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Hellraisers Journal – Thursday January 2, 1902
Guy H. and Theodocia Lockwood Travel in Wagon, Lecture for Socialism
From The Comrade of January 1902:
How to reach the vast population scattered in the towns and small cities-is certainly a problem worthy of any socialist consideration. To be sure, the Socialist movement in the United States has not as yet assumed that proportion in the large, industrial centers to make propaganda in the country a matter of pressing necessity. But the movement, although small, must from the very start take cognizance of all kinds of conditions and lay the foundations accordingly.
It is in this light that recognition must be given to Guy H. Lockwood and wife, who are at the head of a movement to build and equip automobile lecture wagons, designed to travel from town to town in the service of the socialist movement. To spread Socialism is, of course, the aim. The Lockwoods are convinced that much propaganda can be carried on among the farmers, provided socialism is presented to them in an “acceptable” form. The automobile, it is claimed, is the cheapest and most attractive means to accomplish the work.
Guy H. Lockwood is very enthusiastic over his scheme. He feels quite sure that it will be a success, and his experience during the past few years ought to count for much. Since 1897 he has been travelling in a wagon drawn by a pair of horses and preaching Socialism under great diversity of circumstances.
The “van method” of reaching the masses is not by any means original with the Lockwoods. In California the socialists have tried it with much success. Previous to his going East, Job Harriman, Vice-Presidential candidate of the S. D. P. in 1900, was in full charge of a well-equipped wagon mission, and his splendid work as speaker and organizer was a great factor in giving the socialists of the Golden State a handsome increase of votes in 1898.
The Lockwoods do not restrict their work to any one particular State. They move along in any direction that offers and opportunity of getting a hearing. Their outfit includes an organ, a violin and other musical instruments. Both Mr. and Mrs. Lockwood possess considerable musical talent, and their musical entertainment, which is a prominent feature of every meeting’s programme, never fails to attract a big and interested audience.
Mr. Lockwood’s manner of explaining socialism is unique. Being by profession an artist, he gives “chalk talks” instead of a dry discourse on socialism. That is, “he talks while he chalks, and chalks while he talks.” His programme is a sort of crazy patch-work, uniting with hemstitch, Kensington, wig-wag or overlay fragments of John Billing’s “filosfy,” and Remington’s bronchos; Bill Nye’s satire and Gibson’s society sets; Shakespeare’s tragedy and Opper’s nonsensicalities. Usually much literature is disposed of at every meeting.
Mrs. Theodocia Lockwood, who is a typical Southerner minus the “narrowness” characteristic of those hailing from the South, deserves much credit for her effort s in the wagon mission. She married Mr. Lockwood in July, 1898, and since then she has helped her husband to spread the gospel of Socialism.
The Lockwoods have issued an open letter to the socialists of America, in which their plan is unfolded. “Our experience,” say the promoters of the auto plan, “has shown that the wagon method is a most effective way to reach the people of all classes. Besides its effectiveness in drawing crowds (which is, of course, the most important point to be taken in consideration), the wagon method is economical, providing a home for the lecturer and his assistant; it makes them practically independent and enables them to go into new fields and do the pioneer work which is so necessary. Another point. Good lights, music, and a rostrum with which he is thoroughly familiar, are items of no small importance to a speaker, and the wagon method provides all of these…..A socialistic automobile lecture wagon will call crowds as large as a speaker can talk to, and there is no estimating the amount of good it will do under proper management.”
Socialists throughout the country will do well to study the plan of the Lockwoods. Perhaps the automobile lecture wagon could be used effectively in every State of the Union.
W. E.
[Emphasis added.]
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SOURCES & IMAGES
Quote EVD, Own the Sun Meter On Every Sunbeam, AtR p4, Nov 3, 1900
https://www.marxists.org/history/usa/pubs/appeal-to-reason/001103-appealtoreason-w257-DAMAGED.pdf
The Comrade
(New York, New York)
-Jan 1902
https://www.marxists.org/history/usa/pubs/comrade/v01n04-jan-1902-The-Comrade.pdf
See also:
Guy H. Lockwood
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Guy_H._Lockwood
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When Labor Calls – James Connolly Songs Of Freedom Band
“When Labor Calls”
-by James Connolly, 1907
When Labor calls her children forth
A waiting world to win,
Earth’s noblest breed, true men of worth,
Her ranks shall enter in.
Then, comrades all, prepare that we
May hear that call anon,
And drive the hosts of tyranny
Like clouds before the dawn.
Then knowest long has Labor groaned,
A robbed and beaten thrall,
Whilst capital on high enthroned
Reigneth, lording over all.
But knowledge came and to the slave
His power at last revealed,
He stands erect, his heart is brave,
The tyrants doom is sealed.
We work and wait till womb of Time
Shall give fair Freedom birth,
To Labor’s host, that hope sublime,
Regenerates the earth.
And by that hope we toilers fired
To nobler deeds shall be
That we may guide, by it inspired,
Our class to Liberty.