The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1897-07-27

night 70 tne speech OF EuBene v. OeDa'
His prominence aroused the curiosity
OF all classes OF citizens and 80 Interest,"
ing was his effort that the immense
crowd remained until the last word had
died from his lips, This In view OF tho
fact that he spoke for fully TWO hours,
The reason for Debs' hold upon the la
boring classes Is easily apparent TO
those who heard him speak last night,
He is very eloquent, with humor and
pRthos at easy command The cheers
that at first were feeble grew in volume
us he progressed, and he held his audi
enee until his close, AT times he soar
ed into the highest flights OF oratory
and changing again into homely COLO
quallsms, made his talk treat, II for
no other reason than his ready use OF
language.
He spoke from stand at the corner
OF SeVenteenth and Chapllne streets
and It's sides gally decorated with flags
and bunting recalled the late campaign,
Early In the evening the crowds wend-
cd their way to the stand, and at dusk
u WAS suIAOuAhHA va III aluto W "
dense mass Over in the Hemptieid
yards opposite the stand, hundreds sat
on the tops OF cars, while the roofs OF
all nelghboring buildings seated several
hundreds. The men In the streets stood
until the meeting ended at 1890 o'clock,
1t was S:l5 o'clock when the reception
committee. and several members OF the
Trades Assembly, escorted Mr.. Debs
nI 10 10 "a nI Manor
Butts a moment later took a seat upon
the platform. Mr. Michael f, Tighe
ex-president OF the Trades Assembly
presided at the meeting. and introduced
the first speaker, Mr. Rea, OF Chicago.
Mr. Rea at first spoke upon the sue
cess OF labor unions In his city. He adj
vocated the selection of cool. calculat-
Ing men for the heads Of trades unions,
and advised local unions against choos-
ing wild, eXeltable leaders. Trades I'M
Ions, he said. are beneficial to mer-
chants and business men, for men well
paid are good customers.
Later in the course Of his remarks
ne scored capitalists who reap fortunes
In the United States and spend them In
Europe, Turning to the coal strike, he
said that the present struggle between
operators and miners Is a struggle be.
tween capital and labor. and he want
ed West Virginia to stand in line with
Ohio, Indiana and other states, for the
success OF the strike Is as beneficial 10
West Virginia people as to those OF 9TH
err states.
"ouF conference In this city" said Mr.
Rea. will develop the cards up our
sleeves. We want TO win this strike for
the sake OF the sacred principles involv-
ed. What develops from this confer
ence viii be the result OF this meeting
Of labor leaders, representing their re-
spectiye unions, all standing at the
backs Of the miners"
Throughout his remarks there were
many cries from the crowd OF You're
right; wen stay with you" etc, Mr..
Rea dlsclalmed against the term "agI-
tatOrs." a term thrust upon men, whom,
he said. are attorneys pleading for the
cause of labor He wanted every
workingman to help out the miners, be-
cause II one branch OF labor goes down.
there VIII be crash of all classes OF
labor.
Mr.. Rea said he was sorry II Cover
nor Atkinson thought that he had said
free speech was denied In West Virgin
10. The mistake arose from n slight
dispute at Pocahontas. Virginia, and
not West Virginia. His treatment In
West virginia gave him high opinion
OF the state and It's people.
Debs Opens Fire.
Mr.. Debs received fatterlng recep-
ton from the crowd, which by this
time mad blocked all the space within
speaking distance His remarks were
eagerly anticipated. and he was listen
ed to with rapt attention, and at times
Interrupted by prolonged cheers.
He opened by referring TO the coal
strike. and the causes that effected the
strike. He said he knew OF many good
people In every community who were
opposed to any strikes and every
strike. They did not want strikes, and
would rather that there be none, but
when the time came to choose between
degFadatieB and strike, he was in Ia
VOr OF a strike. Degradation stared In
the fnces Of thousands OF men at the
present time.and the strike was against
the debasement OF manhood.
Abiding to the term "Rgltator," Debs
smilingly said he pleaded guilty TO the
charge Moses. he said, was an aglta-
tor Neither did the speaker fear pub
lie opinion. for. said he, II Will speak
my convictions. though the stars fall.
propose TO get up In the morning
with my self respect and to go TO bed
with my manhood. | propose TO be my.
self. What ! know to be wrong ! pro-
pose to right II It be In my power and
have no excuses to offer for my ac-
tion,"
Then he got down To the coal strike.
He gave some of his observations in the
Fairmont region. He said that one
miner had showed him his stubs and
time book, and after working for three
months. he owed the company 81 90.
The miners had to deal at the COM
pnny's store. They paid twenty TO thlr-
~ per cent more for their groceries than
was charged In other stores and they
were forced to buy from the conpany's
stores.
These men were paid for two tons of
coal when they mined three. They had
to get their tools sharpened, buy their
powder, ftc from the company. hence
II was no wonder that they were In debt
to the company, Neither was II any
Wonder that mcn were not allowed To
attend the recent meetings. and that
labor leaders were not allowed ap-
proach to the mines,
~ remember when the miner was
paid 81 day for his work. llo then
could maintain his manhood as an
American citizen, lie was happy then.
Now, the average pay for a miner. all
states und mines considered, IL forty
two lnd 0nc-half cents a day. MANY
can't get clothes sufficient 10 be pre-
Hentable on the streets Tholr condi-
d.. ,N IuIf a..
for truth; inYCStlFntC for yourselves,
a.d u.n IL ynn DOM tn,nt,p ,tttVnVnrs