Newspaper Page Text
THEMONTANA NEWS.
VOLII.
LEWI8T0WN,MONTANA, WEDNB8DAY, JUNE St, IDOL j
NO.II.
Howthe Farmers Land Is Quietly Slipping Away
Well,^Citizen^ Watson shook^hands with the Strenuous one. Ah,^me!
Mrs.Otto Kempendorf and little^boy left Wednesday morning to^visit the Fair.
THETHEORY
Thefarmers are a prosperous and^ever growing class. Always Wrong^bulletin (rep.) Prosser, Wash.
(Andremember, please, the Bul^^letin boasts that the republican* do^not indulge in ^theories.^)
THEI M i
Thefarmer knows he has l^een ^^favored child of fortune these last^few years. lie knows it because^politicians have told him so. His^pocketbook and bank acc ount may^not tell him so, but if the money is^not in one or the other of these^places, it is surely his own fault.
Fordo not the NMD reports for^1900 tell him that the 5,737,372^farms in the United States increase.I^in value fr ^m 1SS0 to 1900 from $ 10,-^197,090,776 to I16.6r4.647,491, or^64 per cent^ Ami did not the value^of his live stock products increase^during the same time from $1,576,-^IIX4.707 to $3,075,447,703, or 95^percent^ Of course they did, be^^cause the census bureau says so,^and the census bureau not only^knows the facts, but tells them^^perhaps too freely at times.
Therefore,it might reasonably be^expected that the census reports^wont.I show that the fanner owns^the land he tills, or is paying for it^very rapidly, Mut in that respect^the census reports are again disap^^pointing. They do not show any^thing of the kind. On the con-^trarv. they show that the American^farmer is slowly sinking from hope^^less debt to absolute non ownership^of the land, as surely as the qnick-^sand's victim is engulfed in the^mire into which he goes more deep^^ly with every straggle to get loose.
TheAmerican farmer shares with^the American wageworker the dis^^tinction of belonging to the most^pitifully deceived class of human^being on the face of the earth. The^farmers of most other nations are^not taught to expect anything but a^bare living, and are therefore sel^^dom disap(x^inted. Hut not so with^the American farmer. The political^orators tell him during campaigns
thathe is a most prosperous as^well as a most independent person,^and the capitalist newspapers that^supply him with ^information^ re^^peat the tale the rest of the year.^The simple fact seems to be that^the farmer is a participant in a game^in which every other member, ex^^cept himself and the wage worker,^may fleece some one else to reim^^burse himself for the loss of that^which another has taken from him.^If the manufacturer charges the^wholesaler too much for his pro^^duct, the wholesaler can take it out^of the retailer, the retailer can pass^it on to the consumer, and the con^^sumer, if he be other than a wage^worker Off farmer, can look around^for someone to ^do.^ with a fair^prospect of making a succesful^search.
Mutnot so with the farmer. If^he has been charged an excessive^price for his food clothing or farm^machinery, he cannot reimburse^himself by demanding more for his^grain, his wool, or his livestock,^for the simple reason that he must^sell, if he sell at all, for whatever^he cati get. Like the wageworker,^the farmer cannot fix the prl^ a of a^thing he sells, or a thing he buvs^all this is done for him by eager^gentlemen, who, perhaps, may It ,1^that these tasks, in addition to their^others, might break down the Ihm !t li^of those who till the soil and mair^facture its products.
In1XK0 the American farmer^owned 74.5 percent of the I mil he^tilled. In 1890 hi owned but It.6^per cent, while in the following ten
years,Mr. Rockefeller, Mr. Morgan^and the rest of the ^captains of in^dustry^ got in their work upon him^to such an extent that the census of^1900 found him with only 64.7 per^of his land his own.
Inother words, while the value^of the farmer's land and his live^stock increased 150 per cent in the^30 years ending in 1900, 9.9 per^cent of the land that he absolutely^owned in 1X90, was owned by the^landlord class in 1900. These fig^tires certainly indicate ^great pros^peritv^ for some one. Is it for the^fanner^ Well, generally speaking,^a farmer who owned 160 acres in^1XX0 has lost the ownership of 10^j^ res since then.
I'nun which it appe. is that the^same inexorable laws are in opera^tion in this country that have given^Ireland to the landlords placed the^ownership of half of Prussia in the^'lands of 31,000 men and given^practically all the land in Austria to^the ^nobility.^ The American farm^^er need only to sit tight, ^stand pat^^and vote cither of the tickets that^his capitalist friends vote am! Ins^land will slip through his hands as^noiselessly and as surely as the bri^^gand's boolj follows him into the^brush afterthe train hasl^een robbed.
Fofffarm tenantry is Increasing^with all the irresistible steadiness of^the tides, though it is all Hood and^no ebb, with this treasury tide. In^ihe whole country, as has been^shown, the percentages of farms^operated by tenants increased from^25.5 in 18X0 to 35.3 per cent in^1900. At.i.an U. Mknson, editor of^Detroit (Mich.) Times.
Reportof National
QuorumMeeting
TheNational Ouorum of the So^^cialist party was called to order by^National Secretary Mailly at 11^a. m., June 11, 1904, in the office^of the National Headquarters, (^hi^cago. Victor L. Merger of Wiscon^^sin, K. Merlvn of Illinois, John M.^Work of Iowa ami S. M. Key nobis^of Indiana being present, ('has. ('^.^Towner of Kentucky absent.
Onmotion of Comrade Merger,^Comrade Kerlyn was elect^d chair^^man. W. L, Oswald of the Na^tional ottice was elected secretary.
Letterfrom Comrade Towner ex^^plaining his absence was read by^Secretary Mailly, and same was^ordered 011 Ale.
SecretaryMailly further reported^as follows: Refereiidunis on Plat^^form and trades Union resolutions^are now before the membership.^Seriatim vote on constitution will^go out today and close July 25th.^Some demands have been received^for the submission of the State and^Municipal program to a referendum^but in accordance with the action^of the national convention the pro^gram was first to be revised bv the^national committee and then sub^unite.I t 1 a referendum. Comrade^Oswald of New Jersev has lieen en^gaged as bookkeeper in the National^ottu e, ( omrade Martin having tak^en charge of literature department^and newspaper plate matter. Com^rade (.'lark is on a vacation, Coin^rade Oneal being temporarily in^charge of his work. Contribution^blanks for the half day's wane do^nation to the campaign f.i.id hat^been sent out, and by this time the^comrades should be em 1 ^.tieallv^circulating them and the Otttlook is^for a generous roapon
ComradeMailly then ga\e a sis^tematic review of the situation in^the various states and tcnitoiics,^taking them up one b\ ffM In the^course of the statement the follow^ing actions were taken:
SecretaryMailly advised sending^II. M. McKee through Tennessee,^North Carolina and South Carolina,^in order that we might have an^electoral ticket in each state. The
suggestionwas endorsed by the^Ouoru.n.
Suggestedby Comrade lierlvn^that the Onorurn issue a concise^statement of our position on the^Colorado situation.
Mi motion it was ordered and^Comrade Merger was instructed to^^ Ira ft same.
Onsuggestion of Secretary Mailly^Comrade Merger moved that Na^^tional Secretary be instructed to^telegraph all state secretaries that^the uuorum recommends them to^notify all locals in their respective^states to arrange for public protest^meetings against capitalist anarchy^.11 Colorado ami that at such meet^^ings collections be made to assist^tiie Western Federation of Miners^in Colorado. Adopted.
Adjournmentfor recess.
Quorumreconvened at 2 o'clock.
('.intitulinghis review by states.^National Secretary Mailly submitted^correspondence from W. Ham^Spe.irs of Chicago, claiming recog^^nition as temporary state secretary^of the Socialist party of Illinois, as^the result of action reported to have^been taken by the state executive^committee. Also letter from Jas.^S Smith, state secretary, notifying^National Secretary not to recognize^HT. Harry Spears, as the latter is a^suspended member of l ocal Cook^('ountv.
ComradeSpears,. having asked an^opportunity to present his case.^Comrade Merger moved that each^of the two claimants to the state^secretaryship be given one-half hour^in which to present t'r.cir arguments^to the Ouorum, and that they be^notified to appear at four o'cl.u It.^Carried.
Correspondencefrom state secre^^tary of Indiana presenting the ne^^cessity for an organizer in that state^was read, and Secretary Mailly^recommended sending an organizer^as requested.
Onmotion of Comrade Work it^was decided to send Comrade^Towner into Indiana for a period^of from six weeks to two months.
l.etttrwas submitted from State^Secretary of Vermont asking that^an organizer be sent into that state.^! Moved by Comrade Reynolds to^j send Comrade Hanford to Vermont^j for a short period previous to the^state election in Septetnl^er. Car-^j ricd.
TheNational Secretary was in-^' strueted to procure information as^10 the cost of maintaining the pres^^ent state organizer in Florida with^the intention of lending assistance^to that state.
Onmotion of ('omrade Reynolds^the action of the National Secretary^in approving Focal I.aurium, Mich.,^Oi the matter of expelling John B.^Rastclla. for having accepted a nom^^ination from a capitalist paitv. and^, on demand refusing to withdraw his^name fffOI the ticket, was approved.
TheNational Secretary reported^thai Mrs. Ella Reeve Cohen was^pefffbffBaiag organizing work in Del^eware for the national headqua 1 teis,^icceiving sufficient financial aid to^^ over her traveling expenses and^those of speakers engaged. Ap-^proved.
TheNational Secretary recom^^mended that a referendum be in^itiated in the Indian Territory on^the question of territorial organiza^^tion On motion of Reynolds he^was empowered to take such a step.
Theaction of the National Bet ra^tary in calling a convention of the^Socialist party of Maryland to nom^^inate electoral ticket was endorsed.
TheNational Sec retary reported^having called a state convention |g^Rhode Island for June 12th, ii| on^roqtteet. of locals, and presented COr^^rcftpoadaaoa froej locals relative to^1 irudltioM in that state.
Merlvnmoved that in view of the^special circumstances existing in^Rhode Island, the locals of that^state be authorized to form a state
organisation)if they deemed it ne^^cessary, and that they l^c telegraph^Od to that effect.
TheNational Secretary reported^having agreed with (.'omrade Chas^E. Randall after the national con^^vention not to recommend that a^national organizer be sent into^I tah within at least 60 days, upon^promise of Comrade Randall that^he would upon his return to Utah,^recommend unattached locals in^that state to applv for charters di^red from the national headquarters^The Sec retary also reported that in^response to request in letter from^( omrade Randall's blank applica^^tions for charters had lieen sent to^unattached locals in Utah. Secre^^tary Mailly's action was endorsed.
Nationalsecretary reported hav^^ing issued calls for the Wyoming^state convention to be held at I.ara^mie June 19th. in accordance with^referendum. A call had been issued^by F. W. ott signing himself^^State Secretary.^ Comrade Ott^explained that this call had to lie^published t^^ comply with the law of^Wyoming.
Movedby Comrade Reynolds^that the National Secretary be em-^, owered to take necessary steps to^^ward securing an electoral ticket in^^ v erv state. ^ arried.
Thesubjec t of general organizing^work was taken up.
TheNational Secretary reported^^ 'rganizer M. W. Wilkins to be in^West Virginia, (I. H. Ooebel in^Arizona, Robert Saltiel in Rhode^Island, and that (^eo. F^. Bigelow^would begin a tour of South and^North Dakota in July.
Propositionwas submitted Win.^A. Toole, Haltimore, Md., offering^his services as organizer during his^two weeks' vacation in July at the^same terms as last year. Comrade^Work moved to accept the offer.^Carried.
Correspondencebetween national^secretary and National Organizer^(ioebel on matters in April financial^report was submitted and the Quo^^rum v oted to allow the charges of^Comrade Coebel up to May first,^but to establish hereafter the prin^^ciple of not paying for baths, laun^^dry and similar items.
Fouro'clock having arrived, it^was on motion decided to admit the^Illinois contestants, Comrade Mer-^lyn resigned the chair in order to^avoid the charge of exercising a^biased judgement, he being a resi^^dent of Illinois, ('omrade Rey^^nolds was elected in his place.
ComradeSpears not having ap^peared. Comrade Jas. S. Smith be^^gan to speak at 4:oX. A few min^^utes later Comrades W. Harry-^Spears, J. II. Mard and ('has.^Frickson of the opposition were ad^mitted. It was then decided by^unanimous consent that ('omrade^Spears should begin speaking at^once, and Comrade Smith should^follow him. Comrade Spears^spoke for 35 minutes. Comrade^Smith then made a brief statement,^after which cross questions began^and continued till 6 o'clock. Owing^to the length and involved nature of^the debate, the secretary did not^attempt to record same.
Atthe close of the debate the^meeting adjourned for recess.
TheOuorum reconvened at X^o'clock. A communication from^Comrade M. V, Konda, offering to^ac t as Slavonic speaker in the Fast,^providing his railroad fare is paid,^was read, and the National Secre^^tary was instructed to procure full^particulars.
Communicationsfrom and to^Comrade Spargo, relative to a wes^tern tour, were read and the Na^^tional Secretary was empowered to^arrange a tour for Comrade Spargo,^not to extend beyond elec tion day,^the national office to assume re^sponsibility of employing him after^election day. Carried.
NationalSecretary reported that
hewas preparing a report for the In-1 up and it w as moved by Work: That^ternational Socialist and Trades having listened to the presentation
UnionCongress in accordance with^request of the secretary of the Inter^^national Soc ialist bureau, and had^requested and received the assur^^ance of the cooperation of Com^^rades M. Hillquit, Alex. Jonas and^Frnest Untcrmann. The Secretary^also recommended that same be got^^ten up in printed form in Fnglish.^Herman and French, for distribu^^tion among the delegates to the^Congress. The report would ac^^cede to the request of the Interna^tional bureau as much as possible^and give an outline of the growth
ofboth sides and given the matter^due consideration, the Oiinriini de^^cide to recogoite James S. Smith as^state secretary of Illinois. The mo^^tion being put to a vote resulted as^follows: Ves^Work, Reynolds and^Merger; Merlvn not voting; none^against.
Mergerwished his opinion in the^case to go on record as follows:
Ivote as I do because the 1 .1-^tional committee deals with st:.;e^committees only and not with any^minority faction of same. Further^^more, are have never been notified
anddevelopment of the Socialist j that the majority of the state com-^and Trade Union mo to meets in I mittee of Illinois has reasoved Smith
Americas j m e 1900.
Theresignation of Comrade Urn^est Untermann as delegate to t' e^International Socialist and Trades^Union Congress was read, and upon^motion, accepted.
TheNational Secretary was in^^structed to notify Comrade M.^Hillquit. the alternate delegate, ol^Comrade Untermann's resignation.
Application.,for credentials to^the Congress were received from^Comrades Nicholas Klein and Mrs
Coirlaae8, Brosra, and both were
granted.The Ou'^^ni then took^up consideration of national cam^^paign matters, (omrade Merger^suggested that various committees^be appointed to condoct the cam^^paign. After discussion, in which^Comrades Work, Reynolds and Ker
offhas assented to his removal
TheNational Secretary submitted^a list of pamphlets in Fnglisli and^other languages which he proposed^should be issued during the cam^^paign and his plans in the matter^were approved. A sketch for a col^^ored lithograph containing portraits^of I)ebs and Hanford was also ap^^proved.
SecretaryMailt* reported in re^^gard to the l iterature Mureati. that^the same was being got into shape^pending re-ult of referendum ..n^constitution; the report of co: ven-^tion proceedings would be ready in^a few dart, orders are coming in^and there is probability of a good^sale.
Ihe National Secretary also re^^ported that account books for local
Ijraexpressed themselves against the , and state officials were mentioned
suggestion,the matter was dropped.
NationalSecretary reported that^Debs would rest is much as pa^ble from lecturing during June,^July and August, tilling only dates^that were either arranged for or^promised before he was nominated^for President. Thai Comrade Debs^would be prepared to open his cam^^paign in September, and work un-^remittedly until election day. Also^that Debs had placed his entire ar^^rangements in the hands of the na^^tional office and would carry out^whatever plans were made for him^to the best of his ability.
Hanfordhad notified the National
tolocal secretaries in circular and^orders are coming in. As soon as^the number of orders warrant, books^will be printed. Circular letter to^locals upon plate matter had been^sent out. Responses beginning to^come in. Also that he had written^to papers that had already promised^to take plate matter and majority^had agreed to take from the national^office. That 100 papers were needed^before the American Press Associa^^tion would handle same, and he^hoped soon to have sufficient to be^^gin sending out plates. Articles by^Debs, SilSKUM, Martin. Oneal and^others are readv for the nr*t issue.^The National ^1^^^^ ^nh^nitted
Secretarythat he would be ready |f'^rm^. for pr..-. )S^.( resignation
foractive work in the field July 15,^and placed his arrangements under^the entire direction of the national^office and would do everything pos^^sible to make the campaign success^^ful.
Anoutline of the campaign tours^of Comrades Debs and Hanford, as^he had planned them, was then pre^^sented by the National Secretary^Mailly. Briefly they were to route^Debs from Chicago southward^through the southern states, then^the southwestern section, to the Ma- ' ^fo^ble time, expostulating the
meritsof Messrs Walsh and l.vnch,^candidates for Congress, and state^secretary respect! rely, recently notn-
hlanhifor SocieH^t candidate* for^use by state, county and city com^^mittee, and BSMTVested tKit same be^issued by the national office for the^convenience of the various organiz^^ations. These forms were prepared^In response to numerous demands.^\ p proved.
Quorumadjourned at 12:45 to^meet again July qth at X p. m
W I. OSWALD, Secretary.
Don'tLike i be Nominations.
Theeditor of the Argus, in a late
l ae, donated about two hours of
cilicocean, up the coast to Wash^^ington, then through the northwest^em and central states back to Chi^cago. From this point he would^work east, returning in time to close^the campaign in Terra Haute on^Nov. 6th. In the meantime Han^^ford would till dates in Maine and^Vermont before the state elections,^afterwards going into the southwest.^He would then work in the eastern^and central states and c lose before^election in the Pacific states.
Afterconsiderable discussion the^general plan was approved w ith the^modification that Comrade Debs^should not go into any state south^of Kentucky ai.d Missouri. Con^^sent was given M.iilh to go on rec^orcl as believing that Comrade Debs^should go into certain cities of the^south, whic h the modilication of the^Ouorum would exclude.
TheNational Secretary's plan of^charging a definite sum to locals for^the serv ic es ol Debs and Hanford^and Punishing advertising matter^with the speakers was endorsed.
Movedby Comrade Merger that^each 1 andidate receive $500 toward^their expenses during the c.inpaign,^and more if necessary; carried.
TheIllinois case w is then taken
inatedat the state convention of the^Socialist party The writer of the^article is bewildered as to how these^names, could possibly be Considered^by even a Socialist convention. The^humorist, in order that he point out^his periodic Hashes of witticism, and^protect against the lethargy of his^readers in ^c atching on^ to funny^remarks, breaks his sayings in ap^^propriate chunks, by indiscrimi^^nately slaughtering the interrogation^point. He thinks the act of the^convention has a striking resem^^blance to P. T. Marnum making a^collection of curious animals. He^also thinks it was the bauble act of^^ bauble parte, while in the state of^^baubilif .
Whoknows^ Perhaps the Mon^^tana Socialists nominated Messrs.^Walsh and l.vnch that the price of^alfalfa in Oregon mav enhance, or^to stabilify Western union stock, or^then again they mav have had in^view, the giving of employment, at
cheapwages, to cheap haiibrained^jackscrews who pose as c ountry^editors on country paper*, with^country circulations, and whose in^^tellectual ability begins and ^ nds at^w riting up tea parties, divon e cases^and political roorbachf \t anv^rate, better than the common folk^and the Irish pass it up lor further^conspiration to the Almighty, or^down to ^Citizen'' W atson.
