Montana news. [volume] (Lewistown, Mont.) 1904-191?, 1905-04-12

dividual offerings vary from 10
cents to a dollar, but the money
comes cheerfully from men who
give gladly both of their money
and their time.
There is literature to be dis
tributed. and the men who bring
in the money take away the
printed matter. Thus far in the
campaign 100000 pieces have
been placed in the hands of peo-
pie who read. There are buttons
to be handed out. but unlike the
methods of distributing them
elsewhere there is no man to fill
the pockets of all who ask. To
the contrary, the applicant for
buttons pays 5 cents for every
pair that he takes-for it is a
cardinal principle of Socialism
that what is worth having is
worth paying for.
Every Socialist in Chicago is
known at headquarters. His name
is on the books and his address
and occupation is given. The or
ganization is a dues-paying con-
tingent, and to remain in full fel-
lowship after being admitted to
the party IS cents must be paid
by the member to his local branch
every month. And every cent is
accounted for. The books are
always open The open meetings
are never secret. The idea of pure
democracy is always uppermost.
OF the 25 cents. : cents goes 20
the national committee. ) cents 10
the state committee. ) cents TO the
county committee and 10 cents
is retained by the local branch.
There are eighty-two locals in
Chicago to-day and more will be
organized after election when the
] applications in can be acted upon.
Three thousand Socialists are
paying dues in Chicago to-day.
Each man carries an identifica-
tion book. and on the first of each
month the secretary of his local
must affix stamp therein to show
that his dues have been paid.
These stamps are issued in books
OF twenty by the national COM
mittee TO the state committee,
which pays 5 cents stamp. II
inturn sells them to the county
committee for 10 cents and the
locals pay Is. The members are
charged 25 and there is no credit.
The business is conducted on a
strictly cash basis. Every month
a complete statement is published
by the secretary, and the financial
status of the party is always
known to each and every member
There is nothing harum
scarum about our organization"
said Secretary Breckon, as is
evident when one takes time 10
investigate. 1t is as thoroughly
Iopposed to the thoughtof anarchy
as a great commercial concern. 1t
is great economic movement
seeking square deal and munich
pal ownership, and for its under
current it has integrity and devo-
tion. Is there such a system Of
accounting in any other political
party? Can Democrat or Re-
publican learn where the money
goes' Can any candidate but a
Socialist run for Office without
contributing to campaign fund?
And can he learn after election
where his money went? Here we
have a complete system of ac-
counting, audited regularly There
can be no hold-up and there must
be receipt for every cent re-
ceived and disbursed.
This election is of no partic-
ular moment. We consider il a
time when we balance the books
and begin over again. No excuses
are necessary from us after cleo
tion day. We find where we stand
and buckle down to work once
more. We keep up the prop
aganda. At present | have 900
permits to hold meetings on as
, many street corners-we can't al
ways afford hall rent-and our
people will go on spreading the
message we have to deliver. Our
) speakers are workingmen, for it
is necessary that workingmen
= teach economic truths to their
brother workers.
} We are looking toward the
{ economic determination We are
r standing for something, and it is
: laughable to talk of coalition with