The labor argus. [volume] (Charleston, W. Va.) 1906-1915, 1911-04-13

to give, but to make sure that their
purses are safe. Why should they
contribute to the campaign funds?
They are not asking any favors of
the party. Let those put up the
funds who expect to get something
out of it. And those who expect to
get something out of it do put up.
often on a very large scale. Office
holders who wish to keep their plac-
es, Office seekers who wish to get
nominations or appointments. enter
prisinG gentlemen who wish to get
contracts or franchises, and the
whole series of special interests"
from railway company and insurance
trust down to gambler and dive
keeper. who wish to evadc the law
with impunity-it is these, as every
ono knows, who provide the sincws
of war.
r It is quite otherwise with the So
'cialist party. The Socialists keep in
mind the old saying, why pays the
piper may call the tune" and they
see to 1t that tho rank and file col
lectively pay the piper.
The Socialist party has a definite
organization. each member of which
pays dues of % cents a month. The
dues are rcceiptcd for and the ac-
counts controlled by tho use of
Eummcd ducs-stamps, which the ma
tional secretary sells to the State
secretaries at five cents apiece, the
State secretary sells to the local sec
rotary at double the price, and the
local secretaries at double the price.
and tho local secretary affiXes to the
members red card whenever he
pays months dues. If a member
is sick or unemployed, he is excused
from paying, the fact being record
ed on his card by the local secre-
tary. His card. with the proper
stamps affixed. is the certificate of
his right and duty to attend party
meetings and. do ibis. share of party
work 90
The number who actually paid dues,
according 70 the records OF the ma
tional Office averaged 41.JS0 during
the year 1909. and the first ten months
of tho year 1910 show an average OF
5J.1li paying members. About two
thirds of these arc waSeworlters, and
ovtr three-fifths of the wage-work ers
in the Socialist party are also mem
bcrs of trade unions: ~ Perhaps one
tenth of the whole number arc women
who have equal rights with men in
tint party organization.
1t is not easy to accustom American
voters. trained in old party methods.
to this "uu-AmeriCan' scheme Of re-
curing the rank adj file to furnish
the campaign funds as well as the
votes. But the party spares no effort
to draw as many as possible of the So
claltst voters into the organiza ton.
Hardly Il street-corner speech but con
cludes with the invitation to join the
party. Special meetings of enrolled
voters are called. circulars are sent
out. whole districts are canyagscd
from house to house. to get into touch
with the unorganized adherents of the
movement and persuade them to be-
come active comrades" instead of
passive followers
The membership dues. aggregatinC
ut present about So. 900 year fo;- the
national organization. as much for the
several States. and nearly 100000 for
the locals and branches. form the nue..
lcus of the partv's financial systcnl
This income. however. is by TO means
adequate to the party's needs It is
therefore supplemented by various
all of which are character
lzeG by the same care that the whole
rank and file of the movement shall
share in defraying its cost
During every campaign. and at 9TH
or times when special tasks arc TO be
undertaken, the local. State and ma
tional organizations of the part. au-
peal to its members and symPatrizersI