Montana news., 1909-10-21


oses. Is it. then. too fantastic thing
TO suggest that some OF the funds
which the Civic Federation is spend
ing in its war upon socialism are used
in the hiring Of spies to act as agents
of disruption within the socialist
party?
once within the party the course
OF conduct for a spy is plain. He
would counterfeit the fanatic. He
would be a radical Of the radicals
He would be intolerant and most We
hement in his denunciations of capital
ism. He would be extremely active
in party work and very -eady to show
his devotion TO socialism.
So far there would be no way by
which to distinguish the spy from the
sincere and faithful fanatic (and
would be the last to say that the
time will ever come when the socialist
movement can afford to dispense with
him whom We call the fanatic.)
II the spy did nothing more than
this he would do little damage. But
ne is there to do something more. He
will naturally desire posts OF author
ity. II will be especially eager for ad-
ministrative positions. He will try to
create factions and to make himself
the candidate OF a faction. He will
cling to any official position he may
secure and declare that he holds IL in
defense Of a principle. He will foster
everything that makes for divisions
within the party. He will be ultra
orthodox und demand the expulsion Of
all who do not agree with the faction
from which he derives his power. He
will become a profession proletarian,
skilled In all the arts OF the dema-
gogue. He will attack any construct
i've work undertaken within the party,
or by any member of the party. He
will pretend to veil such attacks be-
hind questions Of principle and seek to
arouse a factional struggle on every
point. For in this way two objects
are accomplished: the party is dis
rupted and the work OF socialist prop.
aganda is hindered. He will foster al
jealousies within the organization and
seek to destroy the effectiveness oi
any one who may be accomplishing
anything for socialism. He will play
upon the petty vanities Of the incom
petent and the ignorant and seek 4
inflame them against those who ar
capable and willing to accomplish
any work OF agitation and education
When he is trusted with party worl
he will permit his enterprises TO fal
through carelessness, or even appar
ent incompetence.
The party official who starts out L
reform the party. who organizes fac
tions or becomes the creature of on,
: who attacks those who are workin
for socialism instead OF utilizing thei
work and hitting II into a part OF tn
, general party work. is either incompe
, ent or worse, and deserves no consid
z Grafton In either case II the rule
e followed and all such persons ar
speedily reIegated TO private life, the
:, the spy can do US no harm, becaus
; it IL only through these methods thI
=, disruption comes.
X Practically every one OF the ioca
O tiles In which the party is now DISC
n ganized has one or more persons WI
d display the characteristics describe
y It matters very little whethsr the
3. persons are really paid agents OF cal
o italism. or simply very cheap par
o politicians and loud-mouthed dem
Il gogues, they should be gotten rid OF
10 promptly as possible.
Al The very first thing which strik
,e a student OF the history OF the social
at movement is that never since such
ty movement existed on American =,
,e has there been such dearth Of diffc