The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1912-06-26
Presidential Candidate Address
ed Large Audience in Barre
ON HIS new ENGLAND TOUR
The Speaker Scored Both Leading Parties
of the Country, Declaring They Have
0utlived Their Usefulness--Urged
Voters to Espouse Socialism.

Led by musicians representing the
combined strength Of the Barre Citizens
band and the Montpelier Military band
nearly $50 members of the Socialist
party in Barre and vicinity marched
from Depot square to city hall last
evening and listened to speechmaking by
Eugene V. Debs Of Indiana, Socialist
candidate for president, and the recog-
nized leader of the propaganda in the
United States Interest in the wage
earners' movement, undoubtedly stimu-
lated by the Socialist lecture course held
in this city last winter, together with
the fact that Candidate Debs' entrance
into the political arena this year is
not without its portent in the face of
two great parties divided. combined TO
make the occasion one Of the most pre-
tentious in the history OF Socialism a. it
has manifested itself locally.
| Soon after the arrival of special
| train over the Barre railroad, conveying
two carloads Of Graniteville and Web
steryille Socialists, the line of march
was formed at Depot square An in
coming car brought the members of the
Montpelier band, as well as a large num-
Der of Socialists from the Capital city.
The procession went along Main street
as far as Washington, thence around the
park to the hail. the two bands return
ing afterwards to the quarters OF Mr..
Debs and escorting him, his brother,
Theodore Debs, and other prominent
members Of the party, to the opera
house.
Seats on the stage with the speaker
OF the evening were Theodore Debs. Fred
w. Suitor, secretary treasurer of the
Quarryworkers' international association
and Socialist candidate for governor OF
Vermont, and Alderman Dawson of the
fourth ward The latter, in introducing
Mr. Debs, paid simple but effective
tribute to the work which he has per-
formed in the interests of the party
In his speech Mr.. Debs occupied the
larger portion OF two hours, during which
he dwelt upon some of the shortcomings
of the parties which have held the bal
ance OF power in years past and upon
the remedies which the Socialist program
offers.
Speaking of the present political situ
alton, Mr.. Debs said: This is a day
OF political and industrial transitions.
Many surprising things have come to
pass, and | mention one of them when |
/ say that this is the first time that |
Vermont Socialists have placed full |
ticket in the field. The present year, /
politically speaking. is the most moment |
Gus in the history of the United States.
The party in power is torn by warning /
factions; it is facing destruction. Once,
under the splendid leadership of Abra
ham Lincoln, it was revolutionary /
party; but it has since fulfilled its mis-
sion and has now outlived its usefulness.
In discussing this phase of present day
politics, shall indulge in no personal
abuse.
II was present in Chicago during the
recent Republican convention, and / was
indeed amazed at the spectacles exhib-
tied in the party of Lincoln, Sumner,
Greeley and Thad. Stevens. II was the
spectacle of two men calling each other
thieves. robbers, and brigands. But they
are lifelong friends, and they should
know each other. To me it was aston
shing for remembered when Roosevelt,
hen in office, used all of his appointive
power to force the nomination of VIII
lam H. Taft upon the people-and he
succeeded
Watch the convention at Baltimore,
md you are likely to witness a repeti-
ion. 1t is an occasion of division, dis !
,ension and strife. Both were fore
ordained to be contests OF factions, for
and Democrats alike are ,
ealizing that their days of usefulness
ire over. The Republican party repre- !
ents the dominating large capitalists, ,
nd the Democrats stand for capitalists. /
ut of smaller kind, of the middle
lass. They are fighting on issues that j
% not concern the working class. Re j
ardless of who is in power, competition +
emains the same, the age of the labor /
aving machine and the labor market \
oes on, wages grow smaller proportions I
telv and the cost of living still scars. !
tatistics truthfully show that the aver
ge man must have 5000 per year to sup
ort his family in a normal way Relia-
lie statistics also show that three
ourths of the workers get only 5000 for U
heir labor during the twelve months.
vhat is the matter? 1t is the system,
nd the system is the only issue that !,
,neerns the wage Garner. And the So =
Hllsi Is tilS thIN paitN bhdb nus al
nus far searched out the issue and -
iced it squarely and fearlessly !,
while the Republican convention was Z
progress in Chicago, another and larg- {
meeting held forth in the same city. +
fifteen thousand people, without any Il
mes drawn by creed or sex. met and =.
launched the campaign of So 9
alism for 1912. There was no intoxiea
on. no disorder and no need for thu i,
500 policemen that guarded the conven- -
on of Republicans. II was a gathering q
wage workers, members of the only ~
'rty in the country that stands square l..
for industrial and social democracy. -
tell you, comrades, that Socialism can y,
e it's destiny under such conditions. ~ ~
THE workers of this country do not :, =.
ink The problem for them to solve Is VI
develop their brains and use them in
cir own interests, Men like the Stand
d Oil magnate are not essential to
e industrial development of this coun- r,
Y. And yet it is not against them
at one should properly direct his at
eks. 1t is the mass of workingmen
at is at fault, and the workers cannot til
mplain, because they are getting Just of
rat they vote for when they cast their to
wi
Continued on fourth psgel ha