THE WOBBLIES: The Story of Syndicalism in the United States

by Patrick Renshaw ‧ RELEASE DATE: June 30, 1967

Who were the Wobblies? They called themselves the Industrial Workers of the World while others called them the I-Won't-Workers. But what were they? Senator Borah, their implacable enemy, described them best as ""an intangible proposition...something you cannot get at...simply an understanding between men, and they act upon it without any evidence of existence whatsoever.""This explains the author's greatest difficulty here since the story of the Wobblies is not to be found in its publications, the minutes of its meetings, or the transcripts of its trials. Were the IWW's syndicalists, bolsheviks, anarchists, proto-fascists, or just industrial unionists? It depends on which men you look at, andwhere and when. From 1905 until the early 1920's the IWW was the most feared and least understood labor movement in America. They organized migrants and immigrants, and it was like writing on water--but not quite. They left behind their biting songs, their direct-action methods and their militant idealism. Mr. Renshaw is English and did most of his research on a year's tour of the U.S. His account takes in the immigrant strikes, free-speech demonstrations, anti-war protests, and the trial for treason and sabotage that presaged their downfall. His is the most complete and authoritative history of the Wobblies to date, but it is flawed by debatable assumpti is and questionable facts. The sources are confused and incomplete, and they may always be. Senator Borah may be right.

Pub Date: June 30, 1967

ISBN: N/A

Page Count: -

Publisher: Doubleday

Review Posted Online: N/A

Kirkus Reviews Issue: June 1, 1967

Categories: NONFICTION