The record-union., 1898-03-06


hind the swinging red doors, whereupon
everyone yelled. stamped or did both,
and Debs entering with a smile and two
companions took d seat behind a man
wearing red neck-tie and red rib
bon upon the lapel of the coat, who was
introducing somebody else as Chairman
| of the meeting. This individual, SINH
larly bedecked, talked for about half
an hour in words which vainly required
a serious manner and he finally ended up
with funny story of the Maine woods.
| The next speaker spoke with decided
accent and large reserve of wind, so
he was brought to a halt with a brief
note laid upon the table in front of him,
which resulted in a glare plainly saying
If could but have the power of Mu-
rat for single moment" But he did
not take his seat before he informed
the audience that that platform, the
same which Lincoln spoke from on his
first visit to New York, was tonight
lenored with the presence of one Of the
noblest Of those born under the stars
ana stripes. Everybody was waiting
10 applaud the name of Debs, but the
orator said John Swinton'' instead.
Whereupon the applause was given any
way, and the old man in the evening
| SUIT and skull cap arose, looked relived
and disappeared.
| Next came a Mr.. kelliher, who. the
people were informed, was with Debs in
| 1891 during the exciting times of the
strike and who has developed marked
penchant for quoting poesy. Between
| quotations he remarked that Thomas A
Edison had said that inside of fifty years
science would give the world machinery
which would dethrone human labor in
its entirety, a condition of affairs which
Mr. kelliher justly regarded as being
serious. He finally wound up with some
fragments of poesy and an appeal to
subscribe for the Social Democrat"
Chicago publication supposedly con-
trolled by Mr.. Kelliher.
When MIR. Debs arose he appeared
very nervous and much moved; it was
noticed however, that he lacked the
carmine adOrnments of his predecessors
and that the confident smile had van
ished. After the greeting due such
hero was boisterously given strict at
tenticn was the order of the minute.
There We're some in the listening crowd
who had been drawn thither by expec
tation of excitement; others in hope of
hearing stirring words and Mr.. Debs
did not disappoinIt the latter.
He took the stand that the country
was going to the "demnition bow
vows" it was in the hands of a select
coterie OF wealthy unpripcipaleds: they
were deceiving the people, that is ev
erybody excepting the Social Demo-
Gratis, and that IL the latter did not
spread the truth they would soon find
themselves without country; the mon
eyed class surely intended to wreck it.
Debs is not the man, in appearance,
that is generally found addressing such
assemblages; he has an intelligent bear
ing and a grave and un-crank-like
manner that commands respect even
to such as abhor his theories. The
man is, as far as appearances can indi
cate, thoroughly sincere and the writer
was impressed with the idea that he
could, though no orator, interest an
audience of a much higher standard Of
intelligence than that which he was ad
dressing.
The Social Democracy" will no
doubt attain much strength among the
lower strata Of society, and on this ac-
count it may be of interest to note the
most important of Mr.. Debs' remarks
which the writer jotted down at tha
time. Here they are. To-day chill
dren operate to large extent the mill
machinery of the country.
Their employers consider them as mere
ly so much machne-oil / was
in Georgia recently upon a tour of in
spection and found mill communities
where children were largely employed;
l found that though the hours We're
long the wages were but fifty-seven
cents per week Tramps that
IN my recollection, We're once unknown,
now exist in such proportions as to be a
menace to the country. Com
nit almost any crime you choose and
go scot free if you have money enough.
3 Every trust is the economic
emperor, tyrant and controller of the
people. The Supreme Court
reeks with more stenches than Cole
ridge found in Cologne and how is it
to he decdorized? No cure ex-
cent in socialism. I tell you
gentlemen of the middle class, that you
will soon be extinct: you must
become either a millionaire or a mendi
can't
All these utterances and many more
Mark Hanna's name was the signal for
general vituperation while the name OF
Bryan almost passed unnoticed in the
various addresses, a fact which may
be significant as to the conclusions
reached by the leaders Of this new
party.
Before the doors opened and while
the crowd was waiting for admission
Il hot rod Ai1 ~ h
signs were hung up against the doors
just over the heads Of the people. In
red letters was the inscription, Sew
enty billions capital: seventy million
shareholders; go hear Eugene V.
Debs," etc. A small scrap of rag hung
over in front of one of the letters and
a man in the crowd vainly attempted
to remove it: instantly a half dozen
more umbrellas We're fishing gently and
respectfully fer that innocent scrap of
rag until it was finally dethroned. The
incident seemed to be indicative of a
sort of veneration which the owners OF
the umbrella felt for anything connect
ed with their cause.
The arrival and speech of Debs would
have been in ordinary times facts for
the sensational press to gIoat over but
in the hot competition for war excite
ment these incidents actually passed
unnoticed by the papers of the follow
ing day. PRESTON JONES.
Tristan d'Acunha's yearly mail has
been dispatched from St Helena. 1t
consists of ten letters, three newspapers
and two packages of books.