Haywood enthuses about the growth of Socialism among Native peoples of Oklahoma, recently enfranchised, and the West during Debs’ 1908 campaign.

‘Indians Take Up Socialism, Says Haywood’ from the Chicago Daily Socialist. Vol. 2 No. 277. September 21, 1908.

Even Aborigines in West Embrace Cause With Fervor, Says Haywood.

“That terrible thing, class consciousness, so dreaded by Teddy Roosevelt id his fellow trust busters is spreading so rapidly throughout the western states that even the Indians–full-blooded Indians who harbor a common grudge against all whites, are giving that grudge up. They have come to realize even quicker than their educated white brothers that the foe of all races is capitalism and today there are full-blooded Indians in Texas and Oklahoma who take great pride in wearing Socialist buttons and displaying Socialist dues cards.”

This is the startling declaration of William D. Haywood, who has returned from an extensive western trip filled with enthusiasm. Haywood cannot find words enough to express his praise of the westerns who are fighting as only men can fight for the cause of Socialism.

Should See Enthusiasm.

He is of the opinion that if the eastern people could only witness the enthusiasm of their fellow workers in the south west and the Pacific coast they would come back with a fighting spirit that no rebuffs or setbacks could dampen.

“Texas and Oklahoma, continued Haywood, “have conditions that exist nowhere else. Five civilized tribes of Indians now have the right to vote for the first time in their lives.

“These are the Chickasaw, Choctaws. Creeks and Seminoles. As a result of this condition of affairs, the old parties are making great efforts to swing the tribes through their chiefs by the same tactics that are being used to swing the vote of workingmen through labor leaders. Both parties are, however, are making little headway, for they offer no proposition that appeals to the Indians.

Appeals to the Indians.

“The Socialists, on the other hand, present the Indians a proposition that appeals to the men who were born with strong spirit of liberty–the common ownership of land. The appeals strongly the natural born instincts of the Indians and as a result they are rapidly falling into the ranks of the Socialist army of workingmen. This, combined with the rapidly increasing army of negro Socialists, shows the handwriting on the wall.

“When I spoke in Coalgate, I was greeted by one of the biggest audiences I ever had the pleasure of seeing. They came from all over the state. There were hardy, grimy old miners, sun burnt farmers, rugged cowboys and Indians and one of the largest delegations of negroes that I ever saw at a Socialist meeting. Some came from towns as far as sixteen miles distant.

Want the Red Special.

“After the meeting each of the coal miners contributed from 50 cents to $1 to the campaign fund. They were the most enthusiastic men I ever saw, but one thing made them sad and that was the fact that the Red Special and Eugene V. Debs would not visit the town. They entreated me to try to induce the national office to send the Special and I believe that it should.

“In Michigan and Ohio much of the same enthusiasm and activity can be seen. There the locals are taking up collections for the campaign and the Red Special. The Socialists everywhere that I have met are determined that the campaign must be the biggest in the history of Socialism, and that the Red Special must go on. Their slogan is ‘Let ‘er Go!’”

The Chicago Socialist, sometimes daily sometimes weekly, was published from 1902 until 1912 as the paper of the Chicago Socialist Party. The roots of the paper lie with Workers Call, published from 1899 as a Socialist Labor Party publication, becoming a voice of the Springfield Social Democratic Party after splitting with De Leon in July, 1901. It became the Chicago Socialist Party paper with the SDP’s adherence and changed its name to the Chicago Socialist in March, 1902. In 1906 it became a daily and published until 1912 by Local Cook County of the Socialist Party and was edited by A.M. Simons if the International Socialist Review. A cornucopia of historical information on the Chicago workers movements lies within its pages.

PDF of full issue: https://www.marxists.org/history/usa/pubs/chicago-daily-socialist/1908/080921-chicagodailysocialist-v02n277.pdf