Montana news. [volume] (Lewistown, Mont.) 1904-191?, 1905-07-05


go to help put speakers into unorga-
nized territory.
]. II. Walsh had a fine street
meeting in Butte Saturday night,
June "a. He also filled a date at
Basin (unorganized.
Ida Crouch Hazlett held a series
of meetings in Billings during the
past week and reports large crowds.
Owing to an affection of the vocal
cords Comrade Hazlett has been ad-
vised by the doctors to quit speak
ing for the present and rest or her
voice is liable to be injured perma-
nently. Therefore all dates for Com
rade Hazlett have ceen cancelled,
but we are in hopes that with two
weeks rest, Comrade Hazelett's
health will be restored.
At one time there were five locals
in Fergus county, but at present
there is no local in good standing in
Fergus, nor has there been any dues
paid from that county for the past
eight months.
We want to put speaker into
Fergus for two weeks, commend cling
some time this month; it will cost in
the neighborhood of SIS, half of
which we expect the speaker to raise
in collections. After the speaker is
through with Fergus county he will
pass into Cascade county for two or
three weeks work.
If any comrade would like to as
sist in building up the movement in
Fergus. they can do so by sending
in donations to headquarters stating
that donation is for the Fergus
county campaign.
The question has been asked
why is it that when our speakers
go into unorganized places that they
do not organizer" The principal
reason is, the place is not
ripe for organization. From past
experience we think that it is poor
policy to put a speaker into unorga-
nized districts, work up enthusiasm
and organize a local. Locals orga-
nized under such circumstances
never amount to much; on an aver
age they pay about three months
dues and drop out of existence.
There has been about 50 such locals
organized in Montana in the past
four years. We are not trying to
see how many charters can be issued,
but how solid an organization can
be built up. Let us try to perfect
an organization, which in the hour
of trial will not be found wanting.
Take local that starts with six
or eight good solid Socialists, who
know why and for what they join
the party and as general rule, there
is more active and substantial work
done by that local than the local that
starts with from 20 to 40 charter
members who join with a whoop and
a come on boys sentiment; usually
the large local that organizes on
sentiment and enthusiasm drops
down to FIVE or eight members in as
many weeks and those that are left
are usually so disheartened that it
takes long time nursing and nur-
ishing to get them in fighting trim,
while the local that is organized by
eight solid charter members usually
jump up to 20 or 40 members in a
short time to the qualification of the
entire membership.
1t should not be thought that be-
cause speakers do not organize To-
Gals that they are not doing good
work or should not visit unorganized
places. We should continue to keep
putting speakers into unorganized
districts, having them give a series
of lectures, size up the community,
make a report to headquarters, have
the next speaker on the circuit visit
the same places, make report and
so on until ripeness for organization
has appeared. There are Socialists