River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1895-03-07
DEBS LECTURES.
The Famous labor Leader Addresses n
large Audience In Chfraro


CHICAGO, March e-E. V. Debs. pres
ident of the American Railway union,
delivered his lecture: "who are the
Gonspirators," to an audience of
1900 people ut the Auditorium
Thursday night. The address was
replete with caustic utterances
aimed at the general managers, the
United States deputy marshals and the
courts, and the crowd appiauded the
speaker generously. THE railroads
will find out before they get through
that they undertook bigger contract
than they imagined when they tried
to down the American Railway union.
said Mr.. Debs. THE general manager
could have averted the Pullman strike
il they would have only said one word.
but that one word was wanting" After
n very extensive review of the causes
that led up TO the great strike of "a,
Debs said:
IF the railroads would pay dividends on
honest Investments they would be able TO pay
honest wages. The General Managers as
sociation went into partnership with the
Pullman company 10 crush the life out
OF the A. r. L. Back OF ii all a
preconcefved idea OF all the railroads 10
roads all over the country. This has been
done. as history will show. In their articles
OF faith as published in a Chicago morning
paper, the General Managers. association de-
elared that they would stand mutually
dependent and that they would furnish
money men and equipment 20 each other
ana that they wished to foster sympathetic
strikes so that the proposed cut in wages
would be effective and far-reaching The
General Managers association was formed for
forcing sympathetic strikes, and who, then. are
the conspirators."
The speaker praised Judge Caldwell
as the fairest-minded man on the bench.
Turning his attention to the deputy
marshals. Mr. Debs said:
When | was here a few days ago / met Capt.
Palmer, OF the Chicago fire department He
told me that when his company was fighting the
fire In the line ofbox cars near Fiity-ffth street
during the strike he found a man cutting the
hose there. He promptly 'slugged' him and
saw that he wore deputy marshals star. Two
officers in citizens clothes caught two men
with oiled waste in box car and they were
also found to be wearing deputy marshsls'
stars These marshals were from the scum OF
the city.
In conclusion Mr.. Debs said that the
corporations had driven freedom out
of the land. but he still had confidence
in the integrity of the people, and ex-
pected to see that freedom restored
through the medium of the ballot box,
which it was still possible for the work
ing people to control lie added:
The working people are beginning 20 think
and they win soon begin TO act They win not
continue 10 supplicate for their rights, but
they will take them. Not in violence. not in
rioting. not in anarchy, but in lawful man
ner win they take them.
Il have come to believe that Industrial
strikes cannot help the working people. They
increase the sense Of oppression. But do be-
lieve that the working people will inaugmate
a strike, not by leaving their employment but
by striking at the ballot box. / believe a bet
ter day is dawuing. II the night is dark, be-
lieye that the dawn OF the day Of emancipa-
tion is close at hand"