The Delta independent., 1902-05-30
DEFENDS SOCIALISM
SPEECH CT EUGENE V. DE5s

Not a Reformer, but a Revclutionist-
Predicts That in Five Years Every
Man Will Insist That He Was the
Original Socialist - Leaders of
Thought Ostracised by Men of
Their Own Day.
Denver. May 2T.-Coliseum hall, the
largest auditorium in the city. was
filed to overtiowing last night TO hear
Eugene V. Debs, eXpound socialism
The gathering was under the auspices
of the executive board of the Western
Federation of Miners and the Western
Labor Union. and the badges of the
delegates TO the convention of those or
ganiZationS fiuttered in every part of
the hall. while the leaders occupied
seats upon the rostrum.
Attorney John II. Murphy presided.
Daniel Mcdonald. president of the
Western Labor Union. was the first
speaker and was followed by Lleuten-
attn Governor Coates. and Rev. L. +.
Hagerty All made brief speeches urg-
ing the delegates TO thoughtful consid-
Grafton of their work. They cham
pioned the political program along so
cialistic lines. TO which they will en-
deavor to commit the conventions.
When Mr. pebs was presented as the
orator of the evening. the audience rose
to receive him and rendered an enthu-
siaStic greeting.
The trouble with the working man
has been" said he. that they have de
pended upon some one else. You must
| learn self-reliance and the value of
unity. Do not forget Homestead and
| the other places where Republican and
! Democratic governors have ordered
! =
were guilty of the objectionable crime
| of demanding Il living wage. The conf
| petitive system which permits the cap
| italistic class to exploit the working
class must go. | do not propose to
| amend the system. | mean TO end it.
| (Applausel
Il am not n reformer The term is
| subject to suspicion. II Savors of dis
honesty. l like the word revolution
| 1t Stirs the blood. The time has come
| for action. The conventions meeting
here realize it and believe they will
adopt policy which will inspire the
| labor world.
"Cut loose from the representatives,
| of the capitalistic class and when you
have a grievance in the Industrial
| field put 1.OO0.oO0 votes back Of il in
| the political field This socialist move
| ment is worldwide. Wherever the
black flag of capitaliStic exploitation
| fiutters it is confronted by the blood
| red flag of socialism. Ii is not the
| question of wages. | would not he sat
I isfied with wage If it We're $1,000 per
/ day. You are entitled to all you pro-
duce and no man should be permitted
| to deprive you of n part You produce
everything and have nothing. The cap
italistic eNploiter produces nothing and
has everything.
In five years this movement will
have become so strong that it will be
| difficult TO find Il man in Denver who
| will not insist that he WAS the original
| socialist However only those who
1 stand by the movement now. when 1t
is not considered respectable. will be
then honOred."
He recounted the history of the great
leaders OF thought. all of whom he in
sisted had been ostracized by the men
of their own day and idealized by pos
! terfty. As he told of the murder Of
Elijah Lovejoy ard the hanging Of
John Brown many in the audience
were visihly affected. And now the
Legislature of New York tells us that
the most sacred soil in the common
wealth is that which covers the dust of
the man who was executed ut Harpers
| Ferry" exclaimed the orator As the
| latter paused. \. I. Morgan rose in
the body of the hall and exclaimed rev.
erently. amen \ whirlwind of ap-
plause swept the auditorium.
Socialism means that the producer
shall have what he produces" contin-
ued Dehs. 1T means that you miners
shah have the ore which you blast
from the heart Of nature. If it is not
100 per cent. yours. whose is it,"
Mark Hanna'S.' exclaimed some one
in the audience. amid laughter
THAT would seem To be the opinion
of the majority of the wOrkingmen."
was the ready response. AT least
they have been voting that way for
many years. Now Hanna is made si-
lent partner in a combination which
has for its object the betterment of the
| masses. Ii | were dove. | would as
soon think of subjecting myself 10 the
care OF raveuous hawk" (ApplauSel
At this point one of the most remark
| able demonstrations of the evening oc-
Cured. The speaker had declared that
| the majority OF the ministers Were sub
! ject to the influence of the rich and
| afraid to champion the cause of the
workiugman There have been. and
are exceptions which prove the rule"
! said he. You once had a minister
here-Myrun Reed" He got no farther.
| for every man. woman and child in the
hall was applauding the name Of the
| famous divine. "lt is a tribute 10 him
| and Il credit to you that he has not
| been forgotten" exclaimed the orator
| with much feeling. when order had
| been restored
AT the conclusion of the addresses. a
| handsome banner waS presented to the