The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1916-01-04
CHALLENGE TO DEBS
TO MEET COLLINS
Knights Of columbus win Put Up $3.50
To Defray Half ~ the Expense
For Debate.

4
The following has been handed to
The 'yirginian with the request that 1t
be published.
I'm your issue of today, there il a
Communication from the secretary of
the Socialist Local of Richmond with
reference to Peter Collins. his appear
ance in Richmond. and his challenge
to joint debate with Eugene v. Debs.
the standard bearer of Socialism.
$50 that no misapprehension may
exist on account of the statements
contained in the letter of the Socialists
Local, let IL first be understood that
Mr.. Collins has not only been anxious
to debate with MIR. Debs, but has tried
for nearly four years to
have Mr.. Debs to accept his standing
challenges to debate in any city in the
country. at any time Mr.. Debs SO
designates. Mr.. Collins at his previous
appearance did not come expressly &C.
debate with MIR. Debs. AZ stated in
Sundays paper, but at his lecture he
was challenged by an officer OF thS
Socialist local to a debate with MIR
Debs, Mr.. Warren on Mr. Victor Ber-
ger. Mr.. Collins gladly accepted this
challenge as newspaper accounts of
that meeting will prove. Mr.. Collins
also called at the office of The Appeal
to Reason" Girard, Kas., where Mr..
Debs was employed as associate editor
in March, 1913. to arrange for such
debate, but was unsuccessful. although
the debate was agreeable to- the editor
of the Appeal To Reason Mr.. War
rem and 10 the Socialist party; but Nh
Debs would not accept
Let IL also be understood, that
e. III
Mr. Debs. Mr.. Collins has smoked
out nearly all of the other American
Socialist leaders, and debated with
them He debated MIR. Gaylord. OF
wisconsin, on two occasions at Brain
erd, Mimi, and Fon du Lac. Wis. he
debated Mr.. Lewis. of Oregon. on two
occasions. at Long Prairie, Mimi, ana
Red Wing, MINI; he debated Joshua
Wanhope. editor New York eau ESQ.,
cialist), at Rochester, n. Y, Profess
sor kirkpatrick at Trenton. y. -
Professor Walton. Paterson. \. j.; Al
len Cook. at ST. MafX,s q: Mr. has
sett. of Louisiana: Mr.. McCrillis. or
Iowa. and Fred Warren. editor of the
Appeal To Reason. at Lawrence,
Mass: last June. He has met almost
every American Socialist of proniin-
ence in debate except Mir Debs and
the fault OF not meeting him lies with
Mr. Debs and not with Mr., Collins.
When the opportunity presented 1t
self two years ago To have MIR. Dehs
meet MIR Collins here. the local So
c.alists. instead OF producing Mr'
Dehs. secured Socialist from New /
Jersey. who was then under irdict"
nent. and is now serving sentence in
an Easte err prison. Mr.. Duke, then
secretary of the Socialist party, did
not mention at that time. this part"
as the representative with whom MT
Collins was to debate. Mr.. Collins &C
ceptea Mrs OHare's challenge, hh'
the Socialist party Of Iowa have evil
IDENTIFY remembered too we'll the M
glorious defeat In debate at Dnbuque
in February. 1914, of their candidate
for Governor, Mr., McCrilis, OF Des
Moines.
II the local Socialist party Of Rich
mond are really In earnest. depats
can easily be arranged for Richmond
hatwoer Mr.. Debs and ME-. Collins.
First. Mr.. Collins will hA glad 10
meet MIR. Debs in debate in Richmond
AT anv time 10 suit Mr.. Debs' conven-
fence. and as the Socialists commune
cation to the papers says no one Nho
knows Mr.. Debs would believe that ne
ever ran away from debate on So
ciaiism," We now demand the so
C~stists and Afr. DebS MAKE Sooe sffeit
declaration.
Second The debate can be held IN
the Auditorium and an admission zee
charged. the proceeds to. he given to
me Associated Charities OF Richmond.
Third. The expenses To be paid
equally by the Socialist party and the
knights of Columbus
To carry ont this agreement, the
Knights OF Columbus Will place $3.50
IN fht. hands of Rev. James Buchanan,
of tttcA Associated CAafi++es,-aiad- the
Socialist party to deposit Il like amount
not later than February /, 1915. with
Or. Buchanan.
If the Socialist party refuses to de-
posit such amount on or before that
date. it will assuredly mean that their
champion Mr.. Debs. is afraid to
meet Mr. Collins in debate.
RICHMOND COUNCIL. NO. 395.
KNIGHTS OF COLUMBUS.
Per Thomas A. Murphy,
Grand Knight.