The Wilmington daily Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1890-1902, 1898-03-19
SOCIALIST LEADER HERE.
Mr.Debs Explains His Movement Form the
New Democracy.

Eugene Debs, the socialist leader. ad,
dressed gathering of citizens many o
whom were single takers, and working.
men in Turn Hall last night. 1t was Mr.
Debs first visit to Wilmington and the im
preston lie created was not lasting. Mr..
Debs did not refer to the Single Tax. He
said that any system by which single
man is deprived Of the equal right with
any other man to work is u failure and
ought to bo abolished. The declaration Of
Independence says that all men are equal
and have an inalienablo right to life lib.
erty and the pursuit o happiness. Debs
argued that they are likewise entitled to
the right to work, since life can be aus.
tainod only by work.
Under the present capitalist system
mans right to work depends on the atbi-
trary will of another.
Debs launched into historical review
of Inventions and discoveries and how
from small workshops the workmen labor
ing side by side with the employer, Ia
ventions and machinery had brought
about the present capitallst-factory sys-
tenn, the workman being appropriated
from his tools and means Of livelihood,
mado wage slave, and dependent OH the
capitalist.
Wealth, he declared, Is fabulous, but
the ever-incTeasing wealth and the multi.
plication Of milllonuires is accompanied
by the many times multiplication of mis-
cry and exploitation on the other hand.
Tramps arc the result OF millionaires. The
richer tho man them tramps he Is re-
sponsible for. We have, he said, 1900 mil.
lionaires and 100000 unemployed. Debs
asserted that tAe result of the fierce com :
petition under the capitalist system, where
production is for profit, men are frat en-
DlOyed on the machines, then women and
finally children contracts are made for the
family. The men are thrown out Of work.
The wage slave in many respscts Is worse
than the chattel slave, He cited instances
Of low wages, aud how machinery has dis
placed workmen
The laborer sells his labor, but tho pur-
chaser fixes the price. This is different
from any other sale. Debs then declared
thai tho competitive system is resulting in
a tremendous concentration of capitalists,
the middle classes are being forced out
and the world will be divided into smal
class of employers and a large class of EN-.
ployes. Huge trusts are the natural out
come of this economic capitalist law.
These builders of trusts are semi-sociai-
lists. They believe in cooperative produc.
ton, but in individual distribution.
These very capitalists themselves do not
trust their own system, rs witness those
who take out large life insurance. 80 that
their children shall not come to want.
DOCTRINE OF CRISIS
Debs then explained the Sociaistic doc.
trine OF commercial crisis. This is that
the laborer gets about one-fifth of what he
produces III wages, the laborers form the
greatest part of the consuming portion of
the country; consumption is cut off be
cause the laborers cannot buy back what
they produco and we have panic in the
midst of plenty.
This, he asserted, will be the destruction
of trusts. They throw men out of employ.
ment, curtail their own (the trustsD
market by curtailing the consuming power
of the people
During the evening pledges were passed
around the room, aud 1t was announced
that the local Social Democracy will meet
every Sunday afternoon at 6l0T Market
street.
Debs and c. Wesley Callahan who also
spoke will go to Baltimore to-day, and Mr..
Debs said he hoped soon to return to Will
mington. Asked about the war scare
over tie Maine, he said he said he did not
care to discuss the matter at length. He
said he was opposed to war. and hoped the
trouble will bs settled peac1ably.