East Oregonian : E.O. (Pendleton, OR) 1888-current, 1908-01-25
NEW YORK LETTER.

New York. Jan. 25.-The poor
have their troubles. as well as the
rich Of this big city. Statistics esti-
mate that 175.0O0 men and women
are now out of employment and are
wandering the streets of New York.
facing starvation. One Of the most
pitiful cases of extreme poverty yet
reported was that of Eugene Halle.
young German composer and mu-
sician, who came near forfeiting his
life in order that his wife might be
provided for and that he could con-
tinue work on an opera which he
hopes will place dim in the front
ranks of musical composers.
Halle resides in a little flat in West
SD street. Some time ago. the fever
of ambition firing his veins, he aban-
doned his music classes and began
the composition of an opera founded
on "Viola d'Amore." permission hav-
ing been granted by the author, Hans
Won Wolzogen, the distinguished Ger
man poet.
Then the young composer gave an
evidence of devotion such as is sell
dom in evidence in modern life. Re-
alizing that his savings would not be
sufficient to support two during the
period required for the production
of the opera, he gave all his money
to his wife to provide food for her
self and baby. telling her that he had
made arrangements to take his meals
with a friend.
Carrying out this pretense he left
the flat at meal times, returning to
resume his work with the feverish
intensity of a man whose life de-
pended upon the issue, and who was
even then slowly dying Of starvation.
For days and weeks he lived with
scarce a mouthful of food, until he
collapsed and was taken to hospital
Careful attention and nursing
brought the composer back to life.
Now, aided by Heinrich Neyn, a
wealthy artist, he is pursuing his
work under more favorable condi-
tions.
Nothing is needed to complete this
little romance Of real life but the
completion and success of the opera
to which Halle came near sacrificing
his life. Perhaps that last chapter
may be added in the future.
For President-Bill HAYWOOD.
A man who not many months ago
occupied a prison cell, charged with
being the most ruthless arch-conspir-
ator Of the century, recently faced a
New York audience as the logical
candidate for the presidency Of the
United States. Eugene v. Debs, the
Indiana orator who has twice led the
socialist "hosts" to defeat, has ap-
parently retired from the field in ia
vor of william D. Haywood, he who
was acquitted of completely in the
murder of Ex-Governor Steunenberg,
after Harry Orchard had accredited
him with being the inspiring force
in the assassination of scores of men
during the western labor war. Now
the accredited mouthplece of the
Western Federation of Miners, Hay
wood is touring the country as the
standard-bearer Of the
social democracy whose nomination
for the presidency is a foregone con-
clusion.
Whatever may be thought Of Hay |
woods party and policy, those who |
see and hear him recognize man of |
great force of character. Lacking |
The scholarly brillance OF the French
American Debs, he is yet in possession
of a wide knowledge that is startling
N one who has spent the greater part
of his life in the mines. The days,
md weeks and months spent in the
Boise Jail was fruitful of wisdom for
his chosen leader OF the "proletar-
at"
That period offered him the leisure
or protracted course in science, lit
,rature, sociology, economics, history
md law, and he improved It to the
Utmost. To the knowledge of human
nature in the rough, gained In the
western mines and as a leader Of that
most militant OF labor organizations,
he Western Federation. Of Miners,
Haywood has added the polish and
ulture that comes Of reading many
ooks.
He Is serious man, this stocky,
eavy-set son of toll, and bulldog {
etermination Is reflected in his sim '
lie eye and in his square-moulded
ace, and his bulky, sinewy form sug-
ests the strength Of a giant and the
ardlhood OF the pioneer. He does {
ot consider the presidential nomi- g
alton OF the "red-card" party as a
ike. |
With Fabian socialism, drawing Q
pom reform and kid-glove revolution /
g has nothing in common He gives {
he impression Of a man Of action, a