Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1904-12-02
COMMENT CAUSED BY
GROWTH OF SOCIALISM

The Socialist party in 1900 cast less
than 100000 votes. The exact number
is given as 97.730. Full returns have
not yet been received for the election
of 1904, but it is known that between
100000 and 10000 votes We're cast for
the Socialist candidates. The states
of the middle west are the ones in
which the Socialists made the largest
gains. Illinois showed the most So
cialistic strength, coming up 10 about
$4,000 from about one-quarter that
number four years ago. Tie city of
Chicago alone gave the Debs and Han
ford ticket over 42.C00 votes.
Chicago sent two Socialists TO the
state legislature. j. y. Ambrose and
Andrew Olson. They We're elected
from the stockyards district. and the
dissatisfaction of the workingmen with
the outcome of the big meat strike. in
which victory WAS claimed by the en-
ployers. is held to account in part for
the choice of the candidates of the So
cialiSt party. In Wisconsin the So
cialists not only rolled up largely in
creased vote for their national ticket.
but they elected five members of the
state assembly and one state senator
and came close to success on candi-
dates for congress in the city of Mil
waukee.
In one district of Milwaukee Winfield
r. Gaylord. Socialist, obtained 9,517
votes as a candidate for congress as
against 1877 cast for the Democratic
candidate and 1910 for the Republic
an. In another district of Milwaukee
Victor l.. Berger. Socialist candidate
for congress. did still better, receiving
9,9S1 votes as against 6.963 for his
Democratic and 11.446 for his Repub-
lican opponent.
In Ohio the Socialist vote ar the last
election was about 10000. or nearly
five times what ii was i'll 1900. In
Kansas it has grown from 1000 four
years ago to 1900, according to So
cialist claims. The returns indicate Il
Socialist vote of about 10000 in the
state of New York as against 1850 in
1900 In the state of New York the
party has the official name of Social
Democratic party, and the same name
is used in Wisconsin. In some states
there Is smaller Socialistic party
known as the Socialist Labor party.
The party which made the large gains
IN the recent election and which had
as its candidates for president and vice
president Eugene V. Debs and Benja-
min Hanford is known nationally as
the Socialist party. Local reasons are
responsible for the use of the name So
cial Democratic in New York and Wis
consin.
Mr. Debs has been a champion of So
cialistic ideas for some years, though
until recently he was better known as
labor leader than as an exponent of
these economic doctrines. He was born
at Terre Haute, Ind. in 1855, was edu.
Gated in the common schools and as
young man worked as locomotive
fireman. He was also in the grocery
business and for four years was city
clerk of Terre Haute. Becoming inter
ested i'm organized labor. he rose to Off
cial position in the brotherhood of Lo-
connective Firemen aud became presi-
dent of the American Railway union.
He was nominated by the Socialists
for president in 1900 and again chosen
as their standard bearer this year. In
speaking of the vote pOlled by the So
cialist party Mr.. Debs says:
1.-TWO distinct and opposing tenden-
cies are revealed in the recent election
one the overwhelming triumph of
capitalistic interests, the other the adj
vent of the working class in national
politics. as shown by the enormous in
crease in the Socialist party's vote
1.-The Democratic party as the rep