Chicago Workers Show Sympathy, by Voltairine de Cleyre (1911)
Article from ‘Regeneración’, English Section, Los Angeles, July 1, 1911, edited by William C. Owen
What with the misreports of the general press, the misinformation of the radical press — let us add the timidity of the latter — the intense local warfare in the labor world, and the necessity for concentrated defense of the labor leaders now under indictment in Los Angeles, it is hard for the average Chicagoan, even the more enlightened one, to grasp the Mexican situation and its importance in relation to himself.
Pioneers among those to recognize it are Tool and Diemakers’ Union, Local 105, International Association of Machinists, who, during the closing weeks of May, passed resolutions as follows:
“Whereas, The working people of Mexico are now in open revolt against a system of economic oppression which has robbed them of the land and the opportunity to labor, and enslaved them to a few enormously wealthy alien and native landlords;
And whereas, These insurrectionists sturdily refuse to abate their claims or abandon their struggle because of the peace pact between Diaz and Madero, declaring the latter to be a mere political place-hunter, and, in virtue of his being one of the greatest land-owners of Mexico, necessarily a bitter foe to those economic changes which alone can give liberty to the Mexican workers;
And whereas, Realizing that the struggle between capital and labor knows no boundaries; that the United States army is held upon the border ready to protect the interests of American capital in Mexico should the Maderist government prove unable to crush the genuine revolution; realizing that the workers everywhere, if actually informed as to the real situation (which they are not, owing to the conspiracy of the capitalist press to suppress the truth), must sympathize with the daring struggle of their Mexican brothers in revolt; the Mexican Liberal Party, (whose organizing Junta ls at 519 1/2 E. 4th street, Los Angeles), has issued an appeal to the Workers of the World to support them in their struggle by spreading the knowledge of the situation through every available means, by energetic protest against intervention from any outside power, and by contributions in money;
Therefore resolved, That we, the members of Tool and Diemakers’ Union, Local 105, International Association of Machinists, hereby express our fullest sympathy with the workers of Mexico in their just demand for the restoration of the land to the people; that we recognize their struggle as our struggle, and that of the workers everywhere; and
Resolved, That we protest with all our might against intervention either by the United States or any other government in the Mexican struggle. If capitalists have chosen to invest in Mexico, taking advantage of corrupt and barbarous political and economic conditions to wring profits from the Mexican workers, let them abide the consequences. Let not the workers of the United States, or any other country, be betrayed into getting themselves shot to maintain the supremacy of the leeches of capital, who will themselves do no fighting!
And resolved, That in emulation of our brothers of Bakers’ Union Local and Millmen’s Union No. 422, of San Francisco, we likewise pledge our moral and, if necessary, our financial support to the great struggle.”
Copies were directed to be sent to Pres. Taft, to the “Chicago Daily Socialist,” and to “Regeneración.” It was expected that the “Chicago Daily Socialist” would print them in full; however, it merely made a labor note of it.
At present the situation is clarifying itself, and the “Chicago Daily Socialist” is now giving better reports. Its own Socialist readers are vigorously protesting against the attitude of Congressman Berger that the proper thing for the sufferers of Mexico is to continue to suffer submissively till capitalism “has filled up the measure of its fathers.” There are Socialists who think that measure is already running over.
VOLTAIRINE DE CLEYRE
Chicago