Peoria, Illinois is determined to commemorate the first anniversary of Russia’s Bloody Sunday.

‘’Bloody Sunday’ Week in Peoria’ by Dr. Knpopfnagel from the Chicago Socialist. Vol. 6 No. 381. February 3, 1906.  

This was a week of agitation and excitement in Peoria. Proletarian and bourgeoisie measured their strength. The proletarian came out triumphant.

Once more we had a chance to prove to the working class that it matters not under what form of government we live the government is on the side of the economically independent class. In the United States as in Russia the capitalist class is the ruling class. The government in Russia is opposed to the interests of the working class, the government in the United States is not in favor of the interests of the working class. As the government in Russia so the government in the United States has not the moral courage to show itself in their true colors.

We asked the Peoria city council to allow us the use of the Coliseum free of charge.

As cowards this council referred us to the commissioners of the Coliseum, who in their turn referred us back to the liberty-loving city fathers. These city fathers could find no words to express their love and admiration for the spirit of the Russian revolutionists and promised us that they would see that we get the Coliseum free of charge.

When this matter came before this “honorable” body they referred us back again to the directors, who answered that they do not want to commit Peoria to the cause of the Russian revolution. The city fathers had not the courage to state that they are opposed to the cause of the emancipation of the working class from wage slavery, because their pockets are filled by the capitalist class, and the capitalist class knows no boundary lines. The interests of the capitalist class of the United States are identical with the interests of the capitalist and ruling classes of Russia, and opposed to the interests of the working classes of all the civilized countries.

You union and non-union men who voted the Republican and Democratic tickets, take notice of this fact. It may teach you to know who your friends are: how much regard your chosen Republican and Democratic representatives have for your liberties, for your welfare.

Sunday, Jan. 21st, we opened fire. Comrade Lillian Forberg was the dynamite we used. She stirred up such an agitation as we never had in Peoria. All week long the papers were filled with the lectures of Lillian Forberg. Men and women flocked to the meetings held in various portions of the city.

Monday, Jan. 22, we held a demonstration meeting at the Coliseum (for which we paid). Comrade Pfeiffer was the first speaker. He was full of fire and enthusiasm. He was followed by Lillian Forberg, whose fame already preceded her because of the two lectures she delivered Sunday, Jan. 21st. She looked the goddess of Revolution when she spoke of the Russian proletariat. She was the picture of sarcasm when she compared the solidarity of the Russian proletariat with that of the American proletariat. The single taxers, many of whom are prominent Democrats, were bound to kill us, and they challenged Lillian to a debate, which took place at the city hall. If ever the single taxers were beaten, they certainly were beaten Friday, Jan. 26th, by Comrade Forberg. When she pointed out the idiocy of the single tax theory, pointed to the attitude of the Democratic party towards the working class in the various States, which is supported by the single taxers, and asked the audience how much faith these single taxers deserve, the audience, men and women whom we never before saw at our meetings, burst out in an applause which shook the building. When Lillian Forberg sat down, they compelled her to rise and recognize their applause which lasted at least for ten minutes, single taxers felt like beaten curs. They wanted to harm us, and instead added to our laurels.

The Peoria local is glad to have had her for a week. She is logical and forceful. Locals who wish to wake the proletarians up should have her. She is an educator and agitator.

Of all the women speakers we have had in Peoria, the names of Lillian Forberg and Mrs. May Wood Simons will never be forgotten.

Comrades, roll your sleeves up and get Lillian Forberg to do the rest. She will do it! DR. KNOPFNAGEL

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/workers-call-chicago-socialist/060203-chicagosocialist-v06w361.pdf