The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1908-09-25

From Mondays Daily.
y Eugene V. Debs, socialist candidate
for president, arrived in the city on
his Red Special" at about lao p.
m, yesterday OF forty-fve minutes
after the time announced. A crowd
that might have numbered thou
sand including men women and child
rem, crowded the union depot platform,
when the train arrived. consisting of
TWO coaches and baggage car. 1t
came in from New Ulm on the Chi
cago G. Northwestern road and trans
ferred to the Omaha. The middle car
carried huge red banner extending
the entire length with the words
"Socialistie Presidential Special" upon
it. A banner having on one side, "Let
the Nation own the Trust" and on
Nhe other Socialism the Hope of the
People, was carried aloft.
In the crowd were a few from out
of the city. Almost all of the local
socialists were present, and numerous
other people who had been attracted
by curiosity. One laboring man wore
a bright red shirt, thus testifying
his party principles, and to emphasize
it carried his coat under his arm.
A young gil wore a red dress, but this
may have been only a, coincidence.
, Introduced By Moore.
After the band that accompanied the
party on the train had played briefly,
Beecher Moore, socialist candidate for
governor of Minnesota, mounted
truck and addressed the gathering,
which filled the entire platform and
stood upon trucks and trunks. He
',ulogized Mr.. Debs very highly, saying
that he had shoveled coal for years as
locomotive fireman and had worked
his way up without help until he be-
came president of the American Rail
way union at the time of the Pullman
strike. He had never sold labor out,
neither had he ever been invited to
the White House to hobnob with Teddy
and other capitalists. He was not
man who would dine with capitalists
and be photographed among them. The
socialists had been JAILED undesirable
citizens" Beware of the man who
is not, for he is hated by that class
and boosted by capitalists" declared
the speaker.
Every dollar for this train had been
given by the working men. The
man who pays the bill calls the tune
and it is his. The speaker called for
volunteers to pass the baskets and re-
ceive contributions, and this was done
while the band played. Socialist liter
AZURE was also sold through the crowd
by young man who rode on the train.
Presented With Flowers.
Mr.. Debs then made his way from
the train to the stand, and when he
stepped upon it he was presented with
some beautiful flowers by a lady and
several little girls. He seemed greatly
pleased, and sent the flowers into his
ear. He said that this was a tribute |
that touched the heart, as it was from
the hands of childhood and silenced the
tongue so that no word could fifty |
express it. Indeed, it was the little
ones that the fight was being made for.
trying to emaneipate millions of them,
from six to ten years old. who were
thronging the factories and mills. If
there was a crime that should bring
shame to the cheek of the capitalists
society, it was the unfathomable crime
Of child labor. "When 1 think of these
little ones snatched from school and
the playground by the fierce hand of
Mammon, and forced into the factory,
vowed that I would do all that
could to destroy the brutal SYSTEM"
said the speaker.
Sociey Is Divided.
Society is divided into two distinct
and opposing classes. The capitalists
lon't like to have us refer to classes.
We did not begin this class struggle,
put we are going to end it. We are
not in favor of classes, but there will
De classes and they will be at war
With each other as long as the work
NC classes are in subsection. Through
nut all history the laboring men have
,een slaves or in servitude. In the ;
middle ages workers were serfs, and
low they are mere wage slaves and
Tot sovereign citizens in any sence OF
he word When you refer to the
over classes, whom do you meanf 1t
5 the laboring class, without which
ociety would perish. 1t has been and
lways win be the lowest class. Why?Ii
Because the capitalists are on your L
'acks; they are the upper class and .
'Ou are the lower. (Applause.)
81 am not discussing parties. The
wo old ones are doomed and will ii
lot be here much longer. The logic of IS
Socialism may not reach your brain, +
nut the logic of capitalism will reach I
our pocketbooks. The big capital
SITS will take care of the smaller ones.
'apital is combining and the depart
nent store is putting the small mer-
liant out of business. IL
Bryan Trying to Ride Two Horses. n
The republican party is the one of G
he capitalist class. The democratic f
arty says that it is the party of r