The Red Special..is an inspiration,
and the trait it leaves
will blaze with Socialism that
can never be extinguished.
-Eugene Victor Debs
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Hellraisers Journal – Thursday October 22, 1908
Eastern Tour of Red Special Met with “Tremendous Ardor”
From the Montana News of October 15, 1908:
ENTHUSIASM UNRIVALED
——TREMENDOUS ARDOR REMINDS OLD RESIDENTS
OF LINCOLN’S CAMPAIGN.
—–RED FLAGS FLYING
—–
People Greet Debs as Social Deliverer
-Huge Masses Pack Streets
-Capitalist Papers Break Silence Acknowledging
the Popularity of Socialism.
—–
The “Red Special” of the socialists arrived in Buffalo October 1 after a campaign in the west, which Eugene V. Debs, candidate for president, says marks an epoch in the history of socialism.
“The biggest passenger engine in the world that draws the three cars composing the “Red Special,” tooted at the state crossing as it left Pennsylvania and entered New York on a tour which before it ends on October 21, will have embraced the eastern and southern states and covered since August 31 more than 20,000 miles.
More than 3,000 people greeted Debs when he appeared in Convention hall. It was an orderly, thoughtful assemblage, and cheers lasting three minutes were finally hushed by the uplifted hand of the socialist standard bearer.
He began the eastern campaign apparently well nurtured by the 18-cent meals served on the “red special.” His dinner consisted of tomato soup, roast lamb, baked potatoes, raisin biscuit, cheese for desert and black coffee. Debs was happy when he returned to the special and smoked a big cigar, the only smoke he permits himself in 24 hours.
He was cheered loud and long when he said that the capitalist system which now grips the country has about run its historic course. No greater demonstration was made in Convention hall on the occasion of William J. Bryan’s speech there ten days ago, than when Debs shouted:
Roosevelt a “Spectacle.”
Roosevelt is making a ridiculous spectacle of himself. He has lost all claims for respect and has hurdled the bounds of dignity. He has become as blatant as a fish wife.
One of the most pathetic figures in the world today is Bryan. Once a whole-hearted and virile advocate of justice, he now finds himself affiliated with all the corruption that distinguishes politics. I know what he is suffering: just what any honest man must suffer who attempts to compromise with capitalism. That Bryan is on the brink of a physical break-down appears to be certain. A man cannot sacrifice all his lofty aspirations in an attempt to get into office without experiencing mental and physical distress.
Published reports that the “red special” would be unable to continue its eastern trip because of lack of funds were proven idle today. It is laden with honey and figs, grapes, olives, peaches and pickles. It had come out of the west fat and favored. The honey, the figs and the other good things were literally true, making up a generous store kept in the baggage car, where they were deposited by enthusiastic and practical socialists in California.
47,100 Coins Collected.
Also, the “red special” comes back to the east with a slight surplus of funds. Admissions are charged to all the meetings, 10 cents for ordinary seats and 25 for reserved. Socialists the world over have received the message that the “red special” depends upon them for its “steam.”
Up to the time of its arrival in Chicago, returning from the far west, 47,000 odd coins had been collected in the meetings by W. W. Buchanan, a Texas veteran of the civil war. “Pop” Buchanan, as he is know, passes at all the meetings a tin tray like those on which taffy is peddled in the streets of country towns.
The coins are thankfully received, but embarrassing. After leaving Chicago 250 pounds of coin were found on hand, and in Toledo and Ohio cities an effort was made to change them for bills. Every bank solicited begged to be excused, so the coins were shipped by freight to the socialist headquarters in Chicago.
The “red special” does not get its names from its color. Three strips of vermillion bunting on the car gate and a flaming bunch of carnations at the window where Debs sits furnish the only red in the color scheme. The three cars consist of a Pullman, a day coach and a baggage car.
The Pullman has as many compartments as an accordion. A little observation room is at the rear and next a stateroom with two berths, which is occupied by Debs his brother, Theodore, who acts as secretary, and Stephen M. Reynolds, a lawyer of Terre Haute, who is second to Mr. Debs on the speaking list. The middle space of the car is occupied by eight berths which are stowed away in the day time and the space is used for tables on which the 18-cent meals are served.-New York World.
———-
12,000 PERSONS HEAR DEBS IN NEW YORK
—–
Every Seat in Hippodrome and American
Theater Sold in Advance.Perhaps the most remarkable demonstration in the history of American politics was given Eugene V. Debs, socialist candidate for president, by the working men of New York, October 5. A total of 12,000 persons heard the standard bearer-8,000 in the gigantic Hippodrome and 4,000 in the American theater-and the streets were full of disappointed men and women who could not get inside the two auditoriums.
New York seemed turned into a socialistic city when the “Red Special” struck it. A great crowd met Debs at the station. It greeted him with an immense cheer and then escorted him through the streets, with waving hats and yelling throats, stopping the cars from the sheer force of numbers from curb to curb.
The big Hippodrome was filled from floor to roof. Every seat had been sold weeks ago. The overflow meeting at the American theater had also been completely sold out long before the doors opened. Another theater could easily have been filled had it been possible for the candidate to have held out under the strain and given justice to the meetings.
Cheer for Twenty Minutes.
The enthusiasm was like the rush and uplift of a might wave. When Debs entered the Hippodrome the great audience rose with a shout that might have been heard around the world. Roar after roar succeeded each other, the cheering lasting for twenty minutes, breaking out again and again.
The speakers, besides Debs, were Jos. Wanhope, candidate for governor of New York, John Spargo, Morris Hillquit, Upton Sinclair and Stanley J. Clark of Texas. An immense reception was given Wanhope, Debs was tired, but he gathered strength as he spoke. The boxes were decorated with banners, and when “Let the nation own the trusts” was flung out over Wilshire’s box there was an ovation.
The points made by the speakers met with instantaneous response from the audience. One point made by Wanhope swept the house with wild cheering. It was
Remember this, not a wheel nor a shaft on the “Red Special” is greased with Standard Oil.
Girls Wear Liberty Caps.
The newspaper men present at the meeting got the spirit and stood up and cheered and waved for the candidate. Nearly every one in the audience, it seemed, carried a red handkerchief. Hundreds of girls wore red liberty caps.
A cordon of police surrounded the Hippodrome entrance, but there were none inside. They were not needed.
What Newspapers Say.
The New York morning papers say that the socialist demonstration was the greatest ever given any candidate in the history of the city. They say that it resembled the entrance of Lincoln into the city in the memorable campaign of 1860.
The World says: “The demonstration perhaps has never been equaled at a ratification meeting in New York.”
The Herald says: “Such a demonstration has rarely been seen in the streets of New York. It seemed to be the outbursts of men and women intensely interested.”
The Times said: “His coming produced one of the most remarkable political demonstrations that this city has seen in many years-years of enthusiasm over presidential candidates. They paid to hear their own candidates, paid for the sort of stuff that the old parties heap upon one another for nothing. Then, in the middle of the program, came the collection.”
Occasion Is Historical.
Debs’ speech published in the morning in a somewhat garbled form appeals to all. Beside the talks of Bryan and Taft it is a monument of intelligence.
The occasion was historical and marked the turn of the working class in the greatest American city. It linked the Atlantic and the Pacific in the longest campaign trip ever made by any candidate. The entire city is impressed by the spectacular invasion and the events of the day.
—–
PULLMAN’S PASTOR SOCIALIST
—–
Preacher of Church Endowed by Lake Magnate
Greets “Special” Crew.(By Otto McFeely of Workers’ Press Association)
Rochester, N. Y., Oct. 2.-Cold weather and lack of organization in the cities on the schedule today caused a slump in the crowds. The attendance at all the regular stops was less than on any other day of the long journey.
At Albion, N. Y., the best meeting was held, about 200 being present. In the crowd was the Rev. Charles Vail, author of a number of socialist pamphlets, some of which were offered for sale in the crowd. The whirligig of time which has brought Taft and Debs and the Pullman company into new relations after many years played another trick at Albion.
Pastor Strong Socialist.
Rev. Vail is pastor of a Universalist church at Albion. The building was erected by George M. Pullman to honor his birthplace. He left a large endowment to keep the church going. So when Debs spoke in Albion from an express truck he found Pullman’s pastor in the audience. Vail has been preaching socialism without giving it the correct name and has met with little opposition. This, too, from the pulpit endowed by Pullman, who thought he had forever eliminated “unrest” when he defeated the A. R. U. Vail came aboard and shook hands all around. Mare Cole, a farmer of Albion, who also is a writer for Collier’s Weekly, lives at Albion, and he said that he expected a big uproar when the members of Vail’s church learn he is the author of socialist books that are being sold from the “Red Special.”
Cole came aboard and traveled to this city. He is to write an article for Collier’s on “The Big Side Show,” or something like that. He is a progressive thinker, and in spite of the fact that he owns 400 acres of the best land in New York and lives the life of a baron, embellished by literary work, he is ready to become a socialist just as soon as he is convinced that it is right he should. “You can have all my farm but ten acres,” he said in discussing current events.
Frederic M. Sturtevant, a staff correspondent of the New York World, has been with us two days, and has written several good reports of the trip and the campaign. Both the correspondents expect to go on to New York city with us.
[Photographs and emphasis added.]
[To be continued.]
Detail from Cover of October’s Wilshire’s Magazine:
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
SOURCE
Montana News
“Owned and Published by the
Socialist Party of Montana”
(Helena, Montana)
-Oct 15, 1908
https://chroniclingamerica.loc.gov/lccn/sn84024811/1908-10-15/ed-1/seq-1/
IMAGES
Wilshire’s Magazine Volumes 11-13
(New York, New York)
Jan 1907-Dec 1909
https://babel.hathitrust.org/cgi/pt?id=iau.31858037309105;view=2up;seq=8
Wilshire’s Cover -Oct 1908
https://babel.hathitrust.org/cgi/pt?id=iau.31858037309105;view=2up;seq=456
Debs Red Special article & photo Debs w Wanhope & Wilshire
-also source for Debs quote above.
https://babel.hathitrust.org/cgi/pt?id=iau.31858037309105;view=2up;seq=462
See also:
Note: re W. W. Buchanan & Stanley J. Clark
-both were delegates from Texas to
Chicago SPA National Convention, May 10-17, 1908
https://www.marxists.org/history/usa/eam/spa/spa-conv08delegates.html
“Sidelights: Incidents in the Life of Eugene V. Debs”
by Theodore Debs
https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/2475921.Sidelights
Life of Eugene V. Debs by Stephen Marion Reynolds
-see also for more on A. R. U. Strike
https://www.marxists.org/archive/debs/bio/bio.htm
Tag: Joseph Wanhope
https://weneverforget.org/tag/joseph-wanhope/
John Spargo
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Spargo
Morris Hillquit
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Morris_Hillquit
Upton Sinclair
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Upton_Sinclair
Gaylord Wilshire
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gaylord_Wilshire
Tag: Otto McFeely
https://weneverforget.org/tag/otto-mcfeely/
Charles H. Vail
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Charles_H._Vail
Collier’s Weekly
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Collier%27s
Wilshire’s of October 1908
-“Westward With Debs on the Red Special”
https://babel.hathitrust.org/cgi/pt?id=iau.31858037309105;view=2up;seq=462
Articles gives schedule for Wednesday Sept 16-Friday Sept 25, and also a report from Miss Sadie Walling, Wilshire’s special representative on the train, who traveled the first leg of the western tour from Chicago to Des Moines. Short, and well worth a read.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Debs and the A. R. U.
-the injunction described here was curtesy of Judge William Howard Taft
See: “Socialist Campaign Book”
National headquarters Socialist party, 1908
(search: “injunction bill taft” & esp pages 15-18)
https://books.google.com/books?id=5c86AAAAIAAJ
Never Cross a Picket Line