Category: Eugene Victor Debs

Hellraisers Journal: Appeal to Reason: Victor Hugo speaks to the poor, “after in vain having implored the rich….”

Janet RayeEugene Victor Debs
Share

Quote Victor Hugo, Letter to Rich, Debs Firemens Mag, Jan 1883
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Hellraisers Journal: Sunday July 10, 1898
Victor Hugo: “Not to be a slave is to Dare and Do.”

From the Appeal to Reason of July 9, 1898:

VICTOR HUGO’S LETTER TO THE POOR

Victor Hugo, St L Dsp p2, May 22, 1885

Shall I now speak to the poor, after in vain having implored the rich? Yes, it is fitting. This, then, have I to say to the disinherited: Keep a watch upon your formidable jaw. There is one rule for the rich—to do nothing, and one for the poor—to say nothing. The poor have but one friend, silence. They should use but one monosyllable: Yes. To confess and to concede-this is all the “rights” they have. “Yes” to the judge. “Yes” to the king. The great, if it so please them, give us blows with a stick; I have had them, it is their prerogative, and they lose nothing of their greatness in cracking our bones. Let us worship the sceptre, which is the first among sticks.

If a poor man is happy he is the pickpocket of happiness. Only the rich and noble are happy by right. The rich man is he who being young has the rights of old age; being old, the lucky chances of youth; vicious, the respect of good people; a coward, the command of the stout-hearted; doing nothing, the fruits of labor.

The people fight. Whose is the glory? The king’s. They pay. Whose is the magnificence? The king’s. And the people like to be rich in this fashion. Our ruler, king or croesus, receives from the poor a crown apiece and renders back to the poor a farthing. How generous he is! The colossal pedestal looks up to the pigmy superstructure. How tall the manikin is! He is upon my back. A dwarf has an excellent method of being higher than a giant; it is to perch himself upon the other’s shoulders. But that the giant should let him do it, there’s the odd part of it; and that he should honor the baseness of the dwarf, there’s the stupidity. Human ingenuousness.

Continue reading “Hellraisers Journal: Appeal to Reason: Victor Hugo speaks to the poor, “after in vain having implored the rich….”” →

Hellraisers Journal: From the Appeal to Reason: “Social Democratic Party of America” -Letter from Chicago Delegates

Janet RayeEugene Victor Debs
Share

Quote SDP, Class-Conscious & Revolutionary, AtR p4, July 2, 1898
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Hellraisers Journal, Thursday July 7, 1898
On the Formation of the Social Democratic Party of America

From the Appeal to Reason of July 2, 1898:

The Social Democratic Party of America.
———-

CHICAGO, June 16, 1898.

To Members of the Social Democracy of America:

1890s? Theodore Debs, IndStateEdu, Debs

COMRADES: There has been a division of the delegates who met in annual convention in this city in the name of the Social Democracy, beginning June 7th and ending June 11th, and the result has been the formation of a new party, known as the Social Democratic Party of America.

To report the truth respecting the withdrawal of the undersigned delegates from the convention, and the causes which led thereto, and to the formation of a new party, is the purpose of this address, and we bespeak for it the calm and serious consideration its importance demands.

Soon after the convention was called to order it became apparent that the delegates were divided into two factions, and as the deliberations proceeded the breach which separated them grew wider and all hope of bringing them into harmonious alliance vanished.

The prime factor in the disruption of the Social Democracy was the appearance in the convention of a number of delegates representing Chicago branches which were reported to have been organized within two or three days of the time the convention met, and these delegates were sufficient in number to control the convention. As a matter of fact they were chosen for that purpose and for that purpose alone, and it can be proved that the branches they were alleged to represent had not, and have not now, any existence.

That there was an undercurrent to defeat independent political action, especially in some sections in which certain delegates were personally interested, was too plainly evident to admit of doubt. The intense activity of certain other persons who are known to be violently opposed to political action emphasized the conviction that “colonization” was made the pretext for defeating the independent political program of the organization.

Continue reading “Hellraisers Journal: From the Appeal to Reason: “Social Democratic Party of America” -Letter from Chicago Delegates” →

Hellraisers Journal: The Compassionate Heart of Eugene Debs Re-Converts Florence Kelley to Socialism

Janet RayeEugene Victor Debs
Share

Quote EVD, re Knocked Down Women, Miners Mag, July 17, 1913
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Hellraisers Journal, Monday July 6, 1908
Compassion of Eugene Debs Re-Converts Florence Kelley

From The Socialist Woman of July 1908:

A RE-CONVERT.
—–
Rose Pastor Stokes.

Florence Kelley, Am Mag, July 1910
Florence Kelley

Mrs. Florence Kelley is one of the noblest women I know, and has worked for twenty years or more for Socialism among trades unionists and other classes of men and women. She used to belong to the Socialist party, but has not been a party member for many years. Last Sunday Mrs. Kelley was present at the mass meeting of the Christian Socialist Fellowship, when Eugene V. Debs spoke.

She was there when everybody else on the program spoke; but when she heard his wonderful plea for the woman who is not “fallen” but “knocked down;” for his sisters who are forced by a cruel and heartless system to sell their honor for a living, when she heard him declare, in a voice broken with emotion, that he honors these sisters of his and places his arm about them, and takes his stand by their side, Mrs. Kelley could not hear more.

Her face was flushed, and I saw the tears she wouldn’t let come to her eyes, as she exclaimed: “I am ashamed to be out of the party that has a man like that at its head! I’ll take out my membership card for him tomorrow.”

And her word is as good as her bond. Welcome to another new comrade!-The New York Evening Call.

Continue reading “Hellraisers Journal: The Compassionate Heart of Eugene Debs Re-Converts Florence Kelley to Socialism” →

Hellraisers Journal: “What’s the Matter with Debs?” -Buchanan Questions Exit from Social Democracy of America

Janet RayeEugene Victor Debs
Share

EVD Quote, Revolutionary Solidarity, ISR Feb 1918
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Hellraisers Journal, Tuesday July 5, 1898
Controversy Continues over Division in Social Democracy

From the Omaha Western Laborer of July 2, 1898:

Social Democracy:
The Withdrawal of Debs and What It Means

by Joseph R. Buchanan

“What’s the matter with Debs?”

Joseph Ray Buchanan (1851-1924), Western Laborer, July 2, 1898

I have heard that query propounded many times during the past four weeks. Men whom I met at different places on a trip from New York to Omaha and return asked me the question. The division in the Social Democracy was in the mind of everyone who asked it, and what they really wanted to know was the cause of the split in that organization. I was in Chicago two or three days after the break occurred [June 11th], and I met and talked with representative men of each wing of the divided movement. I tried hard to see Debs but failed. However, I saw two men who undoubtedly had the knowledge to speak for his side, and they claimed the authority to do so. However, both sides agree as to the real reason of the division, and that reason is not a secret, as it was given in the daily press of Chicago at the time.

A minority of the delegates to the national convention held in Chicago [June 7-11] wanted to change the program and policy of the Social Democracy by abandoning the colonization feature. When the test vote was taken, the result showed 52 for retaining the colony scheme and 37 against. The 37 bolted the convention and Debs joined them. They afterward met and decided to reorganize the minority on educational and political lines, entirely abandoning the colony project and to go forth with a new plan for a socialistic political party

Continue reading “Hellraisers Journal: “What’s the Matter with Debs?” -Buchanan Questions Exit from Social Democracy of America” →

Hellraisers Journal: From The Ohio Socialist: “Eugene Debs Under Indictment Is Now Free on Bail of $10,000”

Janet RayeEugene Victor Debs
Share

Debs is a SOCIALIST and a
REVOLUTIONARY SOCIALIST at that.
Prepare to do your share in his defense!
-The Ohio Socialist
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Hellraisers Journal, Wednesday July 3, 1918
Cleveland, Ohio – Debs Arrested Sunday June 30th

From The Ohio Socialist of July 2, 1918:

EVD Under Indictment, OH Sc p1, July 2, 1918

—–
Working Class Champion Arrested on Alleged
Violation of Espionage Law
—–
Deb’s Canton Speech in Demand; Officers
Diligent Search Reveals Naught
—–

EVD Lansing MI St Jr p10, July 1, 1918

Eugene Victor Debs, several times Socialist Party candidate for President of the United States, champion of Labor and the cause of the underdog, was arrested on an indictment drawn by the Federal Grand Jury as he was about to enter the Bohemian Gardens at Cleveland, Sunday, June 30th, where he was scheduled to address the Socialists. The indictment is based on alleged violations of the Espionage law, which it is claimed, he committed in his speech at Canton, June 16th.

An audience of three thousand people awaited Debs’ appearance at the meeting, which was addressed by Tom Clifford and John Brahtin of Cleveland, Marguerite Prevey of Akron and Harry Kritzger, agent of John Reed, who was in the city arranging a meeting which Reed will address on Wednesday, July 3rd.

When the arrest of Debs was announced to the audience it immediately showed its determination to stay in the fight to the finish. Wild applause greeted the name of Debs. A grim determination was noticeable upon the faces of every one and a spirit of sacrifice and comradeship was evident. There were no weak kneed ones there.

Continue reading “Hellraisers Journal: From The Ohio Socialist: “Eugene Debs Under Indictment Is Now Free on Bail of $10,000”” →

Hellraisers Journal: From the Appeal to Reason: Eugene Debs Watch Fobs on Sale for 25c; 20,000 on Order

Janet RayeEugene Victor Debs
Share

To speak for labor; to plead the cause
of the men and women and children who toil;
to serve the working class,
has always been to me a high privilege;
a duty of love.
-Eugene Victor Debs
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Hellraisers Journal, Tuesday June 30, 1908
Souvenir Available to Honor Socialist Party’s Presidential Candidate

From the Appeal to Reason of June 27, 1908:

EVD, Debs Watch Fobs, AtR p4, June 27, 1908

Continue reading “Hellraisers Journal: From the Appeal to Reason: Eugene Debs Watch Fobs on Sale for 25c; 20,000 on Order” →

Hellraisers Journal: Eugene Debs Speaks in Terre Haute to Socialists of Indiana’s Fifth District, Defends Canton Speech

Janet RayeEugene Victor Debs
Share

I have no country to fight for;
my country is the earth;
I am a citizen of the world.
-Eugene Victor Debs
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Hellraisers Journal, Tuesday June 25, 1918
Terre Haute, Indiana – Debs Defends Canton Speech

From The Indianapolis News of June 24, 1918:


DEBS MAKES DEFENSE OF
HIS CANTON SPEECH
—–

FLAYS PROFITEERS IN ADDRESS AT TERRE HAUTE.
——

PRAISES WILSON PROGRAM
—–

Special to The Indianapolis News

EVD, re Canton n DoJ, Huntington IN Hld p10, June 21, 1918

TERRE HAUTE. Ind. June 24.-Challenging any one anywhere to show him a Socialist who is a pro-German in the sense of being in sympathy with the German government in the prosecution of this war. Eugene V. Debs, former Socialist candidate for President spoke Sunday afternoon [June 20th] in the ball park here from a flag bedecked platform at a picnic of the Socialists of the Fifth district.

Debs branded as a “lie” the printed reports that he made seditious remarks in a talk last week at Canton, O. He praised the Bolsheviki of Russia, and praised President Wilson for his attitude toward the Bolsheviki.

He declared the Russian revolution to be the most stupendous event in history and predicted the success of the Bolsheviki.

Impatient for Results.

The trouble is the world wants the bolsheviki to give a perfect democracy within twenty-four hours time. Our Wall street would rather see the czar back on the throne than the working people.

All of the profiteers are against President Wilson. Every profiteer despises Wilson.

Debs made a defense of his Canton (O.) talk which is said to have led to a federal investigation.

Continue reading “Hellraisers Journal: Eugene Debs Speaks in Terre Haute to Socialists of Indiana’s Fifth District, Defends Canton Speech” →

Hellraisers Journal: From the St. Louis Brauer-Zeitung to Social Democratic Party of America: “Well Done!”

Janet RayeEugene Victor Debs
Share

EVD Quote, Revolutionary Solidarity, ISR Feb 1918
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Hellraisers Journal, Tuesday June 21, 1898
St. Louis, Missouri – Brewers Send Congratulations

The new Social Democratic Party of America was founded in Chicago by Eugene Debs and other “political actionist” who broke with the “utopians” of the Social Democracy of America at the end of that convention earlier this month. The German Brewers of St. Louis sent the following hearty “well done!” to the new socialist party.

From the St. Louis Brauer-Zeitung of June 18, 1898:

Well Done!
The Social Democratic Party of America
Organized at Last Week’s Convention
by G.A. Hoehn

Chicago, June 13, 1898.

EVD SDP Fdg, Rock Isl Argus IL p3, June 13, 1898

Three cheers for the Social Democratic Party of America! The organization of this new bona fide labor party will undoubtedly be cheering news to thousands of socialists and wage workers of this country. The first national convention of the Social Democracy of America was opened at Uhlich’s Hall, June 7, 1898. Comrade Eugene V. Debs called the delegates to order, stating the object of the gathering in a few remarks, expressing also the hope that the business of the convention would not be interfered with by parliamentary tricks and shyster tactics. According to report of the Credentials Committee, there were 75 delegates present; several delegates arrived later on.

Immediately following the report of the Credentials Committee, Secretary Keliher announced that on Saturday, June 4, and Sunday, June 5, not less than 11 new branches of the Social Democracy of America were organized in Chicago, all of which had applied for charters Monday, June 6; i.e., just one day before the opening of the convention. In his opinion at least 9 out of the 11 were not entitled to representation in the convention, for which reason he refused to grant them the charters applied for. However, he would put this matter into the hands of the convention for final settlement.

Burns and Hogan declared that the 11 branches were entitled to representation, at the same time attacking Secretary Keliher for his refusal to grant charters. Comrade Hourwich of New York moved that the delegates of the new Chicago branches be not admitted, Phillips of New York, Berger of Milwaukee, Carey of Massachusetts, Hoehn of St. Louis, Margaret Haile of Boston, Mailly of Tennessee, Gordon of New Hampshire, Winchevsky of New York, and Meier of St.Louis bitterly opposed the admission of the new Chicago delegates, claiming that at leas 9 out of 11 new branches were organized at the very last moment for no other purpose than to pack the convention, the 11 delegates representing less than 60 members in all. Mailly ridiculed the idea that these “brave Chicagoans” did not discover the grandeur of the Social Democracy until 24 hours before the opening of the national convention.

Continue reading “Hellraisers Journal: From the St. Louis Brauer-Zeitung to Social Democratic Party of America: “Well Done!”” →

Hellraisers Journal: Eugene Victor Debs: ”To serve the working class has always been to me a high privilege.”

Janet RayeEugene Victor Debs
Share

To speak for labor; to plead the cause
of the men and women and children who toil;
to serve the working class,
has always been to me a high privilege;
a duty of love.
-Eugene Victor Debs

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Hellraisers Journal, Wednesday June 19, 1918
Canton, Ohio – Echoes from Nimisilla Park

EVD, Debs Orator Canton June 16, 1918, IN U

On Sunday June 16th, Eugene Debs arrived at the Nimisilla Park, in Canton, for a grand picnic given by the Socialist Party of Ohio on the final day of the state convention. He came directly to the park following a brief visit with the Ohio Comrades, C. E. Ruthenberg, Alfred Wagenknecht, and Charles Baker who are now residing behind the bars of the Stark County Work House, across the street from the park.

Comrade Debs walked through the crowd smiling and came to the front of the platform. He gave a speech which is certain to be remembered for years to come.

Debs spoke for about two hours, and said, in part:
-(Emphasis added.)

Comrades, friends and fellow-workers, for this very cordial greeting, this very hearty reception, I thank you all with the fullest appreciation of your interest in and your devotion to the cause for which I am to speak to you this afternoon.

To speak for labor; to plead the cause of the men and women and children who toil; to serve the working class, has always been to me a high privilege; a duty of love.

I have just returned from a visit over yonder, where three of our most loyal comrades are paying the penalty for their devotion to the cause of the working class. They have come to realize, as many of us have, that it is extremely dangerous to exercise the constitutional right of free speech in a country fighting to make democracy safe in the world.

I realize that, in speaking to you this afternoon, there are certain limitations placed upon the right of free speech. I must be exceedingly careful, prudent, as to what I say, and even more careful and prudent as to how I say it. I may not be able to say all I think; but I am not going to say anything that I do not think. I would rather a thousand times be a free soul in jail than to be a sycophant and coward in the streets. They may put those boys in jail—and some of the rest of us in jail—but they can not put the Socialist movement in jail. Those prison bars separate their bodies from ours, but their souls are here this afternoon. They are simply paying the penalty that all men have paid in all the ages of history for standing erect, and for seeking to pave the way to better conditions for mankind.

Continue reading “Hellraisers Journal: Eugene Victor Debs: ”To serve the working class has always been to me a high privilege.”” →

Hellraisers Journal: “If I find Debs used the words reported to me, I will take immediate action to have him prosecuted,”

Janet RayeEugene Victor Debs
Share

You need to know that you are fit for something
better than slavery and cannon fodder.
-Eugene Victor Debs
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Hellraisers Journal, Tuesday June 18, 1918
Canton, Ohio – Federal Agents Were on Hand at Nimisilla Park

From the Cleveland Plain Dealer of June 17, 1918:

DEBS URGES AID FOR BOLSHEVIKI FROM AMERICA
—–
Suggests Army of 1,000,000 Socialists to Help
Russia Resist Prussian Aggression.
—–

FIGHT CAPITALISTIC WAR
—–
U. S. Agents Hear Speeches
at Canton Convention;
May Act.
—–

BY C. R. MILLER.
Staff Correspondent Plain Dealer.

EVD, Debs Canton Nimisilla Park, June 16, 1918

CANTON, June 16.-Hundreds of Socialists, including scores of delegates to the Ohio Socialist party convention which has been in progress here since Friday [June 14th], went on record today as being unequivocally opposed to “a war of capitalism.”

The Socialists of Ohio were urged to stand by the party’s program by Eugene V. Debs, three times Socialist candidate for president, who addressed the closing session of the convention which took the form of a picnic at one of Canton’s public parks.

J. J. Fried, Cleveland Socialist, said Debs had approved a plan for American Socialists’ co-operation with the Bolsheviki by sending an army of 1,000,000 men to their assistance.

Mr. Debs, after paying tribute to Socialist leaders, particularly to those of Cleveland who had “the moral course” to go to jail for the sake of their principles, praised I. W. W. members, referred to the Bolsheviki as “our comrades who have made Russia a land of living light,” and charged the purposes of the allies in the war is the same as that of the central powers-a desire for plunder.

Continue reading “Hellraisers Journal: “If I find Debs used the words reported to me, I will take immediate action to have him prosecuted,”” →