The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1894-08-01
ORATOR DEBS.

The Terre Haute Gazette publishes what
seems to be a verbatim report of Mr.. Eu-
gene V. Debs's speech, delivered in that
city on Sunday evening. The spirit and
substance of the speech have been given in
the Journal, but it may be of interest to
state his exact language on some points.
He said:
1 did all in my power to prevent the Pull
man strike. . 1t has been charged by
that /. as president OF the A. r.. L.. had
ordered the strike. The statement is abso-
lutely false. l want TO say that not only
voice in ordering it. And, more than that,
l make this statement: l challenge the pro-
duction in all my connection with organized
labor of any evidence that | nave ever adj
vised a man to leave his employment.
Mr.. Debs is vouched for by those who
know him as an honest and sincere man.
In that case the Journal would like to ask
how he can reconcile these statements with
his kilograms, sent all over the country,
ordering out local divisions of the American
Railway Union. On the 4th Of July he sent
dispatches to the local officers of the union
at eight different points. directing them to
order out all the men under their control
sent similar dispatches to more than 100
different points. In these various dispatches
he used such expressions as "Tie up roads
that insist on handling boycotted cars
Full protection guaranteed to all who as
sist;'' do not be frightened at troops, in
functions or the subsidized press PAY no
attention to rumors from corporation lick
spittles;;'' Every true man must quit now
and remain out until the fight is won;'
There are not scabs enough in the world
to fill the vacancies I'VE are gaining
ground and will surely VIM 1.-The marshal
cannot injure you; he is simply assisting
capital to e~nslave his BROTHER stand
erect, proclaim your manhood; labor must
win now or never" The dispatches con-
tanning these expressions and Debs's sig
nature have been produced in court. In
view Of these facts. by what sort of verbal
bubble or mental reservation does he JUS
tify the statement that he did not order
the strike ana nau nOInlnS 10 90 WITH II.
Is he going back on his coworkers?
In another part of his speech Debs said:
1 have no objection TO the soldiers; on
the contrary. believe they should be called
upon to preserve order; but they should
not always be called out to aid corpora
tons. 1t has been said, and | shall not at
tempt TO controvert the statement. that a
strike always terminates in disorder and
lawlessness. Admitting the statement, are
the corporations. when they combine and
conspire TO reduce wages, and the employees
combine TO resist reductions. which results
in a strike-are the corporations not equally
responsible?
II Mr.. Debs is as honest and sincere as
his friends claim, he must be lacking in in
telligence or candor To make such state
ments as these. He is either very ignorant
or very insincere TO assert. as he does by
Implication. that troops were ordered out
to aid corporations. He must know. also.
that the tying up of the railway traffic OF
the country cannot be tolerated. The troops
were not ordered out to aid the corpora
lions. but to suppress a dangerous insurrec-
ton and restore law and order.
When Mr. Debs asserts. as he does again
by implication. that employers who reduce
wages are as much responsible for the vio-
lence resulting from strikes as those are