Las Vegas daily optic. [volume] (Las Vegas, N.M.) 1880-1908, 1897-06-15
DEBS GREAT SCHEME
He will Plant an Army on the
Unoccupied Lands
Of the West.
q ~-~-------
TO BE A LITTLE REPUBLIC
And Work on the Cooperative
Plan, for the Good Of
Humanity.
OUTSIDE AID RENDERED.
TO BE A LITTLE REPUBLIC
OUTSIDE AID TENDERED.


opening season OF the convention OF th
American Railway Union was held th
morning, at Handell hall. every branc
Of the union having sent its full quot
Of delegates, and large number Q
visitors being present, attracted by tn
proposed reorganization of the move
ment upon broader and more radica
lines. The convention was called /
order by President Eugene v. Debs
who in his opening address stated tina
labor leaders everywhere were rapid
being forced to the conclusion that
IS hopeless task TO resist the lowerin,
Of wages. as these reductions wer
caused by natural law and were in
evitable. No organization OF mel
could uphold wages under the rule o
capitalism and while the heartles
strife for gain Is dominating oil 10
dustry and commerce. Workingmel
could not be held 10 line for trades
nnionism, he said. when they saw th
futiiity OF these organizations. An
other solution must be sought, and tha
solution was cooperation.
He proposed the establishment OF |
co-opera.iye colony in some state, ars
the ultimate capture by the ballot o.
the state government, together will
the re-modeliug OF It's organic Law
upon a cooperative basis. Hs pro
posed, further that at least 100 or
gamers be placed 10 the field o.
once, and prophecied that within stz
months 1000. 600 members could be
enlisted that from this membership
| $50, 900 month could be raised, and
that this sum should be devoted to the
support OF the CO. operative colony nm
I'll 1t became established upon a pay
ing basis. Dolly honest, industrious
men were to be regarded as colonis,s
As measure Of economy, and 10 at
tract attention to the movement, be
proposed that they march to the scene
of their new activity. Every care,
however, was to be taken to shield the
movement from ridicule, so that the
new society should afford no ground
for the impression that 1t was an army
Of mendicants.
E. v. Debs, received royal well
come, this morning, as be stepped on
the stags and called the first session of
the Railway union to order. Daring
President Debs' opening address, he
was listened to attentively and fre-
quently applauded.
81 am not here to denounce capital, -
he said. "Nor am here to explore
my views of the rich. 1t is not with
individuals have to do, but with the
system OF society that produces him
and is responsible for him." Mr.. Debs
outlined his ideas OF new republic,
which he declared would be the means
of giving work to the unemployed.
President Debs Is supremely conf
dent OF the success of his cooperative
colonization scheme. Speaking of the
plan he gave out the following addi-
tional details: "We will have an army
OF 5000 picked men, ready to march
within thirty days. These will be sent
to Washington. BY the time they ar
rive, they will have a new settlement
ready to receive them. Men and funds
viii be sent In advance 70 provide
shelter and lay the foundation for the
industry. Land win be titled and
crops planted. Our recruits will be
selected with great care and with the
view toward the correct apportionment
Of the skilled trades, artisans, farmers
and laborers. Funds will be raised
through the work OF the organizations.
After our colonies become seIf-support-
ing, q general exodus of the unem-
ployed OF the east will begin. Il will
simply be question OF time before we
can control the state elections and
finally secure majority in the legisla-
ture. The state constitution will be
revised andthe entire commonwealth
be converted to socialism =
Mr.. Debs cited the establishment in
early days by the Mormons Of their co.
operative colony in Utah, and the
success which have attond-
I'D their efforts. He claimed that the
firm belief Of the workingmen of to-
day, in the principle Of corporation,
would be as strong an incentive to
hem as were the religious tenets Of
he Mormons, and that a like measure
,f success would attend the efforts OF
his colleagues.
President Debs' remarks were well
received, and 1t is probable that the
will take definite action in
he direction proposed.
N. Lermond, of Thomaston, Maine,
secretary Of the Brotherhood OF the
Cooperative Commonwealth, has
promised the support OF his organiza-
ION to the new movement, and both |
10 and Mr.. Debs have made investiga
IONS in several states relative to the |
selection OF site for the colony, among |
he states visited being Tennessee, Ar
kansas and Utah.
Among those participating In to.
lays proceedings were Professor Par
IONS, of Boston: Professor Heron. oi |
iowa, and Henry d. Lloyd. OF Chica-
10, Many other interested in the la
,or question have also corresponded
With Mr.. Debs, among them being DR..
Rainsford, a well known Episcopal
Of New York CITY Espec.
ally active support ia looked for b.
be leaders among tho wo-kingmen OF
bis city. St. Louis and Milwaukee, Is
veil 60 other large industrial centers.