Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1912-07-22
DEBS IN ATTACKS
ON HISOPPONENTS
Says Neither Taft, Roosevelt or
Wilson Represent Work
ing Glasses.
LAUDS THE SOCIALISTS
Candidate for Presidency Declares His
Party Stands for Worldwide
Democracy.

Milwaukee, Wis, July 22.-Eugene
V. Debs, candidate for president on
the socialist ticket, addressing a meet
ing here yesterday, outlined his views
of present political conditions and con-
trasted the principles and purposes of
the different political parties.
He declared that the republican and
democratic parties were representa-
tive of the capitalistic class and the
socialist party alone represented the
working class.
THE great capitalists are all con-
servatives, 'standpatters; they have
strangle hold upon the situation with
no intention of relaxing their grip"
said Mr.. Debs. Taft and Roosevelt
are their candidates. 1t may be o6.
jected that Roosevelt is a progress
sive' That is mere buncombe Roose-
velt was president almost eight years
and his record is known. When he
was in office and had the power he did
none of the things nor attempted to do
any OF the things he is now talking
about so wildly.
NONE CANDIDATE OF WORKERS.
Woodrow Wilson is no more the
candidate of the working class than
| is Mr.. Taft or Mr.. Roosevelt; neither
of them have ever been identified with
the working class except when their
himself the candidate of the working
class.
The vital issue before the country
and the world is not touched nor even
mentioned in the republican or demo
cratic platforms. Wage slavery under
capitalism, the legalized robbery OF
the workers of what is produced by
their labor, is the fundamental crime
against modern humanity; but there
is no room for the mention of this
vital fact, this living issue, in the plat
forms of the republican and demo
cratic parties.
These parties have been in power
all these years. Why have they not
settled the tariff and the currency and
such other matters as make up theiI
platform pledges?
"In contrast with these impotent
corrupt and senile capitalistic parties
without principles and without ideals
stands the virile young working class
party, the international socialist party
of the world. The only party which
honestly represents the working class
in this campaign and the only party
that has a moral right TO appeal tC
the allegiance and support of the
workers and producers Of the nation
PARTY OF HUMAN EMANCIPATION.
1T is the Goth century party of hu
man emancipation. 1t stands for {
worldwide democracy, for the free
dom of every man, woman and child
and for the civilization of all mankind
SLOWLY but surely there is being es
tahlished the economic and politica
unity and solidarity of the workers o
the world The socialist party is tn
political expression of that unity ant
, solidarity"
Mr. Debs declared that the socialist
of Milwaukee would always have tn
distinction of sending the first repre-
sentative of the working class to COZ
gress.
: "Victor L. Berger has made good a
: Washington" he said. For the frs
, time since he is a member the voice O
labor has been distinctly heard on tn
floors of congress-"
! The speaker made a plea for tn
two leaders of the strike in Lawrence
Mass, who are charged with murder.