The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1895-03-13
LEADER IN LAB0R'S WAR
Eugene Y Dsbs Accorded a Royal Re-
C.piCl in Butte.
HIS SPEECH WAS CLEVER
The History of the a. n. u. and OF
the Great Strike Told In De-
tail by the Man Who Was
Foremost In the Fray.


of the other labor leaders in the country
in organizing men, in executive ability,
and in good, hard, common sense, and
who attracted world wide attention by his
direction of the A. X. L. boycott on the
Pullman cars last summer, and who as
president of the A. Il. L., is at the head
OF one of the most powerful labor organ
izations in tho country. arrived IN this
city this evening. He was met at the
Great Northern depot on the arrival OF
the train from Helena, where he lectured
last night, by a reception committee con-
sisting of James Meagher, Pat Gallagher
and W. A. ShfTelbin, from the Miners
union; Dan Mcdonald, NJ. J. Geiger, >.
u. Miles, Pat Meancy. ~. j. Stems, and
Joe Thomas, from the silver Bow Trades
and Labor assembly. and j. ii. Calder
head. G.. B. Jolly, Frank Odds and George
Boomer from the \. Il. L. In addition TO
tho committee there was an immense
crowd OF workIngmen at the depot, ar Il
the distinguished champion of aoor was
given an enthusiastic reception.
Mr.. Dcb5 spoke at Mlguire's opera
house tonight on the subject who Are
the Conspirators? to a wcll-lilled house
and 20 an audience that was very large,
when the bitterly cold weather was taken
sembles the published pictures of Bill Nye
and mis- quick wit, pointed sarcasm, and
dry humor also remind one n great deal
of Nyc IN his palmy days OF five or six
years ago. llc Is about six feet tall, OF a
rather i'm build, with wIry, sinewy look
about INN. Indomitable determination
is plainly shown IN his rather expressive
face and he hasa pair of remark ably keen
and piercing eyes. When he talks ms
.tl.aT-
bic something which is called personal
magnetism manIfcsts its potent influence.
Mr.. Debs could hardly, perhaps, be
called an orator. He IS rather an argu-
mentative speaker. lie talks slowly but
easily and freely, and without sign OF
rant, and he presents his arguments IN a
remarkably forcible manner. lie is withal
a most entertaining tal<er and when he
concluded his address tonight there we're
few people IN the audience who realized
that no had spoken for more than two
hours. His speech was rare treat to
people who are interested in the great
labor question, and that it was fully APP
preciated was shown by the frequent ana
demonstrative applause.
His explanation of the causes that led
up to the great strike of last summer was
plain, thorough and comprehensive, and
the applause at its close indicated very
clearly that there were few in the audi
ence VINO were not convinced that tho
General Managers association and tho
Pullman company were the conspirators
| and not the \. r. L.
| j. Ii. Calderhead. president of the local
| lodge of the n. Il. L., OBLIGATED as chair
| man and many prominent members OF
| local labor organizations occupied seats
| on the stage. In introducing the speaker
| Mr.. Calderhead said that I've are now pass
| ing through the greatest revolt IN thought
the world has ever known and that we
are wise II we 30 act as TO meet with the
| appreciation of prosperity"
Mr.. DEEDS was greeted with loud and
prolonged applause. lilo said that he was
| not vain enough to think that the compli-
| ment was intended for himself, but for
/ as brave n body of men as ever took
| stand against corporation greed. he had
| always felt, he said, that there was bond
| of sympathy existing between himself and
| the people of Butte and in the tiercest
! hours of the great struggle between capt
| tai and labor he thought at times that he
| could feel the responsive and sympathetic
| heart throbs of the people OF this city.
! Piunging at once into his subject, no
| said: There are thousands of people
\ who fear that Maclulay's words viii come
/ true and that self-govcrnmcnt will be
pronounced a failure, and that the star
| OF our young republic will 60 down in uni
! versal gloom. / am not one of these.
! believe that out Of the sea of chaos will
Z como liberty and love. We have met to-
ight TO discuss the late great strike, the
! most important labor uphcaval of recent
! years. As general proposition. lam not
/ IN favor of strikes. \ strike ~ generally
! a calamity. bu, when II comes to u choice
/ between a strike aud degradation | Will
! STRIKE with all the force NJ my command.
! We 1.-Two under striking government. II
/ il had not been for the patriotism OF our
revolutionary fathers IN striking for their
| rights We would be British subjects to-
1
liens. The revolution was "A series of
\ strikes. Every ono OF the stars and
1 stripes represents strike.
! washington in his day was n dcma-
| gogue; now he is dcmi-Sod. Transition
| from demagogue To = demlgod does not
| sometimes require more than quarter OF
! a century. ] am not here 10 appeal to
! your passions or prciudiccs. but TO state
4 the truth as | sec IL. Neither do ] propose
/ to say that labor organizations have never
| made mistakes. They have sometimes
! resortcd to extreme measures when mod
| Grafton and caution were demanded. But
| II should be remembered that labor un ions
are made up of iEe common run of hui
| mauliy, and thoy do not claim any supc-
] nor intelligence. Ono of the most cheer
ing signs OF the times is that worldngmen
are beginning TO think.
"A hunger panG Is the most effective
reformer IN tho world. and there are sew.
cral hundred thousand of them AT work
| right now. NorkinCmcn are beginning
To think, and they will soon commence "a
act They will not long supplicatc for
their rights, but they will take them, no,
in crime and lawlcssncss, but by the force
of the ballot.
"The Pullman company owns the town
! Of Pullman absolutely. There is not \
foot of free ground i'll the town. nor !
breath of free air, nor n free man, woman
or child. 4 species of serfdom prevail,
there compared with which African
slavery is a Dcnedicuou and a blessing
| The Pullman employees did not want 1,
| strike. They had their wages cut tire,
I times IN one year until their protesting
souls could hardly bc KEEP; inside of thci
half-starved and hali-clad bodies. Wis
tied Pullman twice and went into some OF
the homes aud SAN some OF the men and
thc.r wives. some ot tho wives 1 dll moi
see, because they did not have clotuiu.
enough 10 make themselves prc~cptabic
1 saw more rags n Pullman than 4 CNC
saw iu uy whole life before"
Mr.. pebs here read lew extracts frou
] a paa, " gIttcn lN itpy. MIR. GolWa. .lIup