Hellraisers Journal: Eugene Victor Debs Nominated for President by Social Democratic Party of America

———-

Hellraisers Journal – Sunday March 11, 1900
Indianapolis, Indiana – Social Democratic Party Convention Nominates Debs

From The Indianapolis Journal of March 10 1900:

EUGENE V. DEBS ACCEPTS
—–

HE WILL BE STANDARD BEARER OF
SOCIAL DEMOCRATIC PARTY.
—–
He Was Unable to Resist the Pressure
of the Convention-Harriman
for Vice President.
—–

The Social Democratic party, which had been in convention in the city since last Tuesday, adjourned yesterday afternoon after gaining the consent of Eugene V. Debs to make the race for President. Job Harriman, of California, was nominated for the vice presidency. It was also understood before adjournment that the Social Democrats and the Socialist Labor party would amalgamate.

The chief business of the convention yesterday was the selection of candidates. On Thursday Mr. Debs steadfastly refused to accept the nomination, but yesterday, when the convention would not listen to a refusal, and nominated him by acclamation, he decided to accept. Shortly after noon a committee brought him to Reichwein’s Hall and he made his speech of acceptance. He spoke feelingly and was apparently greatly impressed with the situation which confronted him. In beginning his remarks he said he had never been more profoundly Impressed with the conviction that there is a divinity which shapes our ends. He said that on Thursday he left the hall with the determination that he would not accept the nomination.

[He continued:]

But now, with your united voices ringing in my ears, with your impassioned appeals burning and glowing in my breast and your eyes searching the depths of my soul, I am brought to realize that in your voice there is a supreme command of duty.

Mr. Debs said he could not disregard this command without proving himself unworthy of the confidence that inspired it. He said he could not decline this nomination tendered under such circumstances without being guilty of treason to the cause they all loved so well. Mr. Debs also thanked the convention for giving him as a colleague so true a Socialist and so manly a man as Job Harriman. In conclusion Mr. Debs said:

I am proud to be a Socialist. I believe with all my heart in the conquering and emancipating power of socialism. With me it is something more than a conviction. It throbs in my breast, it surges in my soul. It is my very life, and without it every star that blazes in the horizon would go out forever; without it the earth were simply a jungle and men wild beasts devouring each other. With it the earth becomes transformed-a veritable paradise, and we are almost gods. Again and again I thank you. All hall to the United Socialist party of America.

Mr. Harriman also accepted the nomination and a committee was appointed to confer with a committee from the Socialist Labor party in reference to the work of amalgamating the two organizations. This joint committee held a meeting after the convention adjourned and decided to meet again in New York city on March 25.

Eugene V. Debs, the nominee for President. Is forty-five years old. He lives In Terre Haute and his career is well known in this State as well as the country at large, he is very popular in his home city. Job Harriman, the nominee for Vice President, formerly lived in Indiana, but is now a resident of California. In the last election he was the Socialist candidate for Governor of California. He was born in Clinton county in 1861.

A number of the delegates to the convention went to Milwaukee last night. The Socialist Labor party has some candidates in the city campaign in that city and some of the delegates go there to make speeches for them.

[Photograph added.]