Jim Kershner’s this day in history

From our archives, 100 years ago

Eugene V. Debs, the famous socialist, spoke to a packed house at Spokane’s Central Christian Church, and he delivered plenty of provocative statements.

For instance, here’s what he said about rich industrialist John D. Rockefeller:

“Mr. Rockefeller has an income of $5 million a month. He produces nothing and is wholly useless in the industrial activity of the country. The workers produce everything and get nothing. In other words, you get what he produces and he gets what you produce, and he thinks that’s a perfectly good exchange. If you object, you are accused of preaching free love.”

He said the Socialist Party was the biggest in the world, with 50 million adherents, and he predicted “certain victory for it.”

From the marriage beat : The Rev. C. Edwin Brown of the Plymouth Congregational Church delivered a sermon titled “Choosing a Wife.”

“Do not marry a girl with a career,” he advised. “You may be able to stand the girl, but the career or a French poodle will be her preference instead of a baby.”

He ended with this advice: “When I wanted a good time, I used to go to the dancing school, but when I wanted a wife, I went to prayer meeting.”