The Bennington evening banner. (Bennington, Vt.) 19??-1961, 1912-07-27
SOCIALISTS HELD RALLY.
Meeting OF Last Evening eliminated
In interesting Debate.

w @S'N~'
The Socialist meeting held last
evening at s o'clock in front of the
Court House on South street proved
one of the most interesting of its
kind ever held here. The meeting
opened with a speech by John Spargo
of Old Bennington which was
scathing araignment of the older
parties He alleged that each party
represents the great business inter
ests; that they know that one man
can not represent both capital and
labor; and that between the two they
represent the money power. He stat
ed that the Socialist party is the par
ty of labor and that when in power
il represents labor. He cited the rec
ord OF Victor l.. Berger in Congress.
He promised that if elected to repre-
sent the first district of Vermont in
the House of Representatives, he
would represent labor. Mr.. Spargo
concluded with an appeal to Yer
mont labor to support labor ticket.
The second speaker, Norman f.
Greenslet Socialist candidate for
town representative, made an appeal
for the support of the Socialist ticket
and principles
Frank Hoffman of Chicago took the
stand TO answer questions. Several
questions of a minor nature were
asked and answered to the apparent
satisfaction of the questioner An
individual pushed formard from the
edge of the crowd and began a series
of questions. The questions had most
to do with the internal management
of the Socialist party He wished TO
know who furnished the funds for
the Red Special the special train
run by Eugene V. Debs in 1904.
by contributions from the $4,000
members who then composed the So
cialist party. on one of whom con-
tributed more than S25. The ques-
toner wanted TO know how the So
,cialist party made its candidates
stand by the party distates. The
speaker replied that a Socialist can
didate gave the party mis- resigna-
ton with the date blank before cleo
ton. The cross examiner wanted to
know if this device had always work
ed when a man elected to office by
the Socialists refused to carry out
its mandates. The speaker replied
that 1t had never failed so far as he
knew The questioner wanted to
know if it was not so that a citizen
had TO sign a pledge upon entering
the Socialist party TO support none
but it's candidates The speaker re-
piled that such is the case: stated
that with the Socialist party the en-.
tire membership had a right to vote
directly on the candidates of ring
this obviated the possibility of ring
rule; that the Socialist party was
voting not on men but on principles
and that under the clumsy methods
now in vogue the only way to vote
on principles is to vote on men.
Mr. Spargo took the stand and re-
peated the explanation of the pre-
ceding speaker. The questioner.
stranger in town, put forth another
question and after a short passage
Of arms the questioner stated that
having no platform he was at a lis
advantage Mr.. Spargo courteously
surrendered his stand. The Ques-
toner. who, it developed, is an open
air orator of power put forth his
question. He wanted to know
what safeguard the citizens would
have il the Socialist got into power
and controlled the patronage of pub
lie utilities; how they could be got
ten out of power
Mr Spargo took the stand and
thanked the speaker for his question.
He explained that the present control
the party held over its ohice-holders
is a clumsy thing and only a make
shift until the recall, giving all the
citizens a right to discharge a public
servant at any time should be estab-
lished by law. In Oregon upon the
establishment OF the recall, the So
cialist party had given up the party
right 70 recall an office-holder.
The Questioner retreated under
FIRE and the meeting adjourned. A
little later. 11.30, he was holding an
interesting debate with r. J. Hall on
the Putnam House corner which end
Ell with a general discussion Of the
position tariff and a living wage
with the unknown orator defending
a decidedly revolutionary nronosi-