Gilpin observer., 1902-05-29
DEFENDS SOCIALISM
SPEECH OF EUGENE v. DEBs

Man Will Insist That He Was tho
Original Socialist = Leaders Of
Thought ostracised by Men Of
Their Own Day.
Denver. May 27-Coliseum hall, the
largest auditorium in the city, was
filed to over1owing 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 futtered 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. L. F.
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. Debs 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
your fellows shot down because they
were guilty of the objectionable crime
of demanding living wage. The conf
petitive system which permits the cap
italistic class to exploit the working
class must go. l do not propose to
amend the system. | mean to end it.
(Applause.)
Il 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 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 100000 votes back of it in
the political field. This socialist move
ment is worldwide. Wherever the
black flag of capitalistic exploitation
flutters it is confronted by the blood
red flag of socialism. 1t is not the
| question of wages. would not be sat-
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 a part. You produce
everything and have nothing. The cap
| italistic exploiter produces nothing and
| has everything.
I'm five years this movement will
have become so strong that it will be
difficult to find a man in Denver who
| will not insist that he was the original
| socialist However only those who
stand by the movement now. when it
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 idealzed by pos
terity. AS he told of the murder of
Elijah Lovejoy ard the hanging of
John Brown many in the audience
were visibly 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 at Harper's
| Ferry" exclaimed the orator. AS the
latter paused. A. T. Morgan rose in
the body of the hall and exclaimed rev.
erently. amen" a whirlwind of ap-
plause swept the auditorium.
Socialism means that the producer
shall have what he produces" contin-
ued Debs. at means that you miners
shcu 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 ST.
lent partner in n coh. .olnation which
has for its object the betterment of the
| masses. If | We're dove. | would as
sooR think of subjecting myself to the
J care of a ravenous hawk" (Applause.)
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
worklngman. There have been. and
are. exceptions which prove the rule"
said he. "You once had a minister
here-Myron Reed" He got no farther,
for every man. woman and child In the
hall was applauding the name of the
famous divine. 1T is tribute to him
/ and 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. q
handsome banner was presented to the
| executive board.