St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1895-01-05
Said by Debs.

There are people who believe that
this republic will 20 down in gloom. |
am not one OF the number. | have faith
in the intelligence of the masses. We
are here tonight to discuss the causes
leading up 10 the great railroad strike
Of last summer There may be some
here who do not believe IN what IS
known as the labor stLiKe. Let Inc tell
you that there has not been victory
won in the interest of liberty or patriot
ism in this republic that has not been
won by a strike. The battle of LeXing-
ton was strike against British Cypress
SION, and the Rebellion was a strike
against slavery. When it Is a question
between submission 10 injustice and GO
ing out Oh strike, PHI take the strike
every time. and by the ETERNAL as old
Andrew Jackson said, I'Il take the con-
sequences.
II have been accused of every crime
Oh the calendar, but | have never been
accused OF selling out. Had | catered
To the General Managers association,
might nave had the respect of every
body out myself. | am no respecter of
public opinion. Public opinion is the crea
ton of the preSS-and in ailudiug to The
press | make no personal alIuSlon 10 the
gentlemen connected with the press.
For mendacity and maliguancy, the st.
Paul press has to render an account of
itself. Oh, Lord! Do you see this red
book" he went on. holding up little
red pamphlet. 1T is published by the
General Managers association, and is
made up of editorials from the newspa-
perS of the country cOndemnat0ry of
the great strike ana the officers who had
charge of it. The object of the publica-
ton is TO terroriZe railway employees"
He then read an extract from the
pamphlet, charging him with murder,
and said: II never knew liar who
could conceive of such a thing as an
honest man. | propose to stand by my
own acts ana take responsibility of
them; and if that takes me to the gal
lows l shall meet it like man. | pro.
pose to retain the respect of and keep
on good terms with Debs"
He then read from a book written bv
Rev. Mr.. CarwaTdine relative to the con-
ditionS that existed at Pullman previous
to the strike Continuing, Mr.. Debs
said:
LET it be understood that at Pullman
there is not thing that is not owned by
the Pullman company, not even q free
man. made personal examination
of the condition of the Pullman en-
ployes previous to the strike,
and the conditions | found
there it is beyond my power to
fully describe. They were prac-
tically destitute. And no wonder,
for, according to the report of the in
| Vestigaking commission, they were
charged 80 per cent more rent than is
paid anywhere else in Illinois. That
man Wlckes is monster. who ought
Not to EBe Tolerated
on American soil. Not because of the
treatment of his employees, but because
in suing for divorce in Chicago the
other day his wife testified that he had
kicked and otherwise brutalized her.
Aud man who Will kick his wife is UNI
fit to live on American soil.''
The speaker then went into the his
tory Of the origin of the strike, relating
the circumstance of the decision to
strike unless the wages were improved,
and the subsequent discharge of the
committee that waited on the manage
meht. Continuing, he said.
"Mr. Pullman seemed astonished at
the aQQaeity Of the men to send COM
mlttee to him, and asked If he had not
been father to his employees. Well,
the Lord deliver ME from such a father.
l would rather be an orphan. (Ap~
plause.
"a little girl. whose father was in the