Debs speaks to 30,000 workers in the predominately Jewish and immigrant Lower East Side of New York during his 1908 Presidential campaign.

‘All of Ghetto Hears Debs’ from The Chicago Daily Socialist. Vol. 2 No. 297. October 15, 1908.

Down Trodden East Side of New York City Turns Out 30,000 Strong–Socialist Nominee Is Still Weak but Is Improving; Word From Hanford.

New York, Oct 14. The down-trodden east side of New York turned out yesterday afternoon 30,000 strong and gave a magnificent greeting to Eugene V. Debs. The thirty thousand gathered In Fish Park and in Rutger’s square. The trip made by Debs caused the greatest demonstration in the history of the east side. The crowds on the streets were dense and thousands ran after the Socialist automobile that carried the nominee and his party.

Debs Is Improving

Debs, is still in a weak condition, but is improving His speeches yesterday were limited to ten minutes on the positive dictum of his personal manager during the tour, Stephen M. Reynolds.

Morris Hillquit. Joseph Panken, Robert Hunter. J.G. Phelps-Stokes and Debs spoke to the crowds and gave hope of a better day to the east side toilers.

Greatest Day in Ghetto

The police handled the awake, spiring crowds well. They showed kindness and the people responded, so that no trouble whatever occurred. It was one of the greatest days in the history of the Ghetto.

At night, In Brooklyn, ten thousand people greeted Debs in two halls-Prospect hall and Congress hall. The meetings were record-breakers and have given a hard shock to Tammany hall. Other speakers In Brooklyn were Dr. and Rev Alexander Irvine. A letter was read from Ben Hanford, Socialist candidate for vice president who was too ill to be present. His inspiring words of hope encouragement were cheered by the immense audiences.

Pass Pouren Resolutions

Mrs. J.W. Gater a Socialist woman, who has a magnificent voice, sang songs.

A resolution demanding the protection by the national government of Jan. Pouren, the Russian revolutionary exile whom the car’s government is trying to have deported, was unanimously passed. Republicans and Democrats are spend thousands of dollars in the next few days arranging counter demonstrations. Costly uniforms, beer and coercion by employers will be the means.

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/1908/081015-chicagodailysocialist-v02n297b.pdf