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MONTANANEWS.
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VOL.IV.
HELENA,MONTANA, WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 11,1905.
NO.4.
NationalOffice^Gets Scoring
Tothe National Committee So^^cialist Party.
Comrades:After serving in the^national office since November IQ03,^I have been at home for a week,^during which time I have carefully^considered the matter, and have^decided to submit to you the follow^^ing statement, feeling it is due you^and the movement as well as James^O'Neal and Bertha Capples:
OnJune 26. 1905, a woman was^given a place in the national office^to act as a stenographer, at a salary^of $10 per week, under circumstan^^ces that have resulted in disorgan^^izing the office force.
Thiswoman was guilty of an act^against comrades in the office which^the national secretary himself des^cribes as ^despicable,^ and Com^rade O'Neal told the secretary he^could not work in the office if she^came in, because of her act, and the^farther facts that she was known to^be inefficient, and that the work did^not warrant. The secretary stated^that ^he needed more help,^ but ad^^mitted to Comrade O'Neal that the^real reason was the request of an^^other woman whose enmity he feared.^The first week the woman was in^the office she was off three half days^with pay, so badly was she needed.
Thetreatment of Comrade O'Neal^by the national secretary in this^matter can only be fully appreciated^after hearing or reading the written^statement which Comrade O'Neal^submitted to the national executive^committee at its meeting on July^20 and 21, no mention of which is^made in the minutes of the session,^because it was ^an ugly matter.^^But one member pointed out what^had been the results of such omis^^sions in the past. They all seemed^to overlook or forget the motion^(Lowry's) adopted by the commit^^tee in December, 1904, directing^that no part of the record be ex^^punged.
Whenthe statement was read the^national secretary took the position^that it was purely a ^matter of ad^ministration.^ In other words none^of their business, which view was^concurred in by a majority of the^committee, holding that the secret^^ary must be responsible to the na^^tional committee and the member^^ship.
Iwant to ask how are either to^know what is going on or being done ^^The members of the N. E.C., ser^^iously discussed resigning in a body^seeing that the state autonomy^clause of the national constitution^on one hand, and the position of the^national secretary on the other,^placed them where, as one of the^committee said, they might properly^be called the ^The national non^^interference committee.
Herewe have a faithful and cap^^able employee of the national office^with a grievance that involves a^^despicable^ act against he and^others, coupled with unjustified ex^^penditure of party funds, which the^national secretary agrees to submit^to a local arbitraiton committee,^and later refuses to do so. When^the matter is brought before the^only official party committee that^comes into personal contact with^the office force, constitutional tech^^nicalities are raised to prevent in^^vestigation, which was asked for,^both as to the case in point, as well^as the reports that have been ped-^led over the country about ^the^gang in the national office.^ This^woman admitted sending a report^that was shown to be without foun^^dation.
Followingan interview between^the national secretary and Comrade^O'Neal the secretary began a series^of petty fault findings, wholly be^^neath one in his position, against^Comrade Bertha Capples, the only
stenographerwho, doing my con^^nection with the office, has mani^^fested a deep personal interest and^pride in the efficiency and work of^the office.
OnJuly 17, 1905, the national^secretary notified me to look out for^another position after August i., as^^he was going to try and get along^with one less man,^ which hardly^jibes with his excuse for bringing^the woman into the office less than^a month before. The plain facts^are that in one case it was to try^and placate a woman, and on the^the other to get rid of one who could^not conceal his feelings about the^mismanagement of the office, and^the use of party funds to perpetuate^personal friendship. It was my in^^tention to quit the office as I could^not stand the conditions.
Ifully understand that the issuing^of this statement will lead to all^sorts of accussations against me, in^eluding ^vindicativeness^ to quote^the national secretary literally. If^an example of bitter, unreasoning^vindicativeness is wanted, it is^found in the person who requested^this woman placed in the office.^Those who know me and my record^know that the question of a job was^never any consideration to me when^a question of right and wrong was^involved.
Asan indication of the capacity^of the present national secretay, I^call your attention to the bulletins^advertising a lecture tour for a Slav^^onic speaker, who was really a^Scandinavian speaker. The secre^^tary not knowing the difference in^the terms, and had not the trouble^between Norway and Sweden sud^^denly caused the speaker to cancel^his dates and return home, there^would have been a pretty mess.
ComradeO'Neal, who has been^doing more work than any two per^^sons in the national office since the^first of the year, and Comrade Cap^^ples, have both quit the office. It^will no doubt be no more congenial^to have others there, who can go^out with the national secretary and^his bookeeper and drink whisky.
Thereport on conditions of the^national office which appears in the^minutes of the N. E. C, meeting,^was written before Comrade O'Neal^made his statement. If an investi^^gation of the departments had been^made, and the truth had been told,^the report would have had to be^much different. I assert, and the^records will prove that less has been^done in the national office during^the past six months than any like^period since I have had personal^experience there. If the woman^who has been placed in the office,^be given a practical test it would be^shown that either of the other steno^^graphers (who have been paid 912^per week), could easily do at least^five times the work in a given time,^either copy or dictation.
Socialistscannot afford to take^things for granted, for this leads^to taking things that are not granted.^I believe the conditions warrant^the members of the national com^^mittee being in possession of Com^^rade O'Neal's written statement,^especially since the N. E. C, felt^they could not act under the con^^stitution.
Fraternally,
CHARLESR. MARTIN.
qulrementsof this age, it wasto be^expected that the capitalist class,^alarmed at the growing interest the^wage-earners were taking in the^principles expounded by the In^^dustrial Workers of the World, would^at the first opportunity, attempt to^strike a blow against the organiza^^tion while still in its infancy.
Thisopportunity presented itself^when the Stogie Makers of Cleve^^land, Ohio, organized the industry^under the Industrial Workers of the^World. The employees in that in^^dustry had been denied the right to^organize themselves by the aristo^^cratic International Union of Cigar^Makers and, as the message of in^^dustrial unionism appealed to them^so strongly, they organized them^^selves immediately after the close of^the convention. It is well to state^that the men and women of that in^^dustry were not ignorant of the aims^and fighting methods of labor or^^ganizations; they had gone through^two struggles before, when organized^in a union which had to be inde^^pendent, for reasons given above.
Immediatelyupon learning of the^organization of the employees being^perfected, the manufacturers organ^^ized. Their first move was to en^^gage, what they termed apprenti^^ces. The members of the union^counteracted this move by taking^in the apprentices, most of whom^were over twenty and thirty years of^age. The manufacturers continued^engaging and breaking in more ap^^prentices, until they thought they^had enough to begin war against^their older employees, by establish^^ing a blacklist. Employees quit-^ing their jobs, or discharged, could^not get employment in another esta^^blishment, f inally the union was^forced to take action. Upon pre^^senting the case to the general ex^^ecutive board of the Industrial^Workers of the World, by an auth^^orized delegate of the union, ad^^vice was given to ask for an adjust^ment. Failure upon the part of the^manufacturer to arrive at an under^standing, satisfactory to all con^^cerned, was sufficient reason for^more drastic measures; quick action^was deemed essential for any event^^ful success. The manufacturer^refused to negotiate. The mem^^bers were forced to either
TheL W. W. Asks
ForStrike Funds
Inthis period of unrest among^the wage-earners of this country^when thousands and scores of thou^sands are looking to the Industrial^Workers of the World as the organi^zation offering a plan of action and^fighting methods in line with the re
ofeither old party at the present^time is to misrepresent, rob and en^^slave the laboring class. No nation^on earth has been robbed and ex^^ploited as the American people,^and no people on earth shows so^bitter political sagacity or intelli^^gence. The federal and state gov^^ernment are run by grafters and^misrepresentations of the real people^or laboring class who constitute 85^per cent of the population, and when^there is an investigation ordered to^ferret out some of the political ras^^cality which is so prevalent at the^present time it is conducted by^grafters and friends of the guilty^parties.
Theinvestigations that are now^taking place are the rankest kind of^a faken and are only prosecuted to^deceive the people. In fact the two^old political parties are the worst^enemies of the commonwealth that^exist at the present time. Instead^of protecting the rights and con^^serving the welfare of the people^thev strive to enslave the masses and^have become oppressors.
Ifthe common people expect to^retain what little liberties they do en^^joy they must crush out the two old^parties and reorganize on different^lines and a new basis. The labor^^ing class must be represented, and^rule in our national councils and^state legislatures. The govern^^ment has been literally stolen away^from the people and turned over to^the corporationg and trusts and their^representations.
J.B. M.
ScVialistIdeev.
i\fState
Fadr
AChange has Come
ina Few Years
Untilrecent years the United^States of America has been regarded^as the most progressive and enlight^^ened country on earth, but Its indus-^I k*l ind social affairs seem to be^on the decline or at a stand still as it^still clings to the system of wage^slavery, and the barbarous methods^and ideals of the past. No country^can develope faster than its ideals^in military, industrial and social^affairs.
Ourmilitary system is a relic of^paganism and mediocrasism along^strike1 with that of other nations.
whenthe employers were the least | Our system is on a par with it and^prepared or allow their organization I a remnant of human slavery on the^to be destroyed piece-meal; they ' installment plan which should be ban-^chose the former.ished forever. Covernment has be-^The general executive board of come a menace to popular rights,^the Industrial Workers of the World I The Declaration of Independence^knowing that the wealth producers has become a meaningless jumble of
arealways right in their struggles^against the exploiters, realized that^immediate and adequate support^must, by all means, be given to these^members of our class, driven into^one of the most justified strikes. It^was, therefore, to issue a stropg ap^^peal to all members of and the strong^army of sympathizers with the In^^dustrial Workers of the World.
Fellowworkers^this fight can be^won, if you show yonr struggling^comrades that you are with them in^spirit and in action. The sinews of^war must be supplied! Contribute^your share! Take up the matter^immediately! Don't delay action^on this appeal! The membership of^the Indusrrial Workers of the World^should domonstrate to the world of^labor that they are imbued with a^noble spirit of solidarity. Now is^the lime to act!
Sendall contributions to David^Hochwald, a6oScoville Ave., Cleve^^land, Ohio: and notify general head:^quarters of your donation.
CHARLESE. SHERMAN,^General Bresidnet.^W. E. TRAUTMANN.^Generl Secretary Treasurer.
AServile Policy
Whilea laboring man or a voter^may think he manifests his patriot^^ism and shows rare judgement by^stepping up to the polls and an old^party ticket he only shows his ser^^vility and blindness politically^speaking and at the same time adds^to his own burden and that of his^fellow toiler. The
words.
Theconstitution has been made^a foot ball for plutocratic parasites^to play with. The spirit of seventy-^six has perished from among man-^King Rockefeller is mightier than^the state of Kansas.
Ahalf a dozen of judicial joshes^can nullify the constitution and the^laws of the land and bid defiance to^eighty millions of supposed law^makers. No nation in all the world's^history has been exploited and plun^^dered as the American people. No^nation in history has been so law^abiding and so submissive, that the^people in this day and generation^can be so completely subjugated and^controlled by a gang of commercial^cormorants as to have lost the^power of resistance, is almost in^^credible.
TomCarter, the grafter, would^be very appropriate, if you had^heard him explain what should be^done at the fair grounds. All his^suggestions are good from a capital^ist stand point, there can be no^doubt. But his concluding remarks^that the fair is to be lit up in great^electrical display nights, and the^sight seers from over the state are,^not only to be fleeced days but by^lamplight also. He figures that the^day business will pay all expenses^and at night the graft will be clear^profit. That's good capitalist rea^soning.
Intwo short weeks, Comrade Ida^Crouch,-Hazlett collected over $90^only function in Fergus conuty.
\
TheMontana St. ir for iqo^;^was a success in many ways. The^weather was all that could have been^desired. The crowds came from^everywhere. The apples were the^reddest, and greenest, and the yel^^lowest. The peachest were the^pinkest. The cabbages had the^swelled head, almost equally, in this^respect, to the ordinary members of^the Montana Club, and the general^^issimo of the Workers Club. The^potatos were large enough to fill a^family of stomachs, and with eyes^numerous enough to see a great^future for the industry. The bar^^ley sported whiskers that would do^justice to a Russian Mujik. The^other grain and grass display certi^^fied to the progress of agriculture^in Montana. The honey was manu^^factured by real bees of the union^variety, and unadulterated by the^money-bee. The butter came from^real big-eyed cows, and was churned^in transit by the old fashioned house^^wife. The corn was large eared^and promised much pork fried mush^and hot cakes. The pumpkins^raised visions of mother's pies in^our youthful days at home. The^buckwheat aroused in our breasts^a hope that, in the glorious days of^the coming co-operative common^^wealth, humanity will enjoy the real^pure buckwheat cakes with real^maple syrup. We saw so many of^the products of labor, that we wond^^ered w hy laborers had so few of such^good things to eat. In the stables^and pens were splendid fat beeves,^hogs, sheep, goats ahd poultry, and^again we wondered at the millions^of empty larders that are broadcast^among those simple people who^labor from ten to eighteen hours out^of the twenty four. We inquired ot^the exhibitors what an acre of land,^well tilled, would bring forth of^these beautiful things, and the re^^ply was, ^enough to feed a good^sized family of strong, healthy^people,^ and we wondered some^more. The fact is wonder leaked^out of every pore, as we observed^the evidences everywhere of the^handiwork of the toilers harnessed^to the powers of mother earth, the^sun's rays and friendly showers.^We pondered long as we wandered^through the great array of labor^saving machinery, intended to^lighten the burden of the laboring^men and women, and we asked our^^selves why the net result of the^farmer's efforts were bare floors,^cheap furniture, broken down,^paintless spring wagons, cheap,^hand-me-down clothes, out of date^hats, limited education, patent in^side country papers, a persistent^attachment to the rotten old capital^^ist parties with their lying platforms,^self seeking and thieving political^heelers; lack of all the comforts of^modern growth, developement and^science. But when we stepped over^to the grand stand, we found a^partial solution of the problem^There we found a mob of daintily^attired women, the wives and^daughters of men who toil not, nor^do they spin. We found hundreds^around the gambling den betting^away the wealth produced by the^working men and women. We saw^the smooth silk hats and rustling^silk petticoats and $40 millinery^We saw the automobiles and spank^ing turnouts. We saw United^States Senator Thomas H. Carter^surrounded by ward heelers a4 the^republican department of the cap^italist party, and Governor J. K^Toole, surrounded by ward heelers^of the democratic department of the^capitalist party, strutting on parade^before the admiring throng of para^sites. Across the track, we saw^hundreds of soldiers with death^dealing fire arms, drilled and sworn
toshoot down the producers of all^the beautiful things we had just^seen in the agrciultural and horti^^cultural buildings.
Oneregiment, or one thousand^of these legal murderers, costs the^toilers and tillers of America, one^million of dollars, and the military^department, maintained solely for^the protection of the money aristo^^cracy from the wrath of a down^^trodden people, costs the laborers^of America hundreds of millions of^dollars annually. It then occured^to us that the machinery and the^wagons we saw in the farm imple^^ment department were all manu^^factured by the implement trust^which robs the toilers of millions^of their wealth annually. We con^^tinued our sight seeing to the city^by taking one of Jim Hill's trains,^for a ride of two miles, on which^we paid 25 cents orcents per
mile, twelve times as much^as is charged upon the Socialist^railroads of New Zealand. This^aroused our curiosity somewhat re^^garding railroad charges for the^hauling of the displays to and from^the fair and we found that, for^this the toiler was compelled to^pay a fat chunk of money in ad^^dition to his fare for himself and^family. While strolling with the^crowds upon the streets we saw^other drains upon the wealth pro^^duced by the toilers. At every step^a saloon gaped its jaws, pouring^vile intoxicants into the unwary and^sending them on to drop more^wealth into the laps of courtesans,^who swarmed everywhere in antici^^pation of gain, and, incidentally^impregnating them with the vilest^deseases. In brief, the toilers and^tillers of Montana were exploited^from ^stem to gudgeonr.^ While^devoting months to the cultivation^of fruits, vegetables, grains ami live^stock, working several hours longer^than the sun, the ^noiseless thief^^was ever busy taking from the sur^^plus to which they were entitled.^This process of extraction contin^^ued to and through the fair and up^^on the last day, the entire collec^^tion of edibles had to be given away^because of the heavy cost of return^^ing them to the farms. It looked to^us that the laborer and his pride was^a mere excuse for gambling, horse^^races, the display of femininity and^the annual picking of pockets.^Under the co-operative common^^wealth, all would be different, the^knowledge gained by exchange of^views of toilers with toilers would^go toward the general good and up^^building of all society. There will^be no silks and satins, as distin^^guished from calicoes and ginghams^as they choose as the opportunity to^get either will be wide open at any^period during the life of any man or^woman. Automobiles will not be^the sole property of parasites, they^shall then be the instruments of^greater general progress of all hu^^manity and of pleasure at command.
Boileddown to thick paste, we^found that every feature of the fair^of material merit and value to the^producers of wealth was the product^of labor. Labor did it all. What^part of it all does labor reap^ An^^swer, about 20 per cent. What part^of it all do capitalists and their^satellites reap^ Answer, about 80^per cent. You ask, ^Why is this^so^^ and we reply, because the pro^^ducers insist upon the slavery of the^masses to the capitalist class, and^vote the capitalist into power.^When the producers of wealth vote^to keep what they produce, then^they will keep 100 percent.
FrankBohn of New York will^speak on the subject of Industrial^unionism tonight at the Auditorium.