SALUTATION to the WORKERS
Debs, Eugene V.
SALUTATION to the WORKERS By EUGENE V. DEBS AGAIN we celebrate Labor Day! \ /t But how and to what purpose f What real significance has the day to the workers of America and the world? Does...
...Thit idea of repudiating obligstions due to parasitic bondholders is excellent...
...The men who made the Articles of Confederation and also our Federal' Constitution scorned to pay, that is, repudiated, financial obligations due to many citisens of the thirteen state., under the Articles of Confederation "because those citizens did not believe in the Revolution and the new Government...
...Frsnce is next in order, then Italy—so tha news runs...
...Salutation this dsy to the workert of every land and every clime beneath the tun...
...Repudiation is a handsome word...
...Trotsky, you know, was a very serious student of American hjstory...
...After all, it is an American idea...
...It may come in handy, very handy, a little later...
...The former is nstionsl and the latter international...
...Third—The time for paying the principal has been extended to run 62 years, which means thst the present generation of Belgians repudiates its obligation to the present generstion of Americans in full—saddles scores of millions of obligation upon a generation not yet 'oorn...
...There is this vital distinction between Labor Day and May Day...
...The former is more or less con servstive in ita appeal and at a rule accepts the wage-system at a finality...
...Ons can learn a lot of history sfter (but not before) he leaves - ' the public schools...
...The latter, international in spirit» class-conscious in character, ia revolutionary in ita appeal and boldly challenges the capitalist system in the unceasing straggle to abolish ths waga-syttem and to establish industrial democracy and self-government throughout the world...
...and on with the ttruggle against capitalism and wsge-slevery until the hosts of Lsbor cslebrate their world-wide Emancipation...
...I would not deprive them of the leatt rest, recreation, sport or other healthful and happy diversion tht day may afford, but I would have them mix tome thought with them all and ttk themselves and one another, among other things, why thit day only hat been conceded to them, thit one day in all the year, to celebrate and to enjoy life when Labor le the very life of the world and should by royal right rule all the world...
...Does it mean anything more than the cessation for a few hours of the grinding toil which makes up the life or rather the existence of the average working man, woman and child f That depends altogether on the' workers themselves...
...The British Government slso hss repudiated in this same way—"of 62 years to run"—handing billions of financial burden over to a generation of Britons not yet born...
...There will be but little concern in the working class of foreign countries, so-called, made manifest in the celebration of American Labor Day...
...The arrangement includes the repudiation of many millions of admitted obligation, and arrangement agreed to, mark you, by the American statesmen of capitalism...
...Second—The rate of interest on the post-armistice debt of 246,000,000 is reduced to 3 Vi per cent, which is certainly equivalent to repudiation of another heavy portion of the obligation...
...Keep in mind, too, that the capitalists themselves make the suggestion snd show us the practice...
...borrowed this ' American idea...
...May Day was appropriated to themselvee by the workers of the world without consulting their mesters...
...The Russian Rayolutlonists mgy, indeed, hsye...
...REPUDIATION By G. R. KIRKPATRICK NOW, let us set down here for what it is—this Belgian debt-refunding agreement...
...Truly it is a grand and glorious suggestion...
...Don't forget it...
...Fi-st—The interest on the $171,000,000, borrowed before the Armietice, will not be psid st all—which, if course, is repudiation...
...Labor Day in America, tha Labor day legalited and recognised as such, has its national limitation and significance...
...Englsnd first, now Belgium...
...Don't forget that, either...
...Remember, especially, the reason for the repudiation practised by . "the Fathers...
...Labor Day was s concession to the workers of the United States by their capitalist masters...
Vol. 2 • September 1925 • No. 36
