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

to make voluntary contributions.
There are very few rich men in the
Socialist ranks, and not many who can
be described as even well to do" The
largest single contribution ever made
TO the DartyS funds has not exceeded
a thousand dollars, and individual do
nations of even one-tenth that amount
are very rare. Many labor unions
and other worltingmcn's societies
make appropriations from their treas
uries. The contributions of individ-
uals usually range between twenty
five cents and five dollars. hut the
large number of such mites produces
respectable total. In 1908. whe-l
more than $4,000 was raised for the
special Presidential campaign fund. it
was cstimatedt hat not less than 200.
900 persons contributed either individ-
ually or as members of unions or So
cieties. The Socialist party has not
waited for the law to require it to
make public accounting of its receipts
and expenditures. Column after col
umn in every Socialist paper. is taken
up with itemized acknowledgements.
the giver of nickel receiving the
same recognition as the largest cor.
tributor.
swelled to meet the ever growing
needs of the. movement. Picnics,
balls. concerts. lectures. entertain
nents of all kinds arc held for the
triple purpose OF furnishing amuse-
ment or instruction. of bringing the
adherentS of the movement into clos
er social contact, and of realizing
profit to be used in party work.
Books and pamphlets are sold AZ every
Socialist meeting. Instead of Offering
free beer and cigars to draw people
to listen to its speakers. as the old
parties frequently do in the working
class districts. the Socialist party Of
ten charges small admission fee even
at its campiSn meetings. and it hard
ly ever fails to pass the hat" the
chairman reminding the audience that
1t takes money to pay hall rent and
that they. tho bcneficiarics of the COM
ing Socialist victory, ioug tht ITO help
foot tho bills. ist'-
The total receipts OF the national
Office during the year 100? amounted
to 4 little less than $4,000 This
year they will probably reach $4,000.
L.
local, and branch organizations may
now be as high as half Il million dol
lars a year, certainly not much more.
And it is safe to say that not less
than half a million men and women
have a right to call the Socialist par
ty their party. Cyl the ground that they
help to pay its expenses.
This democratic financial system is
the basis for the whole democratic SUI
perstructure of the movement. While
the party welcomes those who arc able
to give comparatively large sums. it
is never dependent upon them: The
large contributor has no reward but
the feeling that he has done his duty
in proportion TO his means. The man
who should allow his friends in the
party to claim special consideration
for him because he has given hun
dreds of dollars where others have
given dimes and quarters would BE-
taking the. surest way to discrcdit
himself In such matters the So
cialists may sometimes be said to
stand SO straight that they lean
backward" They may sometimes
carry to an almost fanatical extreme
their instructive distrust of a rich
L. IL
on virtues side.
The doctrine that the rank and file
must bear the burdens in order that
the rank and file may rule does not
stop with financial affairs. It is car
ried into effect also in doing the rou-
tine work of the party.
There is strong decentralizing'
tendency in the party organization
The national organization is an agen-
cy for doing party work. not Il govern
ing body Only to the national CON
rcnticn is the full power of the party
ever delegated: and even it's decisions.
in most important matters. are imnle-
diately submitted to n general vote
of the membership for approval or re-
lection.
In general there is one local for |
each city or town in few cases the |
county is the unit of organization. !
The larger locals. in turn. are divid ed |
into branches covering convenient
areas. Each local or branch meets at |
least once month: and no one is
regarded as Il really good party men,
Der unless. besides paying his dues
lc attends the meetings with fair reg
llarity.
The national secretary and the sew
IN members of the national executive
are elected annually by
iirect vote of the whole party mem
'ership. In the same way the mem
,erS of the party in each State elect