The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1900-02-10
DEBS ON SOCIAL DEMOCRACY.


him, and. in. fact, one or two signfied dis
sent. 1t was a question, he said, which
required study and upon which the public
mind would have TO be educated. . Like all
great reforms 1t would meet with great OPP
position and those who advocated it would
be denounced as demagogues and worse.
This had been the history of every reform
the world had ever seen, he said, and his
tory would repeat itself in this case
Leaving this question temporarily Mr.
Debs discussed at some length the rela-
tons of capital and labor, dive liug upon
the inJustices perpetrated upcn the work
ingman by means of the immense rover
of organized capital Special attention
was paid 10 the late Mr. Pullman and his
night with organized labor and sarcastic
references were made TO the Plant system
ana the means by which it has prevented
It's employees from organizing.
In discussing the railroad question Mr.
Debs lead back to his social cooperative
system The abuses Of their powers by
the railroad systems ana the manner in
which they had effected combinations for
their own benefit, crushing out and de-
stroying smaller corporations and placing
thousands of miles of railroads in the
control of Wall street operators who had
never handled a pick nor driven a spike
were reviewed, with the conclusion that
end the system inaugurated by the rail-
roads themselves and take possession of
all the railroads to be operated for the
benefit of all the people. Mr. Debs justi-
ned this by saying thar as the working
men had built the railroads they were
entitled to take possession of them
Mr.. Debs painted the happy state of at
fairs which would exist under a system
of economic cooperation, which should
finally embrace the entire universe, in
glowing coors. War would cease
because war is but a means of competi-
ton between nations. IF 1t were
not for the competitive system" he said
the troops of Great Britain would not be
in the Transvaal ard the armies of the
United States would not be in the Philip
pines. Competition forces the nations TO
compete with each other to secure new
markets for their products in order that
they may sell In other lands the goods
which, under proper system, would be
consumed at home. With proper distri-
button of labor and Of the produets of la
Dor all our products would be consumed at
home and there would be no necessity for
seeking foreign markets.
War said Mr. Debs again, us where
the workingmen of one country go out to
kin the workingmen of another country.
The people who declare the war do not DO
the fighting. | can imagine the capital
lists of Wall street lying awake nights be-
cause of their anxiety for the civilization
of the poor Filipinos."
Mr.. Debs closed with description of the
happy state of affairs which would exist
when his system of universal co-opera ion
shall prevail Labor will be dgninsd,
trusts and corporations will no longer
menace the liberties of the people, Million
aires and paupers will alike cease TO ex-
tst and social and economic equality viii
be the rule.
Notwithstanding Mr.. Debs spoke for
nearly two and half hours he held the
interest of his audience throughout, and
was frequently applauded. After the adj
journment of the meeting Mr.. Debs and
the leaders of the labor unions were enter
tanned by Mr., S. Krouskoff at his home on
Seventh street.