East Oregonian : E.O. (Pendleton, OR) 1888-current, 1908-09-25

An unique figure in the present
presidential campaign Is August Gill
haus, who is seeking to go to the
White House as president by proxy
for Martin Il. Preston, now serving q
! 25-year sentence in a Nevada jail.
Preston was nominated by the social
list labor party-an organization en-
tlrely distinct and much more radical
in It's tenets than the more important
party headed by Eugene V. Debs-
but by advice Of attorneys refused the
honor. Gilhaus, a New York civil en-
gineer was then selected as Preston's
proxy, and IS now engaged in carrying
on his novel campaign.
Although the socialist labor party
has been reduced TO a mere handful
In numbers, 1t Is still sufficiently
strong to support a daily paper in
this city. The real head of the party
H. Daniel De Leon, a South American
by birth and formerly a college pro-
fcssor by profession. While man Of
wide scholarship and quiet in his per-
scnal demeanor, De Leon Is far more
revolutionary In his doctrines than
Debs or any of the leaders of the or
thodox socialist party.
Gilhaus, the proxy presidential nom
lnee, has for months spent his entire
time In pushing his candidacy, al
though little is heard Of him by the
public at large. He is no Red Spec
ial" In which to travel about the coun-
try. but does most Of his campaign
ing in the slums OF great cities, where
he appeals In rough but forceful Ian
guage to the passions of the worlds
dlsinherlted. Yet, despite his radi-
calism. he is a well-read and philo-
sophical man and has in him the
spirit of a willing martyr to cause
he deems sacred.
Twenty years ago Gllhaus was
stationary engineer in New York City,
according to his story, working for
wages. living dto-mouth eXis-
tonce. In his blood there Is a strain
of the philosophical German that in
clines him to revolutionary and spec
ulative doctrines. one winter in New
York changed the course of his life.
He went to hear Henry George in
campaign speech. fell under the influ-
ence Of the great single takers doc
ulnes and the stationary engineer be-
came a social revolutionist.
"He taught me to Think" declares
Gilhaus, with quiet but impassioned
earnostness. Before that ! thought
only Of my engine, after that of my
self and the reason why | lived. And
realized that was the slave Of the
engine and the man who owned it,"
When the socialist labor party was
in the throes Of its birth, in the early
nineties, Gilhaus took an active part
He stayed with the old branch when
the split came and the socialists
fell apart over the numerous questions
OF craft and class. Since then the en-
glneer has been getting further and
further away from his engine until
now he devotes all OF his time to,
preaching the tenets Of his party.
That he will be defeated he admits
without hesitation, but expresses an
unshakable belief that the party is
gaining strength with each cam
paign.
"Inevltable forces will push us to
the front" he says. 81 realize that
the party cannot in a year or 10 years
the social world. We
can prepare the people. nevertheless, /
for the upheaval that natural forces
will produce. Then we will be rec |
ognized."
There is something almost ludi-
crous and yet impressive about a man |
who talks like this and looks as Gil
haus does-his clothes disorderly and |
ana his face with a two
days growth of beard upon it. With .
a collar that apparently has not seen
the laundry for weeks, shoes broken .
and patched and dusty black slouch
hat tilted over his eyes, he talks calm
~ of overthrowing capital and seiz-
ing gigantic industries.
Mounted on soap box. his long,
slender figure swaying to the violence
Of his gestures, he talks and draws
generous applause from the crowds Of
hungry and discontented men whom
he addresses.
This, then, is the candidate for
president of the United States on the
socialist labor party ticket. A man
without home for Gilhaus is bach
elor, full of vague economic theories
and catchwords to voice them, in
deadly earnest with 1t all, pleading
for votes to the saloon loafers and ho-
Dos and vagrants of the country
This is the man who characterizes
Taft as a "fat-head," Bryan as
fool" and Hearst as a
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