The diamond drill. (Crystal Falls, Iron County, Mich.) 1887-1996, 1897-06-26

complfsh His Aim.
Chicago. juno 22.-The right OF the
poor OF Chicago 10 help themselves 10
the possessions of the rich and the
right Of his Washington colony 10 take
arms against the government IL an
army should be sent 10 trample on it's
constitutional rights were boldly pro-
claimed by Eugene V. Debs Monday at
Uhlich's hall in the closing hours Of the
first convention OF the Social Democ-
racy. Mr.. Debs made two speeches dur
Ing the day, of which he will probably
not hear the last for long time. The
first OF these was made at the morning
session, when the model constitution
for state unions was under considern-
ton. In his speech Mr.. Debs used the
following language:
II hear Il said that we Will come In con-
tact with the federal courts. / suppose we
VIII. When we get political control OF a
state we VIII employ lawyers TO tell us
Just how far our rights permit us 10 go.
III the supreme court tells us 10 stop. why,
we viii stop. But that Will give socialism
a great impetus IL they send a stand
Ing army against us they Will have lots to
do on the way. III they insist. in defiance
OF the constitution, In suppressing the Will
or the cooperative commonwealth they Will
be met by 100000 men who will fight them
on that issue"
These sentiments electrified the del
egates, who responded with storms of
applause, and in less than two hours
they were paraded in an afternoon
newspaper as declaration of war. The
newspapers found their way into
the hall during the afternoon session,
and Mr.. Debs in private Indignantly
repudiated the incendiary remarks ut
tributed TO him. He declared that he
had spoken gunrdedly of an invasion of
constitutional rights. But in that case
he reiterated that he and every other
American citizen who is not n poltroon
is ready to fight.
Within two hours afterward. how
ever, Mr.. Debs made TO the convention
a closing speech, which contained lam
guage far more unguarded and infiam-
matory. He said:
THE times are ripe for a change There
are 5000. 900 men In the country without en-
ployment. In Alabama little girls work
In factories IA hours day for 35 cents a
week. In Sheboygan men work ten hours
for 80 cents. Manhood is reduced TO mer-
chandise, and even so IL is not worth quot
ing on change. Negro slaves were worth
1900 apiece. but the white slaves OF this
country are not worth Is cents a cord /
hate riches, but not the rich. / pity the
poor man who has $4,000 900 and cannot
let go. / believe I'm helping him TO let go.
i cannot understand how a man can cling
10 100000 when men around him are go
ing insane through starvation.
Last winter the mayor OF Chicago had TO
address a proclamation 10 the people in
forming them that thousands OF men and
women were In danger OF freezing TO death.
Yet there was plenty OF coal I'm Chicago.
What kept those freezing thousands from
helping themselves? / cannot tell Man
n the only animal know OF that has not
sense enough 10 feed himself. Take, for in
stance, the Kansas Jackrabbits II you
XIII one OF them and you find him fat you
may be sure all the other Jackrabbits are
fat. too. There arc no plutocrats among
them who corner the crops and get fat
while the others starve. No jackrabblt Is
stupid enough to allow a thing like that
Coming through Nebraska not long ago
Travelled for miles and miles between rows
OF corncribs bursting with the corn crop
OF last year. Most OF them had on them
the mark OF the Chicago Produce company
There wa3 no demand for this corn. The
1ackrabbits helped themselves. and why
did not starving men and women do the
same7
I'm Chicago there are 80 900 starving peo-
pie, starving In full view OF food. Nature
has provided an abundance for every crea-
ture, and II is stored mountain high in
Chicago, before the very eyes OF these suf-
ferers. Why do they not help themselves?
cannot tell"
The constitution adopted provides for an
executive board to supervise the affairs OF
the national council. A colonization COM
mission, to be made up OF three men, is to
be chosen by the executive board This
commission Is to have charge OF the new
commonwealth scheme. The money to
carry on this scheme Is to be raised by vol
untary contributions. No member OF
either the executive board or the commits
sion il TO hold any political office. The
commission Is to meet before August l and
name the state ia which tho first colony
shall be established. IL Will also adopt
regulations for the selection OF unemployed
persons and take steps toward conveying
them TO the state decided upon.