Montana news., 1906-09-13
Isaac Cowan's Report For Week End
ing Sept. 18th.

Sept. I'd, Kalispell-Had best meet
ing of their local they have had for Q
long time. The comrades decided to
call convention for Saturday, Sept. Is
at 1880 p. m. for the purpose Of nomi-
mating full county ticket for Flat
head county, and to transact any other
business that may properly come before
that body. One new comrade was ad
mitted to membership, with other ap-
plications pending. They decided to
try few books of the continual cam
paign coupons to help the movement
along. The secretary, Comrade Chap
man, was instrusted to write national
Office about matter and copy for local
papers. Altogether, they have got some
new life, and will move along.
Sept. 3, Labor day, the comrades de-
cided to have me speak at the park,
but the committee said that would be
politics, so their chief orator Of the
day, Ex-Governor Bob Smith, had the
field to himself In his remarks he
stated that labor produced all, and
then said that labor was entitled to .
fair share, but he never stated what
that amount is. He spoke about Chi
nese labor, and went on to show how
the only criminal in the labor move
ment was the ignorant foreigner. His
talk of fifty minutes was not half so
far advanced as we have heard twenty
years ago from X. Of L. organizers. At
night we held forth on the street to
a large and appreciative audience. Ny
topic was the Meyer, Haywood and
Pettibone kidnapping and illegal i'm
prisonment. We held the box down for
two hours and a half. Questions and
answers few thick and fast for nearly
an hour Sold $2.35 worth Of books
for the local. Donated makes sl2.35
for Kalispell since my last reports came
to you from there. A large number of
millmen from Somers were at this
meeting. We discovered number who
are Socialists, and some who are ready
to come over. Comrade Chapman Sc
cured the names of some and they will
try and organize a local at Somers
Failing that, they will throw in their
lot with the, Kalispell local. 1 cannot
close this without thanking the com
rades for their kindness, and especially
Comrades Johnston, Murphy, Bjorneby,
and Chapman. feel confident that
from now on, if they will just put forth
little effort, the local will become
power in the valley.
Sept. 4th-Intended to make Libby,
but the G. N. was al tied up in 3
wreck east, and trains were of. I
made Whitefsh by stage, 20 miles
across the country, in FIVE and one
half hours, with a barrel of whisky
for seat. q am still sober.) On ar.
irving 1. visited the roundhouse and
tried to round up enough to start a
local, but failed. IL was very hot and
the boys were tired out. I had a long
talk with Comrades Bayle and
Maughan. They stated that they
wanted local, and would try and or.
ganize one later. No train arrived till
1:30 a. m. next morning, so arrived
in Libby at a. m. on the 5th. Found
out that Comrade Boothman lived -four
4 mil kal 30
railroad ties to find him. He has beer
mining engineer but settled down Ia
ranch life on 40 acres Of timber land
along the river. Has n wife and fv,
boys, all Socialists, and as happy al
the mountains around them are high
Had splendid dinner right from ma
ture-none of Armour's concoctions tC
poison the public for profit. Comrad'
Boothman and / returned to Libby
talked to a few Of the citizens and
then held a meeting at night. The audi
ence was small, as there are very few
people in town. j left a charter lis
with Comrade Boothman, bade hin
good night, then waited at the depo
for freight train TO get through d
Troy so that I could catch the limite,
TO Standpoint, Idaho. Arrived at Sand
point $3.50 a. m. on tho 9th. Found
room and had some needed sleep, afte
three days and two nights withou
either bed or sleep, and it felt rathe