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ADDRESS BY DEBS.PLEADS FOR ORGANIZATION OF WORKINGMEN.He Talks of the Pullman Strike and the Needs of Labor.Bierl-5.e-ididdefyt(idQ-IWLBIB'Ll011iei»reatheA large audience gathered at the Columbia Theatre, at Atlanta, Go., Thursday night to hear and see the man who has occupied so large a plaoe in the public eye sinoe the great strike at Chicago—Eugene V. .Debs.Shortly after eight o’clock Mr. Debs was introduced by H. P. Blount, vice-president of the Federation of Trades, in a neat and eloquent speech, in which his reference to Eugene V. Debs as one of “nature’s noblemen” was cheered to the echo.Mr. Debs begnn his speeob by announcing himself an optimist, as against the pessimistic view that American people were deteriorating, saying that he had faith in education to bring the masses through.He then took up the subject of strikes. This government was inaugurated through the medium of strikes. From Lexington and Concord to Yorktown there were a continuation of them. Washington was a demagoguo then, a demigod now. The reason people condemn strikes is because they are generally ignorant of the conditions which caused them. The average man’s knowledge of it is only as it touches his pocket book or convenience.He described the evolution of the tramp and claimed that only mon who have been out of work and know hunger’s throes could understand him os a quantity iu the worlds civilization.What we need to do is to extend thehelping hand, redeem him from his wayward life. Rf-fernug sarcastically to our boasted and Christian civilization, Mr. Debs said that “nothing needed civilizing ho much as our cannibalistic civilization.” The one idea seemed to be to get money, and men were measured too much by the amount of money they possessed. However, he was not here to rant against the rich. But he did believe in every man being judged according to his manhood—all men equal before the law (applause). This was a theory of our government, but not a fact.Mr. Debs was frequently applauded during this part of his address, and when he made the assertion that the “workingman would take his rights,” fho silence was almost painful until he aJded, “by means of the ballot,’’when the audience broke out in generous applause. The speaker then entered upon a beautiful and eloquent tributeto labor.Taking np the subject of the centralization o f wealth and its terrible power, wealth Wi's characterized as the dictator of legi slation, at the time of its enactment, an d its interpreter when upon the statute books. He quoted Senator Vest as givin g utterance to the sentiment that the.' isupremo court had surrendered to tllm money power, and then taking u p the late inoome tax question, quo ted Justices Harlan, White and Bro wn, who rendered the dissenting deoii'ion, as virtually acknowledging the same truth. “The fact is,” said he, “it is impossible to become a judge l l.owadays unless he bows to the monej* power, and being placed there by th.%t power, he must meet its behests.” He nlso quoted Judge Lyman Trumbull# of Chicago, and Gov. Altgeld, of Illinois, on this line. 'Touching on tbePulJjnan strike Mr. Debs feaid that first of .ill let it be understood that the Pull man company owns the town of Pullm an. From the cradle to the cemetery’ a citizen of Pullman is every minu te of his life dominated by Pullman. Prior to the strike the wages had been rednoed three times. The rents were 25 per cent higher than in Ob ioago. When the strike oocurred in May, 1894, the Pnllman employes owed $70,000 rent. They could not move a' vay. Pullman owned them. When the committee finally reached Mr. Pull Iman he said in a pharasaical spirit: “ Haven’t I been a father to you?”“I say I would ruther take my chances as an orphan.“The next evening the grievanoo committee was discharged and then the 4,200 employes quit work. There were women sewiiag carpets ten hours a day for 32 cents a day.. The capitalof this company was inc reased in a few years lrom a lew millions to $61,000,-000.”Mr. Debs said that lie saw children in Pullman begging for bread on the streets.“I am not in favor of the destruction of any one’s property, I am opposed to rioting paid to lawlessness. The members of the- Americau Railway CJnion did not enga ge in rioting. Not a member of the American Railway Union was arrested for rioting and lawlessness.”“Then who committed the crimes of the great strike?” Quoting from the report of Chicago’s chi*f of police, the speaker then proved there was not a sign of rioting until the 4,200 deputy marshuls were sworn in on the 2d day A July,. 1894, and that a number of 'hese were actually proved to be thieves, thugs and ex-convicts, during ’.he continuation of the strike several tt them were caught in the act’of plun-lerics and robberies.The question of injunctions was then taken up and handled without gloves. When the first one was served on him, be took it to two of the best constitutional lawyers in Chicago. They said como back in the morning and we will inswer yonr question os to what rights you have uudor this paper. He did m and they told him to go ahead. He went ahead and got six months.In regard to what organized labor is doing, Mr. Debs said: “The work-mgmeu have not taken full advantage t their opportunities. ” The speaker advised tho workingman to read and «tndy, and it possible save a dollar or cwo. Depend on yourself. Count one.Capitalists don’t quarrel about religion. They have no dimensions when they are 'workiDg for certain ends. Labor organizations should profit by rheir example.There are many who have no use for the mag who antagonizes existingMmftitiofift I Jwrt loll ttt rupee! ofthousands of people, but I have held my own.Mr. Dobs closed his speeoh by announcing his belief that wo were still making some progress, and that he could see the faint dawning of a better day. He then surprised and evidently gratified liiB audience by endorsing woman as a factor in the future development of tho race, both politically and socially.TRADE TOPICS.Brudstreot’s Review of Business forthe Past Week.Bradstreet’s review of trade conditions the past week says:Tho general business situation throughout the country does not meet anticipation?, and except at a few oities —Baltimore and Pittsburg in the east, Chicago, St. Louis and Omaha in the west, Galveston, Chattanooga and Atlanta at the south—remains dull for the season, in most instances disappointingly so. Improvement in demand and prices is confined to hides, leather and boots and shoes, which ore oonspicuous in the short list of staples for whioh prices arc higher.Features of the situation are those resulting from unfavorable weather east and in the central weBt, reaction in prices of iron aud steel, further complaints by woolen manufacturers, and outlook for more idle woolen machinery, a smaller total of bank clearings, continued stiffness, maintenance of high rates for loans, notwithstanding the favorable inferences drawn from the henvy over-subscription to the government bond issue and restricted production of pig iron.January gross railway earnings are very encouraging, showing a larger percentage of gain than in any previous month but one for three years. Makers of cotton goods insist that prices must advance or the cost of raw material decline, in tho face of whioh jobbers are cutting prices of cotton goods.Wholesale dealers in paints and glass anticipated heavy building operations in the spring and report large orders placed in anticipation thereof. Lower prices are recorded for pork, lard, corn, wheat, wheat flour and live stock, in addition to cottoD, steel billets and Bessemer pig iron, indicating a partial reversal of the general tendency of prices of leading staples to advance exhibited in late weeks. No change in quotations for coal, lumber, petroleum and print cloths is reported, while, in addition to the advances for leather and for hides, prices of oats, coffee and sugar are higher.The total volume of bank clearings dropped off 10 per cent this week, the total being $906,000,000.The total number of business failures reported throughout the United States this week is 381, an exceptionally large number, the gain as compared with last week being forty-three. Most of the increase is explained by returns from the central western states and the Pacific coast.SHOT Wirrv. AND SON.An Enraged s DastardlyDeed.At Brooklyn, N. Y., Tuesday evening Franz Michael Schwab, a German, aged fifty-six years, who had been separated from his wife and children sinoe April last, called at the home of the woraaD, at 201 Throope avenue where she resided with her married son, Bernard, and after gaining admittance to the house fired four shots from a 41 calibor revolver at her.Two of tho bullets took effect in Mrs. Schwab’s body, killing her almost instantly. Another ball lodged over tho heart of a nine weeks’old baby aud the other struck the son, Bernard, in the eye.Bernard and the baby will probably die. After the shooting Schwab made his escape.COMER IS PRESIDENT.He is Chosen by the Stockholders of the New Central Railroad Co, The stockholders of the Central railroad, under tho completed re-organization, met at Atlanta Monday and elected H. M. Comer president.The permanent board of directors was not chosen, but Judge R. T. Dorsey and Mr. J. S. B. Thompson, of the Southern railway, were named as members of the temporary board. Mr. Corner^ presidency is permanentBIG BREWERY SOLD.Valuable Plant That Cost $100,000Goes Under.The Chattahoochee Brewery was sold at Opelika, Ala., Monday, under exe-cntion sale on a judgment of $50,000. The property is a valuable plant near Columbus, Ga., and cost over $100,-000.ATLANTA MARKETS.CORRECTED WEEKLY.Groceries.!Boasted coffee 21.10 W J00 lb canon lees 3 cents per po ;n l rebate. Green —Choice ‘.0c; fair 18c; prime 17o. Sugar— StandHrd granulated 5c; off granuated —-Now Oilcan-) white 4%c; do. yellow \Syrup—New Orleans open kettle 35080c; mixed 12%@20o; fmgarhouse 20035c. Teas—Black B0@65c; green 2005'Jo, Rico—Hoad 6c; choice 6%c. Salt—dairy, sacks, $1.35; do. bb s. $2-25; ice cream 90o; oomraon 70o. Cheese— Full cream 11(31 l%o. Matches— 65a 50c; */00) 9i.8O0SI.75; 300s 92.75. Soda—Boxes fl«;Crackers--Soda 5£o; cream 7c;ginger snaps 8)^c. Oandy—Common stick 0J£; fancy 12012# OystorB -F. W. $1.80; L. W. $1.80. Powder—Riflo $3.7». Shot—$1.80Flour, Grain and Meal.Flour, first patent, $5.00; second patent $4.50; straight $4.00; fancy $8.91; extra family $3.75. Coru, white 43j; mixed 42o. Oats, white 35o; mixed 82c. llye, Georgia 75c. Barley, Georgia rabed 85o. Hay, No. 1 timolhy, large bales $1.10;8mall bile*$1.05. No.3 timothy,small bales $1. Meal, ( lain 4Sc; bolted 40o. Wheat bran, largo Backs 75c.:small sacks 75o. Shorts 85c. Stock Moal, $1. Cotton Seed Meal 95o per 100 lba. Hulls, $8 per ton. Peas, 60c per bu. Grits $2.50.Country Produce.Eggs 10011c. Butter—Western Creamery, ,22%c; fauoy Tenn. 15018o, choice 13V*,?O0‘Georgia 12V£@15e. Live poultry—Turkeys OjIOo $ lb; hens 25027 VJo; spring chickens, 15i20; ducks 22%025o. Dressed poultry—Turkeys 12^018^c; ducks 130 14; chickens 1O012%C, Irish potatoes— Burbank $2.0082.59 18 bb!; 60a65j 1p bu. Tennessee bu. 40050c. Sweot potatoes 55060c $ bu. Honey—Strained 8010c; in tho comb i0@12V*o. Onions 60ca75 $ bu; hbls-*2.00i$2.60 Cabbage 2a2^o.Provisions.Clear rib sides, boxed 6c; ice-cured bellies 8o. Sugar-cured hum* F0lt;®12c; California 8c. Br. ftkfasi bacon 8al0, Lai d—Best quality C^c; second quality compound 5^0.Cotton.I Lb
Newspaper Details
Fayetteville News
Fayetteville, Georgia, US
Fri, Feb 21, 1896
Page 4
Full Page
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Anonymous
IN, USA 04 Aug 2020
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