely.) Rank and file ignores its mistakes and pushes ahead, ceaselessly. 

Fighting for jobs is a leadership measure; it leaves the grief in the lap of the working class. Rank and file rule is: OWN the job and fix it up to suit the workers. If unemployment be wide spread, shorten the day. Don’t fight to see who shall work, see that all shall work or fight. Don’t fight first, fight last. 

When reaction raises its head in the form of a well-groomed leader we must be in position to curb the “upjumper” with few well chosen words : “Sit down!” “Sit down!” (Lift our eyebrows and add) : “You haven’t got piles, have you?” 
Action has a nature of self-co-ordination—it adjusts its human factors automatically into most advantageous positions and the sum total of the whole is growth. 
That’s what we want, growth. Whether it be a double chin, tough muscles or one big union. 
No matter where they come from they never forget to glance at the IWW hall . . . . 
Let’s get some close cooperation. 

Recent discovery in the DuPont laboratories seriously threatens the silk trade and textiles, cotton and wool, from grower to looms, and other industries too numerous to mention. The substance has the strength of steel, the resilience of rubber and sheen of silk—I estimate this will add a couple million men to Harry Hopkins’ vast army of horticulturists and pick n’ shovel artisans. If Harry Hopkins hangs on to his reason one year more, I’ll be satisfied. 

It looks bad for boys and girls and I s’pose you forgot to join the IWW—but I don’t want to discourage you. So long as we have the Great Lakes, why should we worry—lookit all the soup we can make out of Lake Superior alone, onions (Harry will supply them). Note: Charles Dickens invented this soup and then the Christian Missions and equally Christian Salvation Army took it up and popularized it. 

So ye gallant workers, if you support the unemployed, you may as well let the unemployed help you do the chores he lives on. 
Shorter workday will accomplish that miracle. 

Picketting is one of the most important functions of a unionist, second only to striking. Therefore a union is known by the consideration it gives its pickets and picket lines. In view of the laxity some members have for picketing, it is fitting that picketeers be shown every preference. 

The Industrial Worker is read by many of the best minds in this and other countries. Many more of the active thinkers would read it, did they know of its existence but, even as is, the Industrial Worker is a force for greater good than its actual circulation would indicate. 
This is no valid reason whatsoever that the workers should not read it. All self-respecting workers that know of it read it and the others need it worse. Pass it around—it speaks for itself and for the working class.