The Owosso times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1897-1926, 1897-09-03
DEBs is CALLED TO THE FRONT.
Says He Has Appealed to the Courts for the
Last Time for Justice.

Says He Has Appealed to the Courts for the
Last Time for Justice.
The convention broke into wild che r.
ing which developed in a minute into a
spontaneous call for Debs. The famous
labor leader and avowed head of the
Social Democracy of this country. who
had not uttered word since the con-
vention opened, but who had not missed
a minute of its proceedings, rose from
his seat and came slowly to the plat
form. When the cheering ceased Debs
began speech which was interrupted
at the end Of nearly every sentence by
cheering and hand-clapping. He said:
Il believe the gravity of the industrial
situation in this country is well under
stood. 1t is quite evident the delegates
to the convention are cognizant Of the
fact that civil liberty Is dead in Amer
lea. I have said and say again that
for the last time have appealed to the
courts for justice, and shall appeal to
them no more.
THE American Railway Union ex-
pended $4,000 to have the question OF
civil rights tested In the supreme courts
Of the United States only to be told
that we have no rights that capital Is
the supreme courts again? No. We
appeal TO this convention and to the
country for an uprising of all the COM
mon people in every walk Of
life to beat bac the courts
and re-enthrone the rights of
the American people. Labor Day Is
near. What shall we do? I predict,
that we will see the extraordinary
spectacle of enslaved labor rafting its
chains and dancing to the music. Labor
is the cheapest commodity on Gods
earth, and yet there are those who
would have 1t at lower price.
"Only the other day the united voice
Of labor was raised against the APP
pointment Of Mr.. Powderly to federal
position, and I notice that he was
promptly put into the place. mingled
cheers and hisses.] From justice of the
peace to justice Of the supreme court of
the United States all the judicial pow
ers of the United States are directed
against labor. All the organized sources
OF society are against labor, and If la
Dor expects to emancipate itself labor
itself must do It," Debs then told the
convention that much restitution ex-
listed among the miners of the once
proud state Of Indiana, and stated that
1000 underground workers and their
families were starving. He read the
report OF the commission appointed by
Governor Mount to examine into the
condition Of the miners of Indiana and
then took up the thread Of his argu-
ment.
1.-THE time has not quite come to in
cite the populace," said Debs, shaking
his fist vehemently. II serve notice on
the plutocratic element of this country
that we are on the eve Of another meet
ing In Chicago which will be attended
by all branches OF labor. That conven-
tion will take up these same questions
and will institute agitation and keep
it going until the public conscience and
public heart are aroused. Then will come
such an uprising as the world has never
SEEN"
II shrink from that bloodshed'-and
Debs paused mpressively-"buti If this
is necessary to preserve liberty and our
rights in that event I will she'd the last
drop of blood that courses through my
veins. [Outbreak Of cheering] Pluto
cracy cannot buy me. We no
longer have a republic; there is not a
vestige of it left. The judiciary Of this
country has placed paddock on my lips,
forbidden me to walk on public high
ways, and destroyed all of my rights.
The people are ripe for a great
change. All they lack is direction and
leadership. Let this conference supply
1t. Let this conference set the pace"
Debs continued at some length, and
grew more imprisoned as he proceed
ed. When he closed the platform was
adopted as 1t stood and the convention,
after hearing some more speeches, ad-
journed sine die.