Montana news. [volume] (Lewistown, Mont.) 1904-191?, 1905-05-03
H.Lynch Answers
Frederick Heath

% ne Montana NEWS: received
a bundle of your papers containing
consecutive issues from March 9Th
to April I2th, inclusive. There
must be a dark gentleman in the
woodpile somewhere, as these are
the first Ihave received for month.
/ note Comrade Heath's letter in
regard to an article that wrote in
Spokane, and which was reproduced
by the Weekly People of New York.
The phrase to which Comrade
Heath takes exception appeared
among others of like expression,
with reference to what appears to
me as a peculiar species of Social
ism now obtaining within the So
cialist party, in some sections of the
United States.
Obviously, Comrade Heath has
placed an improper construction
upon my assertion, as | never even
intimated that any of the Socialist
aldermen of Milwaukee introduced a
bill in the interest of the small gas
manufacturers of that city. My
quotation, as nearly as can now
repeat verbatim, read as follows:
Among other things, the Socialist
aldermen of Milwaukee are inter
ested in cheap gas for the small
manufacturers.
The article emanated from a letter
written by Comrade Welch, social
ist alderman of Milwaukee, in an is
sue of the Social Democratic Herald
some two months ago, while in the
heat of the city campaign there,
who in explaining the benefits of
Municipal Ownership" for the
people pointed out that the small
manufacturers would be among those
benefited.
At the time | called your attention
to the article, and requested that
you reproduce it.
Nv current issues of the Herald,
with other Socialist literature, are
Immediately placed in propaganda
service, when read.
The matter opens up a discussion
in a more general way, bearing upon
differences of opinion on tactics
now abroad in the Socialist party.
Little is gained in arguing the
merits and dement's of the contend
ing factions premises; results must
be consulted.
Comrade Heath will first agree
that opportunism serves best as a
political ny-paper in the mastering
of so-called Socialist votes.
If so, he will also admit that
slumps in the Socialist vote, in
America, occur with greater fire.
quency where opportunism obtains,
and that opportunism, where it pre-
walls throughout the world, has its
counterpart, weak working class
movement.
Does Comrade Heath know of
any method by which the Socialists
will gain possession of the means of
producing wealth other than by con-
fiscation? Why resort to sophistry
via a veiled PLATFORM
Is it not just as reasonable to de-
mand VIM. Jennings Bryan low
tariff, on the ground that the out
rageous and robber tariff is saved
to the poor workingman, who buys
back the product" as it is to par
ticularize workingclass measures,
to-wit: old age pensions1
We're we to include in our plat
forms, all the measures that are
favorable to the worker, and all that
will be thrown out by the capitalist
parties as the dominant issues" in
the way of municipal ownership, ETC.,
to stem the rising tide of Socialism,
! am constrained to think we Social
lists would have been the national
paper trust, purchasing paper on
which to print Socialist platforms.
/ think Socialist working class plat
forms should be as revolutionary