The Portland daily press., 1900-07-27
ADDRESSED THE SAILORS.
Clinton simomtOn's Campaign in Be-
half Of the socialisticiTicket.

Clinton simOmtOn's Campaign I'm Be-
half of the sooiaIisticiTicket
The campaign in behalf of the socialis-
tic ticket is on in this part of the state
and for several days past Clinton Simon
ton of South Portland, the candidate for
Congress IN this district, has been de-
livering number of speeches in the
country towns. Yesterday he was about
the city with Charles L. Fox, a promi-
nent leader in the movement, distribut-
ing and mailing on the telegraph poles
and in other conspicuous places notices
of the meeting that is to b9 held at South
Portland this evening. On these notices
is the announcement that Mr.. SimOnton,
the child OF the people, win speak on
the subject, Some Social Problems and
Labor Destiny Mr. Fox will also
speak as VIII William P. Goss, another
prominent local socialist.
Mr.. Simonton is a young man who for
six years was a clergyman of the Metho
dist church. Three or four years ago he
had passionate at South Portland. His
last charge was at Blenheim, Canada, He
said last evening that for the last few
years he had been gradually becoming a
follower Of socialism and that within
year he had joined the very front ranks
in the cause. Since then he has left the
church and now confines his efforts to
preaching in the open air.
Yesterday afternoon and last evening
Candidate Simonton spent considerable
time among the sailors and longshoremen
who had gathered on Fore street, near
the shipping commissioner office. Mr..
Simonton is a ready talker and discoursed
for a stretch of several hours on socialis-
tic topics. THE questions today, he
declared, "are not as to whether men are
to vote the Republican or the Democratic
tickets this year. The questions Of this
hour are far beyond these limitations 1t
is question OF labor and capital aud we
young men today have got to decide on
which side we shall stand I have
travelled in about every state of the
Union and soon after 1 had started out
my eyes were opened and I aWoke to
learn things which had not before
dreamed Of. From this state to Omaha,
Neb.- I have walked across the country
and right in the dead Of winter, too r
have met many men on the road who, al
though they had become tramps, were far
mora logical then the number of slaves
working twelve hours a day in the
marble quarries up in Vermont.for ninety
cents day. Those poor fellows who are
now tramps were not always tramps.
They are made so by society as it exists
today. They started out in life with as
high and noble ambitions to become great
and famous as Washington and Jefferson.
1t is not because the Vanderbilts, Rookie
fellers, Goulds, Carnegies and Mark
Hannas have any bigger brains than you
or I that they have become millionaires.
1t is only that they are as they are be.
cause the people have been 50 generous
with them. Before this republic expands
and takes possessions in Cuba, Porto Rico
and the Philippines it should get back
all of those great lands in the west and
northwest which have been given to
private parties We should have them and
as long as I am able I shall protest
against them being used as they are now.
AS the conditions prevail at the present
time the slaves of capital are far worse
off than were the negro slaves before the
rebellion. I tell you that the times de-
mand men, and tonight the conditions in
this county are worse than ever before in
It's history. The socialists of this country
are the students of today and you would
be surprised to see how we are growing. -
Mr.. Simonton said that he had not adj
yertised his meetings very much but that
he had been favored with good audiences.
He explained that at the present time the
speakers in the cause in this state were
too modest to advertise themselves.