Montana news. [volume] (Lewistown, Mont.) 1904-191?, 1905-08-30
Operators Lost
Strike Reviewed

ANOihhSih dSllit NNiN-
graphers strike, the Montana News
asked me to write an article for its
columns, giving a detailed account
of the strike, in its different phases,
/, therefore use letter written by
me to Comrade Warren of the Ap-
peal to Reason, on Augrst 9TH, that
in my opinion, as a preliminary,
fits the case. The letter which is
self-explanatory, was addressed to
Comrade Warren, who cannot spare
the space for publication, giving as
his reasons, that it is not the policy
of the Appeal to enter into a discus
sion of tactics in the Socialist move
ment, further stating that he gave
space to two articles, written by
Comrade Debs and Simons on be-
half of industrial unionism. Com
rade Warren has entered into an
extended argument, in his letters to
me, asserting that though we were
thoroughly organized industrially,
with the four million unemployed,
(including those who will take the
strikers place at the call of the cap
italist class, we would still lose
with the powers of government in
the hands of the capitalist class.
| do not agree with him in this
particular instance, or other cases
where skilled labor (more or less)
is required, and where the system
of organization is correct. And
even if we would lose, | cannot see
how a Socialist is justified in oppo-
sing industrial unionism.
Comrade Warren points out to
me that the reason we won the "a
Great Northern strike, was because
of competition existing between the
Northern Pacific and Great Northern
railways at that time.
This is true in measure, but not
as pertinent in the matter as the fact
that in the ga struggle, there was
no competition among the railway
employees.
His assertions of no competition"
in the railroads then only strength
ems my premise as to the necessity
of no competition in the unions now.
II. l..
n n n
Madison, Wash, Aug. s, 1905.
Fred Warren, Gerard Kas.
Dear Comrade Warren: Let me
improve this opportunity of stating
to you that | think you are one of,
if not the best writer on statistics in
the Socialist movement. That you
make a special study of, and have
mastered the dry, long list of statis-
tics, there is no question. Your
sledge- hammer parallels against the
arguments of capitalists are not only
timely, but always bristling with
logic.
However | have just read your
answer to Debs, in which you take
issue with him, in which you style
his enthusiasm in the new union,
the /. w. w." You seemed TO
have satisfied in your mind that the
unemployed problem will do away
with all unions, to the extent, that
il is a waste of time for a Socialist
to bother his head about any union.
This opinion is generally shared
among the Socialist writer's. who
have served little or no time in un-
ions. As to the matter of this un-
employed problem, and when it will
mature, you and / widely differ.
We are not going to be swallowed
up with it in the immediate future.
We must take cognizance of the un-
ion question whether we like it OF
not, for the reason that the
union proposition will not let us
alone.
Now the question is: What grade
of unionism ought we Socialists
align with1 You will agree that the
Gompers style and practice of union
ism is little better than no unionism
- all IN the xubnla To ma ~ nm