Montana news., 1908-04-16


and attention to May Beals magazine,
"The Red Flag" that should have
been done.
The periodical is published at Able
Vile, La, aud we believe we are tell.
ing the exact truth when we say IL is
the completest and ablest publication
the American movement produces. 1t
confines itself to its especial sphere,
and the result is artistic, effective
and satisfying.
"The Red Flag" is high-class
publication, devoted to the literature
Of the movement on the basis of en-
hancing and intensifying truth by art.
May Beals has the true soul of the
artist and the indomitable patience and
perseverance, to work out her artist
ideals. The poetry is good and true,
the fiction awful and realistic as a
photograph-the torture and horror Of
the working class age is held up so
that no one can pretend ignorance who
has seen 1t. The long, slim mould Of
the magazine, its red cover, paper, all
are an irrefutable fact that the young
author has produced something real and
true and good and genuine. We only
trust that the material basis may not
fail, and this new torch in the dark
ness of proletarian night be not ex-
tinguished from the lack of earth 8
carbon to feed its flame.
If the Montana News continues to
live and grow we may yet see the Red
Flag put out from the Montana News
offices.
We print the statement of the
author;
Our aim in publishing the Red Flag
is: first, to turn out a magazine full
of revolutionary ammunition each
month. Second, to increase il as soon
as possible to full magazine size.
Third, to get it on news stands.
Fourth, to install a good job plant
(Which is the only way, as you know,
to make a socialist paper self support
ing). Fifth, to use the surplus in
educational propaganda among the
poorest and most oppressed workers of
the South.
Perhaps you think the last PROPOSE
ton is fore-doomed to failure. Per
haps you have been told that the
"poor white trash" are incapable of
understanding their own condition and
its remedy. j was told the same.
Especially was / warned against the
cotton mill people. Socialists who cer-
tsinly had seen more of them than ],
urged me not to waste any energy on
the cotton mill workers.
"They are too ignorant, these ad-
visers said "You can't make them
understand anything if you try"
"Have you tried 80 ] asked.
No, they had not tried but it was
no use, "they cant even read and
write,' / was told.
Fortunately have old alt s faculty
of not needing advice, experience. ma
iorities, ridicule nor caution.
The first time tried, the cotton
mill people stood around the soap box
and listened as though they were try
ing to hear a pin drop for more than
an hour. That meant something for
they had been working in the sitting
mill from six in the morning till six at
night. Many of them knew that !
had been working in the mill and try
ing to organize a union until the bosses
fired me. i suppose that made them
listen better.
Later when / passed through that
city again the local secretary told me
that they had begun coming to him for
literature the next day after I spoke.
At that time, more than year later,
they were still reading everything he
could get for them, and twelve of them
were staunch socialists.
The cotton mill workers are the most
ignorant of all the workers of the
South. In cotton mill towns you are
told that the population is divided into
three classes: "niggers, cotton mill
folks, and white folks" And yet
they can learn. Their own hard lives
are teaching them the hard facts Of
the class struggle. They only need an
interpreter.
II you wish TO assist in the break.
ing up Of the solid south send one dol
lar for a years subscription to the
Red Flag, or five dollars for six yearly
suh .arda