The state herald., 1902-05-30
DEFENDS SOCIALISM
SPEECH OF EUGENE v. oEss

Predicts That In Five Years Every
Man viii Insist That He Was the
Original Socialist = Leaders Of
Thought ostraelsed by Men Of
Their Own Day.
Denver, May 21.-Coliseum hall, the
largest auditorium In the city, was
filed to overflowing 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
ganizatlons 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 Lieuten-
attn Governor Coates, and Rev. Il. Il.
Hagerty. All made brief speeches urg-
ing the delegates to thoughtful consld-
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.. Debs was presented as the
orator Of the evening, the audience rose
to receive him and rendered an enthu,
siastlc greeting.
1.-The trouble with the working man
has BEEN" said he, that they have do
pended upon some one else. YOU must
learn self-rellance and the value OF
unity. Do not forget Homestead and
the other places where Republican and
Democratic governors have ordered
your fellows shot down because they
were guilty of the objectionable crime
of demanding n 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. l mean to end II,
(Applause.)
II am not reformer. The term is
subject to suspicion. 1t savors of dis
honesty. l like the word revolution.
1t stirs the blood. The time has come
for action. The conventions meeting
here realize II and | believe they will
adopt a policy which will inspire the
labor world.
'Cut loose from the representatives
of the caplialistic class and when you
have grievance In the industrial
field put 1,0OO,0O0 votes back of It In
the political field. This socialist move.
ment is worldwide. Whichever the
black flag Of capitalistic exploitation
flutters 1t is confronted by the blood
red flag of socialism. II is not the
question of wages. would not be sat
isiied with wage II II We're 100 per
day. You are entitled to all you pro-
duce and no man should be permitted
to deprive you of a part. You produce
everything and have nothing, The cap.
itallstic exploiter produces nothing and
has everything.
''ln five years this movement will
have become SO strong that II will be
difficult to find man In Denver who
will not insist that he was the original
socialist. However only those who
stand by the movement now. when II
is not considered respectable, will be
then honored."
He recOuntcd the history Of the great
leaders OF thought. all Of whom he In
sisted had been ostrnciZ by the men
OF their own day and idealizod by pos
terity. As he told of the murder Of
Elijah Lovejoy and the, hanging Of
John Brown many In the audience
were vlslbly 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 nt Harper's
Ferry" exclaimed the orator. As the
latter paused. A. r. Morgan rose In
erently, amen" 4 whlrlwlnd OF ap-
plause swept the auditorium.
Socialism means that the producer
shall have what he produces" contln-
ued Debs. ''It means that you miners
shall have the ore which you blast
from the heart OF nature. II II is not
100 per cent. yours, whose Is IT,
Mark Ilannn's." exclaimed some one
In the audience. amid laughter.
THAT would seem 10 be the opinion
OF the majority Of the w0rklngmen."
was the ready response. at least
they have been voting that way fo'
many years. Now Hanna Is made n 81.
lent partner In combination which
has for It's object the bcitcrmont OF the
masses. II were dove. ! would ms
soon think Of subIectinc myself to the
care OF a ravenous hawk" tApplausc)
He proceeded 10 lnmhnst the chair
man OF the Republican national com
mlitee and. infereniInlly. Gompers and
other labor leaders associated with
him. Again he denounced the pollti-
clans aud took M the preachers.
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
worklngmnn. There have been. and
are. exceptions which prove the rule"
said he. "You once had n minister
re-Myron Reed" lie got no farther.
Tor every man. woman and child In the
hall was npplnudlng the name of the
famous divine. at IL n tribute 10 him
and credit 20 you that he has not
been forgotten" exclaimed the orator
with much feeling, when order had
been restored.