Inciting Murder

Pacific Press Publishing Association · Mountain View, California · Feb 4, 1913

THE NEW YORK World (Three-a-Week) of January 13 reports Joseph J. Eltor, an agitator and member of the Industrial Workers of the World, as saying, January 10, in Bryant Hall, to the striking waiters in New York:

“Remember, if you are compelled to go back (to work) under unsatisfactory conditions, go back with a determination to stick together until you get what you want. Go back with your minds made up that it is the unsafest thing in the world for the capitalist to eat food prepared by members of your union.”

What can this mean but inciting to poisoning or murder? He was asked later what he meant by this, and he replied that he meant just what he said. Effort has been put forth to minimize the meaning or correctness of the statement, but the editor contends that it is a correct report. The World remarks editorially: “This is open instigation of murder. It means that, and it means nothing less. Should any weak-minded waiter act on such advice, Joseph J. Eltor will at once become a promising candidate for Sing Sing, if not for the electric chair.” And what can we say of an association or organization, which will support men who advocate such things?