River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1897-06-24
oEes USES PLAIN LANGUAGE.
Says Force Mny he Necessary TO Ac-
complish HIS Aim.

cOmpitsh Ills Aim.
Chicago. June 22.-The right of the
poor of Chicago to help themselves to
the possessions Of the rich and the
right Of his Washington colony to take
arms against the government if an
army should be sent to trample on its
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 be will probably
not hear the last for long time. The
first of these was made at the morning
session, when the mod Il constitution
for state unions was under considera-
ton. In his speech MIR. Debs used the
following language:
Il hear II said that we will come in con-
tact with the federal courts. l suppose we
will. When we get political control of
state We will employ lawyers TO tell us
just how far our rights permit us to go.
IL the supreme court tells us to stop, why.
We will stop. But that will give socialism
a great impetus. II they send stand
ing army against us they will have lots TO
do on the way. II they insist. in defiance
of the constitution. In suppreSsing the Will
OF the cooperative commonwealth they Will
be met by 300 coo men who will fight them
on that issue"
These sentiments electrified the del
egates. vino 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 at
tributed to him. He declared that he
had spoken guardedly of an invasion of
constitutional rights. But in that case
he reiterated that he and every other
American citizen who is not poltroon
is ready TO fight.
Within two hours afterward, how
ever, Mr.. Debs made TO the convention
a closing speech, which contained Ian
guage far more unguarded and infam-
matory. He said:
THE times are ripe for change. There
are 5,000000 men in the country without en-
| ploynent. In Alabama little girls work
in factories IA hours a day for IS cents q
week In Sheboygan men work ten hours
I for 20 cents. Manhood is reduced TO mer-
chandise, and even so II is not worth quot
| ing on change. Negro slaves were worth
$3.50 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 S90000,000 and cannot
let go. | believe in helping him TO let go.
| cannot understand how a man can cling
10 $5.000O00 when men around him are go
ing insane through starvation.
Last winter the mayor of Chicago had to
address a proclamation to the people in
forming them that thousands of men and
women were in danger of freezing to death.
Yet there was plenty of coal in Chicago.
What kept those freezing thousands from
helping themselves? l cannot tell. Man
is the only animal / know of that has not
sense enough to feed himself. Take. for in
1 stance. the Kansas jackrabbits. II you
kill one of them and you find him fat you
may be sure all the other Jackrabbits are
fat too There are no plutocrats among
them who corner the crops and get fat
while the others starve. No jackrabbit is
stupid enough to allow 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 was no demand for this corn The
I jackrabbits helped themselves. and why
did not starving men and women do the
same?
I'm Chicago there are $4,000 starving peo-
I pie, starving In full view OF food. Nature
| has provided an abundance for every crea-
ture. and IT is stored mountain high in
1 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
I be chosen by the executive board. This
| commission is to have charge of the new
| commonwealth scheme. The money to
1 carry on this scheme is to be raised by vol
untary contributions. No member of
/ either the executive board or the commits
I sion is to hold any political office. The
/ commission IS to meet before August and
name the state in which the first colony
/ shall be established. 1t will also adopt
/ regulations for the selection of unemployed
I persons and take steps toward conveying
| them to the state decided upon.