﻿We Know What It’s All About  
By T-BONE SLIM 

Uni-cameral unionism is a one-chambered union. One Big Union; it has but one chamber, and that is industrial—politics is out. Bi-cameral unionism has two chambers, one chamber is industrial and the other is political—it is steered by two rudders. Sometimes it is in the industrial stream and sometimes in the political channel; somemostly it’s on the rocks. 
American workers have made the same mistake as did foreign workers in the old countries, and that is the adoption of Bi-Cameral Labor Unionism as a method of expression. 
“But,” it is defended, “bi-cameral system is the same as the one used by many governments, including our own.” How true! It’s the “bi-focal” that gave us depressions, recessions, and souplines. That is precisely what bi-cameral unionism will do—put us on a soup diet from now on. 
In the older countries the workers were exploited for centuries under a tri-cameral unionism (they were “united” in church, state, and household) then bi-cameral labor unionism and finally, when the game played out, the slimy employers sought new worlds to conquer, new slaves to skin, and it is not strange at all that their “ideals” krept into the lawbooks of the several nations of North and South America. 
Their argument must of needs have been: One house cannot have sufficient mental moxie to make sense. 
My argument is: Six houses will have six times as much nonsense. The original argument is a slur against the fair name of our intelligence. 
Bi-cameral unionism makes it possible for political adventurers to subvert the unions’ activities to their own purposes. Workers’ interests are forgotten. Workers’ minds are distracted from the pressing questions of bread and butter, and shortly the workers are immersed elbow-deep in glowing legislative promises and glorious victories of political palaver: “pensions at 60 instead of at 65.” 
What will they do between the age of 45, when they are discarded by the boss, and the age of 60? Take time out, huh? There’s 15 years that prove that politicians can’t count. They should ask the bo’sun. 
Don’t Wait Till You’re Licked 
In the late lamented World War the Allies did have the sense to institute unified command AFTER the Central Powers had them licked to a stand-still. 
Shall it be said that American workers instituted uni-cameral unionism after the employers had their bi-cameral unions licked to a stand-still? 
I’m not arguing that unified command is a remedy. It isn’t. In the World War the unified command but prevented an utter destruction—and left all parties nursing defeat. I am arguing that uni-cameral unionism will change that SOUP into beef-steak and mushrooms. Do we have to go through utter destruction before we recognize the fact? The fact that wo have no more privacy in our labor unions? Every Tom, Dick, and Harry, every shyster, every frustrated congressman and every starved-out sky pilot is in there hollering: Vote for Honorable Alfred A. (Flat-Whool) Softsoaper, candidate for assembly. He is a genuine apple knocker’ and understands the aches and pains of the merchant marine, having crossed the lower bay twice on the good ship Dungan Hills. Hearing the anguished cries (cuss words) of the seamen he left the farm flat, let the cows roam as they might, quit apple picking cold, and found better picking—that is, brothers, he—hum—have— he laid his services at the feet of scowboys and bargees and docwallopers and blackgang and proletariat of the poopdeck and, well, under the folds of our glorious emblem of freedom, ankle-deep in the noble tradition of our illustrious fathers who fought and bled at Dorchester Heights and South Chicago—etc.—vote for him and he will return the plum duff to its grand estate on all American-owned ships, as it was before Andy Furuseth and Victor Olander climbed down the shrouds. 
“Throw out the sea anchor,” roar the unregenerate mariners, “the wind is off the stern quarter and we smell the steward’s mess.” They cannot venerate those artful political spellbinders who would perfume the fore castle deck with a ballot. 
Pick the Right Road 
Such things can be and are the aberration in bi-cameral labor unionism. They have two fronts and still they holler “united front.” Which front, for god’s sake, political or industrial? 
The fault is not in democracy but in the adulterations introduced—a divided house, a divided interest, and a divided program. 
Boys, you can’t walk two or more roads at once and arrive “on time”—even if all roads were right ones you’ll tear your pants. Their object is to make you miss your train. The short cut to anything is industrial unionism as invented and practiced by the Industrial Workers of the World. Its solidarity is intact. Its [ac]cord is straight. Its aim is undivided. 
If you want to ruin a man quick put him in the seats of the mighty: make of him a DICTATOR. If you wish to destroy the world, follow in his footsteps. Let me remain always humble and considerate. 
Time is coming when hit or miss leaders will acknowledge and accept the philosophy of the Industrial Workers of the World. But the workers need not wait that long and be led. They can do the sensible thing now.  
If progress is the aim of labor unionism, if liberty is its goal and freedom its destiny, then the multichambered unionism as an institution must go. Let us see what Prof. P. Serviss has to say: 
“Tho only road to settled peace is that of science; politics will never hit it . . . Science is,” he says” in its very nature, universal. It interests all civilized nations alike . . . Its aim is absolutely single, viz, the uncovering of the truth. Knowledge is power—not partial but complete power, which cannot make war upon itself.” Well sir, boys and girls, this article proves the I. W. W. is SCIENTIFIC.