The Billings gazette. [volume] (Billings, Mont.) 1896-1919, 1902-08-01
SOCIALISTS NOMINATE sPRoULE
FOR CONGRESS.
CONVENTION At BOHEMIAN
Platform of Party in Montana De
cIares Fealty to National
Organization.

Bozeman, July 28.-The principal
work of the socialist state convention,
held in this city today, was the selec-
ton of George B. Sproule Of Helena
as the nominee. of the party for con-
gresham, j. F. Cameron of Chico,
for associate justice, and J. F. Fox Of
Butte, as national committeeman.
The convention was called to order
at 10 o'clock by John HEIDI Of Hell
ena, secretary of the state central
committee of the socialist party.
There were about 25 delegates pres
ent. Alex Freeman of Bozeman and
P. J. Cooney of Butte were chosen
temporary chairman and secretary,
respectively. Chairman Freeman then
named the committees and a recess
was then taken for the committee to
make their reports.
The committee on resolutions re
ported in brief that the Montana So
cialist party proclaimed it's allegiance
to the socialist party of America, and
to the program of international social
ism.
In conclusion the platform appeals
to all to study the principles of social
ism. to vote solidly with this party
until government control is secured,
industrial classes in society abolish
ed and a cooperative commonwealth
founded on the fundamental principles
Of justice.
The immediate demands of the con
vention are in favor of the %eight-hour
| law for miners and smeltermen, and
a constitutional amendment to that eff
| feet; it favors the initiative and refer.
endum and the placing of ballots in
! the hands of men and women alike;
it denounces blacklisting by corpora,
| tions and demands a constitutional
amendment making it a. p~enitentiary
o~ffense; it also demands passage of
the employers liability act.
The committee on credentials re
ported 26 delegates present and AZ
proxies. A minority report was also
brought in, in favor of the acceptance
of proxies, the majority report being
against such action. The greater part
of the morning session was taken up
discussing this point, ending in the
minority report being received.
The convention then took a recess
for noon, reassembling at l o'clock
During the afternoon some addi
ticnal resolutions were received and
accepted. In one the convention ex
tended it's sympathies to the coal
miners of Pennsylvania, urging upon
the socialists and labor unions to as
| sist them financially.
The next was an emphatic declara'
ton against fusion, it seeming to be
the opinion OF the convention that flu
sion was a mistake, and that socialists
were merely tools in the hands of 9th
er parties ycn the fusion proposition,
The resolution was practically as fol
lows: "."
"Resolved, That the socialist party
can never recognize, unite or affiliate
or fuse in any way with any other po'
litical party, and that. moreover, any
candidates on our ticket must refuse
the endorsement Of any other political
party because it insinuates IL ac'
ceptance Of their platform"
To this is added the following:
Moreover, we urge upon the state
membership to expel any member who
proposes to compromise or fuse"
The convention also was in favor
of labor unions and economic schools
and urged upon every working man
to join a union. It also, in a resolu
ticn which somehow got lost in the
shuttle and was not nassed by any
apparent vote, urged upon the farmers
of the country to Join hands with the
socialist party. for protection against
CAPITALISTS. and the control of produc
ton. The nomination of candidates
then took place.