The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1900-05-07
EUGENE DBBS' LEC4URE
Labor and Liberty Discussed at the
Grand Opera House.
1t Is Declared That Trusts VIII
street.-The Competitive system Re
garded an Evil-The Badge of
Toll to he n Mark of Nobility.


didate of the Social Democracy. addressed
an audience last night at the Grand Opera
House. The meeting was under the au-
spices of the Central Labor Union OF this
city and the subject discussed was Labor
and Liberty" 1t was expected by many
who were present that Mr.. Debs would
take advantage of the occasion to discuss
politics. but in this they were ~disappoint-
ed. The great majority of the audience
was composed of members Of local organ
lied labor. many of whom were accom-
panied by their wives and daughters.
Those who were invited to occupy the
boxes were James r. Sovereign, formerly
Master Workman of the Knights of La
Dor; Representatives Sulzer. Lentz, Bah
cock, Mercer, Heatwoie Gardner. Jen-
kins, and Cummings; Senator Mason; T. V.
Powderly, Commissioner of immigration:
John w. Hayes, Secretary Treasurer of
the Knights of Labor; John l.. Kennedy,
member of the Industrial Commission:
Thomas f. Tracy. Andrew Furesuth.
Michael D. Ratchford, James A. Parsons,
Master Workman of the hhIghts OF La
Dor. and E. J. Cantwell.
Mr.. Debs was given warm greeting by
the audience and after his address many
graduated him on his efforts on behalf Of
labor.
In the developm snt of his subject Mr..
Debs said that trusts are not evils, and in
time will bring about the end which the
Socialists are endeavoring to accomplish.
The time is coming, he said. when the
badge OF labor will be the badge of nobil-
ity. Then there will be time for leisure
and the soul will not be dominated by the
n oh of ba
poverty of the wage-esrasr. This he said,
is an age of Capitalization and combina-
tion of wealth and power, and as a result
We have the Two extremes of great opu-
lenee and great poverty. He spoke of the
competitive system as the cause of array
ing man against man in the field of labor.
with the result that wages are reduced TO
the very minimum upon which the laborer
can exist. The people who are responsible
for such a system. Mr.. Debs said. must
before long answer to humanity for the
wrong they have done the working men
and women OF the country
In this age of enlightenment and clyiliza-
tion, he said it is a shame to find that the
cheapest commodity on the market is hu-
man flesh and blood. He then referred to
the conditions of the past when the work
man owned his own tools. Then he said.
the owner Of the tools were he consumers,
but row the tools. labor saving machinery,
are owned by capitalists and corporations
who do not consume their own product
Thirty years ago miners received s. a day
for their labor, while now they do not
average 81 a day. Competition has made it
not only hard, but in many cases impossi-
BILE for workman to obtain work at living
wages. Not because a man is not compe-
tent and honest is he refused employment
by some employers. but because the appli-
cant's name appears upon the blacklist
which is kept by the manufacturers. 1t Is
the competitive system. the speaker said
whicS has created the tramp.
Mr.. Debs gave a very graphic descrip
tlon of the result OF the introduction of
improved machinery in many branches of
trade and in nearly every calling, he said.
it had created competition between the
laborers, which always resulted to the
benefit of the capitalist in causing a reduc-
ton of the price OF labor. As a result OF
the introduction of the SEWN, machine
children were compelled to WORK to assist
in the support of their parents snd sis
ters and brothers There is no feeling
of reciprocity between the child and the
machine. for while the child feds the ma
chine the machine manages u starve the
child. Sweatshops are a rebuke 10 Chris
tian civilization. The evidence of the bar
barity OF this system, he said. is i'm
printed upon the pale faces and sunken
cheeks OF the women and girls who daily
exc out their existence by labor in them.
Speaking of trusts, Mr.. Debs said they
are not evils. He would not put a straw
in their way if he could. Rockefeller. he
stated, is doing great work for the Social
Democracy ard in the end will bring about
the results for which the Socialist leaders
are working. The overproduction caused
by the use of machinery has ruined our
market. and now the country Is seeking
markets elsewhere for our produce. The
competition which started among indiyid-
uals has developed into a competition
among nations and when the rivalry be-
comes as sharp between nations as With
individuals. it will not be hard to guess the
result.
In conclusion Mr.. Debs said .hat It is
not the tariff, Imperialism, free silver, or
trusts. but the question OF the private
ownership OF the world which confronts us
today. He then predicted that William
Will be the last monarchical ruler of Ger
many, and that soon all other sovereign
powers would be known only in history.
Mr.. Debs was introduced TO the audience
by Sam DeNedrey, organizer of the Central
Labor Union.