Deb’s 1908 campaign train, the Red Special, heads into New York state with reports on stops in Buffalo, Rochester, New York City, and Albion.

‘The Red Special in New York State’ from The Montana News. Vol. 6 No. 50. 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 31, 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 county 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 Debts 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 breakdown 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 known, 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. At 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 mighty 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 Wanohpe 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 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 Vall, author of 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.

Wanhope on “Special.“

Joe Wanhope and W.H. Leffingwell of Wilshire’s Magazine came aboard at Buffalo, and the expert work of Wanhope livened up the speechmaking during the day. Leftiingwell made the collection appeal and literature talks. Wanhope came on his own trip, as the state committee of New York made no arrangements whatever to have him aboard, as requested by the national organization.

Thomas J. Mooney, a union iron molder who joined the special at San Jose, has been selling literature ever since and has made a record. At every evening meeting he is in the hall early and makes a “literature talk” that increases interest in the books offered and increases sales. He hopes to attend the University of Chicago this winter to add to his equipment as a labor agitator on the soap box and by writing.

While all of Buffalo, including our industrious friends the plutes, marveled at the big crowd assembled in Convention hall, we were disappointed. It was the second meeting during the thirty-two days that the hall had not been jammed. The building will hold 5,000. About 3,000 were present. Everyone paid from 10 to 35 cents. Lapworth and Chase were the speakers.

Chase Advance Agent.

The papers today gave long but biased accounts of the meeting and of Debs’ speech. At a meeting of those on the “Special” in Debs’ hall bedroom yesterday afternoon it was decided to send Chase two days ahead of the train to confer with the local organization in each city where a night meeting is to be held. It has been found that the best results cannot be secured when arrangements are left till the train arrives. The local workers are not familiar with plans made on the train, and the traveling agitators do not know what the local has done. Chase having been aboard and handled arrangements from this end, is prepared to make complete and perfect arrangements.

He was in Rochester this morning and spent the day here. He will be ahead of us in Syracuse tomorrow. Results will be watched and if they are not good the plan will be changed. All familiar with the trip, however, are of the opinion that Chase will do effective work and add to the value of the train.

Drawn by Biggest Engine.

The “Red Special” was drawn yesterday from Erie to Buffalo by the largest locomotive in the world. H.I. Miller was the engineer and R.S. Spencer the fireman. The mighty machine weighs 130 tons and the tender weighed 88 tons. She is able to make a hundred miles an hour. It takes sixty-one gallons of water a minute to keep her in steam. The boiler will stand 200 pressure. Engineer Miller came near reaching the maximum speed when we were late a few minutes.

It has been cloudy and cold for two days. At this time it is cold and sunny. Twenty shopmen “knocked off” at Jamestown. N.Y., yesterday and met the train at Westfield, ten of them going on board as passengers.

DEBS IS VERY SICK MAN

Socialist Candidate for President Totters as He Speaks Owing to Severe Illness.

New York, Oct. 13. On tottering legs, but with a vigor in his voice that made his audience forget that he was a sick man, Eugene V. Debs, socialist candidate for president, spoke at two mass meetings on the east side, the stronghold of the Socialist party in this city tonight and also journeyed to Brooklyn to address a meeting. So weak was the candidate that he had to be supported by two men as he spoke tonight.

Mr. Debs began today by speaking in Newark. He was very sick then, having had a fever of 103 only a few hours before. But the candidate said that he had promised to speak and refused to heed the advice of his physician and friends who tried to dissuade him. The illness which Mr. Debs suffered is the illness of a cold which he contracted a week ago and which did not become serious until yesterday when he collapsed upon arriving in Newark.

Mr. Debs retired to the “Red Special” in Jersey City early tonight and his physicians took him in hand. While there is no immediate cause for alarm over his condition, still his physicians say that unless Mr. Debs rests he will not be able to continue the schedule made out for the “Red Special” tour, which has now lasted 41 days and was planned to last until the day before election.

The Montana News first published in Lewistown, Montana, began as the Judith Basin News published by J. H. Walsh in 1904 as the paper of the Socialist Party of Montana. The Montana News moved from Lewistown to Helena, and from 1905 was edited by Ida Crouch-Hazlett. Splits within the State Party led to a number of conflicts over the paper, which ran as a weekly until 1912.

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