Montana news., 1908-06-11
NORTHDAKOTA


The function which the Montana
News has filled in showing the funda-
mental necessity of the Socialist Party
having paper at its command to con.
duet its battles on the local ground and
to form a medium of communication
between the locals in a state, led to
an invitation from State Secretary
Bassett to stop at Fargo and hold a
conference with the State Executive
Committee. Comrades Graham, Pow
ers and myself, of the Montana dele
gates to the National convention,
reached Fargo from st. Paul Monday
evening, May 25.
A ratification meeting of the con-
vention nominations had been arranged
in the Unitarian church for that even
ing. Comrade Lampman, delegate from
North Dakota, myself and Comraje
Graham were the speakers. Comrade
Ballou was chairman, Fargo has a
Socialist Woman's club, and this club
had made all the arrangements for the
ratification meeting. A good, earnest
spirit prevails in the Socialist move.
ment at Fargo, and though not large
il has men and women in its ranks
who work clearly and consistently for
a better day.
Tuesday afternoon a meeting Of the
Woman's Socialist club and its friends
was held at the home of Comrade Mrs
Payne. i addressed the meeting in
formally on the value and necessity
of work among women in the Socialist
movement, spoke of woman's economic
restrictions, and gave a synopsis of the
special woman's work accomplished by
the convention. Comrade Lampman,
this faithful old comrade of years Of
effort in the movement of protest, was
present and spoke on the adulteration
of foods. The ladies added to the
sociabiliGy Of the occasion by serving
coffee, cake and sandwiches.
In the evening Comrade Graham and
myself held conference with the State
Executive Committee. The state secre.
tary and the national committeeman
are ex officio members of this com
mittee. State Secretary Bassett was
desirous of having some means Of COM
munication with his locals and some
means of arousing local interest among
the Socialists Of North Dakota. He Is
in the same position as too many of
the state secretaries, overworked with
his own business and having to do
the heavy work Of state secretary
without pay.
Comrade Graham laid the plan that
has been adopted by the Idaho party
with such satisfactory results, before
the committee. Secretary Coonrod OF
Idaho began TO use the News to send
out his reports through, as the News
had such a large circulation in Idaho
He said that he Immediately began ia
get results and there was an increased
activity throughout the locals all over
the state. The News is repaid for its
space, and it's setting up Of the mat
ter, by the subs that come in and the
job work from the unions in the new
territory.
A similar plan was laid before the
Dakota committee; also a plan to print
a special North Dakota state conven'
tion edition, the money guarantee being
that at least a thousand copies be
taken among the various locals at a
cent apiece. North Dakota has twenty
locals 80 that the minimum charge
would be about so cents each. In this
way the state news would be spread
all over the state. Other special edi'
tions could be put out as occasions
arose at special points, as troubles with
the Citizens Alliance, or matters OF