Montana news., 1908-04-23
" State Department

\ the first speaker, and after that takes
place will report prospects for more
work.
Have you abandoned entirely the 50
per day system. With Mr.. Castle to
help me occasionally / think we can
make good record for Ravalli
county"
Concerning the above, we have some
comments to make.
| It is impossible to hold the counting
Of ballots back after the appointed
time for the convenience Of individ-
uals. No margin Of time is allowed
by the national office for the returns,
and 1t takes quick work to allow for
the second ballot and get the notifi-
cation TO the elected delegates. Those
on the outside frequently do not realize
the complications under which the OF
ficial work is compelled to be carried
| on.
The News published the "boost" I"
for Comrade Bernard although It did
so reluctantly. There is quite little
"boosting" that the News would have
liked to do in this line itself for IL is
in a position to know who in Montana
could best represent the interests of
the party at the great national gath.
ering Of the best posted socialists in
the country. But we have carefully
refrained from doing this because of
the personal complications that would
immeditely arise. It can readily be
seen what would be the result If every
socialist in Montana insisted on occu-
pying the pages Of the News with
his notions as to who would be a good
delegate at Chicago. We simply print
the names of the candidates and let
the members use their own judgment.
Which goes to show that individuals
must be known by service to the revo-
lutionary movement before the party
will make them its trusted representa-
tives.
In regard to Comrade Platt's plan
for speakers, it is a most excellent
one, provided there was money TO carry
it through. The socialist party is not
impoverished through lack Of plans but
through lack of money to carry out the
plans. 1t is impossible for speaker
to make his salary and expenses
through the Bitteuoot valley. We
know this through personal experiences
of three or four years. The socialists
are few and very poor and the popula.
tion widely scattered. Besides, Gen
thusiasm" is a poor basis to build up
sound socialist movement on. 1t is
purely the effervescent foam that ap-
pears on the top of activity TO arouse
the exploited class to consciousness.
The roots of sound social teaching must
extend much deeper down.
To do the right work through that
section Of the state it wants a man
of infinite perseverance, sagacity and
patience, to take his time, get used
TO the life of the people, do much
personal work, and not be disappointed
over small results. Comrade Burgess
is Just such a man. He is one Of the
most patient and self.saerificing men
in the movement, but he must be paid
his salary, as every worker who gives
his life and his time for the sake of
the socialists must, IL he is worth any
thing. This idea of the socialist mem
bership grating off a few workers is
about exploded. Persons in COM
Portable circumstances who are social
lists can well afford to pay IS a month
to carry on the work of a cause that
they believe takes precedence Of every
thing else. That is only $50 a year
What is that compared to freedom
II is folly to expect to haul money
out Of the estate organization. The
estate organization, through its
headquarters is only an Intermediary
to dispense and pass on the funds con.
tributed by the membership. 1t is no
source of supply.
With these facts in mind members
ought to be able intelligently to work
} out the problems Of their own local
: work.
E Comrade Proebstal Of Stork sends in
$500 to pay the subscription for 80
copies of the News for Local Union
No Al w w Co. nna war