The tumultuous enthusiasm of men, women and children,
and the waving of thousands of red pennants
created a scene that was simply indescribable.
-Theodore Debs
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Hellraisers Journal – Wednesday October 21, 1908
New York and Boston Greet Red Special with Sea of Red Flags
From the Appeal to Reason of October 17, 1908:
FROM THE RED SPECIAL.
—–
Immense Meetings in New York and in Boston
Cause Even the Plutocratic Press
to Take Note of Socialism.
—–Special Telegram to the Appeal.
BRIDGEPORT, Conn., Oct. 9.-The events of the past week were the New York and Boston meetings. No man could possibly describe them and no one who was present will ever forget them. The great Hippodrome in New York, which covers a block, the largest theater in the world, the stage which alone seats as many people as an ordinary opera house was crowded to the uttermost part of the last gallery and the demonstration which took place there last Sunday afternoon staggered the senses. It was as if the Atlantic ocean had turned red and all its billows were being tossed skyward in showers of spray.
The tumultuous enthusiasm of men, women and children, and the waving of thousands of red pennants created a scene that was simply indescribable. In addition to the Hippodrome meeting an over-flow was held in the American theater, one of the largest in New York City, and this was also packed and overflowing. A dozen more theaters could have been packed in the same way. Ten days before the Hippodrome meeting every ticket had been sold and on the day of the meeting tickets were selling on the curb at five dollars apiece. The New York Times said it was the greatest political meeting ever held in the history of the city.
All the New York Papers were filled with accounts of it and Wall street is still gravely discussing its significance. The meeting in Boston was held in and around old Faneuil hall and the old Temple of Liberty was rocked to its foundation. At New Haven last night, the home of Yale college, there was a demonstration and meeting that will never be forgotten. The students were out in full force and participated in a tremendous street parade in which men, women and children carried their red flags and joined in the cheering procession which swept along through the main streets of the city.
One noticeable change is in the tone of the capitalist press. All the big papers at every point are publishing columns and columns of the fairest kind. The New York World set the pace, the staff correspondent of the World has been on the train for ten days and will probably follow it to its destination, and every issue of the World has an extended report of the day’s doings on the “Red Special.”
Other papers are taking the cue, and trying to give full and fair reports. What a mighty change since four years ago. The Socialists are numerous, the woods are so full of them that the capitalists papers now feel called upon to give them a square deal. But it must be remembered that they are still capitalist papers and it is well to bear in mind, also, that they are apt to turn a trick on us when we least expect it, and so Socialists would better be on the lookout for fake reports, which may be sprung just before election and too late to admit of denial.-Theodore Debs.
———-
More from the Appeal:
DEBS IN NEW YORK.
—–________________________________________
Not withstanding the efforts of the politicians to belittle the work the Red Special train is doing and explain away the significance of the monster meetings being addressed by Eugene V. Debs in the east, the truth comes out oftener than would be expected even through the capitalist press. When it is remembered that the New York Hippodrome is the largest play house in the world, the growth of Socialism can be to some extent realized from the following press dispatch:
________________________________________
THEY FOUGHT TO SEE DEBS.
—–
A Riotous Time in New York When
the Red Special Arrived.Associated Press.
New York, Oct. 4.-There was a wild scene in the Grand Central railroad station today when Eugene V. Debs, Socialist candidate for president, arrived here on his famous Red Special, after a speaking tour through the western states. A crowd had congregated to receive the candidate and in the stampede to greet Debs the insufficient police lines were swept away, and men and women were knocked about. Their clothing was torn and several were slightly injured. Debs tried to wave the crowd back and shouted warnings, but his voice could not be heard above the cheering.
Although Debs had intended to go to the Grand Union hotel, across the street from the depot, he found it necessary to go in the opposite direction to escape being mobbed. After circling several blocks he reached the Grand Union hotel. Today Debs spoke in the Hippodrome and the American theater. An admission fee was charged, but despite this he had large audiences at both places.
The Hippodrome meeting was the national ratification meeting of the party and every seat in the big theater was occupied. The appearance of Debs on the stage was the signal for a remarkable demonstration. He was cheered for fifteen minutes, women, of whom there were many in the audience, wept hysterically, men embraced each other and red flags were waved. Mr. Debs’ speech was in large part devoted to denunciation of the candidates of the democratic and republican parties.
—–
DEBS CAMPAIGN-FUND COLLECTOR.
—–From the New York World.
While Mr. Bryan and Mr. Taft are wrangling over whether campaign contributions should be published fifteen days before or fifteen days after the election, Eugene V. Debs, the Socialist candidate, has hit on a simpler plan than either of them. He charges admission to the meetings he addresses and the proceeds are turned into the Socialist campaign fund.
By this arrangement Mr. Debs does not have to worry about publicity. Any one that wants to know who is contributing money to the Socialist Campaign fund can watch the string of people at the ticket office. Everybody is welcome and everybody’s money.
If J. P. Morgan feels like taking an evening off to hear Mr. Debs arraign capitalism he has only to pay 10 cents toward the Socialists’ campaign expenses in exchange for an ordinary seat. If Mr. Harriman is moved to seek enlightenment at the lips of the man with whom Mr. Roosevelt classed him as an undesirable citizen, he can buy a reserved seat for a quarter and to that extent help along the cause that Mr. Roosevelt detests. If Mr. Archbold or Mr. Rogers or any of the other Standard Oil captains wishes to entertain a party of senators, representatives and national committeemen, for $5 or $10, he can buy the whole front row at one of Mr. Debs’ meetings. After he pays for his tickets he need not fear that he will be virtuously kicked out of the house or that he will be made the subject of a letter for publication ordering his campaign contribution returned.
The more people are interested in Mr. Debs’ campaign and attend his meetings, the more money the Socialists have for political expenses. Secrecy is the very thing he does not want, for that would keep away the crowds that pay.
———-
Poem for Debs from an Appeal Reader:
I’LL VOTE FOR DEBS.
Lepkia Bryant Larson, Aberdeen, Wash.I met a weary laborer,
Trembling and weak and sick,
But still he kept on working
With shovel and drill and pick.
Wage was low and food was high,
And the little ones at home
Ate up his meager earnings
As fast as they could come.
He didn’t drink, he didn’t chew,
Nor gamble, no, not he,
But with a heart both true and brave
He worked for his family.
Worked till his ears were humming,
Worked till his eyeballs burned;
Worked early and late; but his family
Couldn’t live on what he earned.He found an Appeal to Reason:
“Ain’t that paper great?” he said;
“It makes things seem much brighter,
With new ideas in your head.
It used to appear so very dark
Without a ray of light,
But somehow it seems that paper
Is a star in weary night.
Now I can see a glimmer
Of a better day to be,
When workers shall hold all they make
And the children shall be free.
So, with the world’s awakened,
I take the onward march,
And I’ll vote with the men who are hearing
Liberty’s lighted torch.”—————
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SOURCE & IMAGE
Appeal to Reason
(Girard, Kansas)
-Oct 17, 1908
Page 8-“From the Red Special” by T. Debs
https://www.newspapers.com/image/67587493/
Page 4-“Said by Debs”
https://www.newspapers.com/image/67587485/
Page 1-“Debs in New York”
https://www.newspapers.com/image/67587479/
Page 5-“I’ll Vote for Debs”
https://www.newspapers.com/image/67587487
See also:
Tag: Undesirable Citizen
https://weneverforget.org/tag/undesirable-citizen/
The Sun
(New York, New York)
-Oct 5, 1908
https://chroniclingamerica.loc.gov/lccn/sn83030272/1908-10-05/ed-1/seq-3/
Two articles:
“REDS WILDLY WELCOME DEBS”
-re: crowd meets Debs at Grand Central Station “yesterday”, and later appearance at Hippodrome with such Socialist luminaries as Sinclair, Graham, Mr. and Mrs. Stokes, Hunter, Russell, Markham, Spargo, etc.
“JEWELS FOR THE RED CAUSE.
Mrs. Stokes Sets Fashion by Stripping
a Pearl From her Throat.”
-re fund raising event “last night” in honor of Debs, with Debs resting at hotel and not in attendance. Rose Pastor Stokes climbed on the table and gave up her jewels for the cause because she had no money to donate. When several other women came forward and made similar donations, “Mrs. Stokes burst into tears and descended from the table.”
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