A very reasonable interpretation of this political clause is that the working class must be united politically, but not necessarily that that union is, or is in, or has any connection with, the I. W. W. However, the sequel showed that it was fatal to the unity of the organization. Three years later it proved to be the rock on which the movement split, bringing about the bifurcated organization we know at the present time; with a direct-actionist wing, non-political, and with a new and expurgated edition of the preamble, and a DeLeonite or doctrinaire wing, pro-political--another Socialist Trade and Labor Alliance--with the same old preamble and the same old political clause.[150]
The constitution provided a highly centralized scheme of administration involving a mixed hierarchy of power. The general organization was divided into thirteen international industrial divisions (later called "departments"). Each of these departmental divisions was supposed to comprise an allied group of industries, grouped together for administrative purposes. In the original report of the constitution committee the industrial or occupational "sphere of influence" of each division was specified in detail. The world's industries were divided into thirteen administrative groups. The report provided that the organization should be composed of thirteen international industrial unions, designated as follows:
Division 1 shall be composed of all persons working in the following industries: Clerks, salesmen, tobacco, packing houses, flour mills, sugar refineries, dairies, bakeries, and kindred industries.
Division 2: Brewery, wine and distillery workers.
Division 3: Floriculture, stock and general farming.
Division 4: Mining, milling, smelting and refining coal, ores, metals, salt and iron.
Division 5: Steam railway, electric railway, marine, shipping, and teaming.
Division 7: All textile industrial employees.
Division 8: All leather industrial employees.
Division 9: All wood-working employees excepting those engaged in building departments.
Division 10: All metal industrial employees.
Division 11: All glass and pottery employees.
Division 12: All paper mills, chemical, rubber, broom, brush and jewelry industries.