River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1894-08-02
CEBS MAKES A SPEECH.
Synopsis of an Address Delivered in Hi
Native Town.

Synopsis of Address Delivered in His
Native Town.
TERRE HAUTE, Ind. July 31.-There
were l,s00 persons in the opera house
Sunday night to hear Eugene " Debs,
and 1000 more could not get in. When
the familiar figure of the American
the stage there was loud and long-con-
tinued applause. A synopsis of his re-
marks follows:
Mr. Iebs began his speech by saying that
as general proposition he is opposed to
strikes but there are times when not TO
strike is TO accept degradation. We are a
striking government he added. Every star
in the flag represents strike" The reyolu-
tfonary fathers struck against tyranny and for
liberty. II all employees had been treated
fairly there would have been no labor organi-
cations. Ee said he had done all he could to
prevent the Pullman strike. Then followed
narrative OF the efforts OF committees to secure
arbitration.
Mr.. Debs followed with the story OF the
American Railway union national convention
and its efforts to secure redress for the Pull
man employees, but the company would make
no concession and the convention by unani-
nous vote decided to haul no more Pullman
cars. The charge that he had ordered the
strike. he said, was absolutely false In all of
his connection with organized labor he had
not advised a man to leave his employment.
The railway managers met and decided to sup
port the Pullman company In the fight 1t was
making on its employees
The managers also decided to destroy the
American Railway union" said he, but that
is contract they would like to sublet now"
The American Railway union, he said. simply
followed the example of the managers by COM
bining for mutual protection
Mr.. Debs said it had been printed that he
was foreigner and an anarchist. He was
proud of the fact that be had been born and
reared in Terre Haute. He had no patience
with violence IN any form. He said It could be
proved that at the time of the Buffalo switch
mems strike the companies caused cars 10 be
burned SO they could have the militia called
out.
when the truth is known 1t win be found
that the American Railway union was In no.
wise responsible for arson any lawless acts.
With the aid of soldiers the managers finally
succeeded 10 operating their roads in a man
ner."
Workingmen would no longer be supplicants
They would take what was their right. not in
an unlawful manner, but they were the people
and this was a people government. He spoke
of the failure to enforce the interstate COM
merce law against the corporations. which
called up the same law against workingmen.
He denied that he TO be branded as an
anarchist because corporations defied the laws
must use the power of the ballot
He hoped there would never be another
strike. He had about made up his mind never
again to be connected with a strike lie would
do his striking at the ballot box. He did not
have much faith in public opinion. but when 1t
gets right the A. r. U. strike would be over
whelmingly indicated, and he was content to
wait for that time.
Whatever action might be taken at the COM
ing A. r. U. convention. the strike on Pullman
would go on. There was ending to that
Pullman must be whipped. He admitted that
when a strike was ordered it invited lawlcss-
ness, but as there never was a strike without
a cause why should not the corporations take
their share OF the responsibility OF riotingf
When section men were cut to 671 cents day,
as they were on the Lou sville & Nashville, the
railway managers who made that cut we're the
real anarchists.
He said no word as to the future of the
strike, but In his story OF it he spoke OF IL in
| terms indicating that he thought OF IT as a
thing OF the past. lie said in closing that IL a
penalty attached to his actions he would ac-
cept his fate like man He would not shirl.
he res pons Utility for his acts.