The daily sentinel., 1908-09-07

The red special" with Mr.. Debs
and party including the famous Vol
unteer socialist band of Chicago. did
not reach the city yesterday until
about 6:15 pm. The "red special
was due here shortly after pm
The party was warmly welcomed
at the depot by a large reception
committee of local socialists. During
the hour prior to the opening of the
big meeting at the opera house the
Socialist band entertained hundreds
of people on Main street II is su-
perb musical organization and every
selection was rich treat.
At the meeting at the opera house
George n. Falconer of this city pre-
sided. The band, dissolving itself in
to an orchestra, rendered several
numbers at the opening of the meet
ing. Mr.. Falconer then. in behalf
of the local organization of social
lists, presented the band with a box
of the finest fruit in the world
Grand valley peaches, Mr. Falconer
at the same time paying a beautiful
tribute to this section
A. M. Simons, editor of the Chica-
go Daily Socialist. the only daily So
cialist paper in America. was then
introduced by Mr.. Falconer, and he
spoke at some length on present in
dustrial conditions and the promises
of relief the socialists hold out to the
people. Mr.. Simons is quite an able
talker and was heartily cheered from
time to time.
At S:3a pm. Eugene " Debs
stepped upon the stage, accompanied
by several members of his party,
AS the tall. tine-looking. smiling.
mlddle-aged mana giant in ply
sique and not pigmy in intellect
came forward. his great frame tow
ering above every other person on
the stage. he was e. en- a great ova-
tion. He was intrc dlced in a most
fitting and pleasing manner by Mr..
Falconer. and. as he bowed to the
great audience, another storm of
cheering that lasted for some mo-
ments broke out. Then dainty lit
tie girl walked up to Mr.. Debs and
presented him with n lovely bouquet
of flowers. Mr. Debs took the flow
ers and bending over gave the child
kiss.
Then for nearly che hour and
half this man-the ablest leader the
socialist party ever had-argued and
pleaded with his hundreds of hear
ers.
He began by saying that it was a
splendid audience, n nattering recep-
tion. especially for undesirable cit
izens. This brought forth a storm
of laughter.
II was not an abusive speech, like
that which nine out of every ten So
cialist orators who visit Grand juno
tion deliver. No bitter personal at
tack was made on any of the leaders
of the old parties or on the govern
ment of the United States. Mr.. Debs
doubtless realizes that ii does not
pay to argue on such lines His ad-
dress was delivered in n most en-
phatic manner, the natural move
ments of his giant figure. the shak-
ing of his bald head, the flash of his
keen eyes. the humor of his rare
smile, the force that is carried by
the pointing upward or downward of .
that lon~ index finger of the right
hand, added strength to the argu- .
ments.
Debs is an orator-there can be no .
denying of that fact. He is eloquent.
able to present facts and display ar
guments in most concise manner.
lie handles sarcasm with ease. and
his wit is keen and wholesome. He
Is most pleasing and entertaining
speaker.
Mr.. Debs dealt with the industrial
and economic conditions of the day.
outlined the policies of the party of
which he is the head. declared that
the working classes have nothing to
nope Tor from the old parties and
undertook to show how appalling are
industrial conditions today as COM
pared with so years ago. He closed
with plea to tire people to join him
ana his comrades in the fight for |
industrial freedom. industrial equal
ity. the wiping out of child labor
or poverty and of wretchedness.
Among some of the interesting .
statements made by MIR. Debs were /
the following. These are only few /
of scores of pointed statements made
by Mr.. Debs
'fhe slogan of the republican par
ty in 1900 was Let we'll enough |
alone: in 1904 the slogan was
Stand pat and in 1908 the slogan is
God knows"
There are more idle men in Amer
lea today than ever before. or the |
So.OOO.OOO men and women who have
to toll in the shops. the factories
and the mills today. one-sixth of |,
them are walking the streets look |
ing
Between the republican and DEM
ocratic parties there is NO difference. /
from the working class point of
view"
"Panics come at regular intervals
under the present system of govern
ment and they will continue to do SO.