Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1920-05-30
NOTIFY T. y. DEBS
| BEHIND JAIL BARS
| OF HIS NOMINATION
Convicted Socialist Is Now
Full : Pledged Candi-
date for President.
ACCEPTS PARTY MANDATE
AT FEDERAL PENI!ENTlARY
First Time in Political History
That Such Drama Has
Been Enacted.
ADMITS HE IS BOLSHEVIST
Describes Russian Revolution as
Greatest Achievement OF
Mankind.
ACCEPTS PARTY MANDATE
AT FEDERAL PENITENTlARY
ADMITS HE IS BoLsHEvIsT
Russian Revolution US
Greatest Achievement OF
Mankind.

ATLANTA. GA. May 2o.-Eugenc
". Dcbs. nominated Tor the NTH time
ns Socialist candidate for President
or tho United States. today was for
mally notified OF his nomination in
the warden's Office at the Federal
prison here. where Dcbs Is serving
n tcn-year term for violation of the
espionage act. II was tho first time
In history a candidate for President
OF tho United States has been ten
dered the nomination and accepted II
Hhile prisoner In the penitentiary.
Alfred in his prison suit OF blue
denim. Dcbs showed great Joy ut
meeting his comrades composing the
dominating committee. greeting each
with l. kiss. The committee consist
ed OF Seymour Stcdman. Debs' run
ming mate on the Socialist ticket;
James O'Seal. Julius Gerber. Otto
Translator and DIR. Madgo Patton
stephens, OF Debs' homo town. Terre
Iiaute. Ind. and friend OF the Debs
family.
Make. Speech of Acceptance.
BY the prison rules tho SocIalis,
leader could issue no formal state
mcnt. but no made Il speech Of ac-
ceptancc. Declaring that only the
good OF tho party. which he consid-
cred paramount, persuaded him TO
become candidate, he spoke for
more than half an hour. reviewing
previous nominations he had accepted
and discussing tho platform adopted
az the recent national convention of
the Socialists. Some OF Dcbs' point
ed comments were:
II have always been n radical;
never moro so than now. have
never been afraid OF being too rad
ical. but have feared to become con-
derivatives"
There Is tendency In tho So
cialist party to become party OF
politicians instead OF Il party OF
workers. This ought to he checked.
We are not in politics TO ge, office.
but to achieve tho industrial oman
cipation OF the working class"
Laudx Efforts of UoIsheyists.
Before beginning TO servo my
timc here l made several addresses
supporting the Russian revolution,
which believe Is the creates, single
achievement in the history OF man
kind. said / was "a Bo!shevilt: /
meant It then and l mean It now.
did not mean I was Russian Boil
shevik in America. but that was
lighting for the same thing in Amer
lea that they are fighting for in
Russia"
The dictatorship OF the prolc-
tariat Is simply a term which the
= hostile press has used against us
we are opposed to dictatorship of
any kind. We stand for freedom,
equal rights and justice for all"
II am heartily in favor OF the RUS
sian revolution and think we should
support 1T with all our power"
Debs concluded by saying: with
all my heart. l return thanks and ap-
probation to you for the honor YOU
have done me. / may not be able
20 join you in the activities of tho
campaign. but you can rest assured
that, IL / am here, my spirit will
breathe out through those bars so
that comrades will know my heart
heats with theirs"
At the conclusion of Debs' talk
newspaper men and others withdrew
while Dcbs and the members OF the
committee conferred on policies and
problems Of the Socialist party.
James O'NenI NotIncs Dcb..
In notifying Debs OF the honor
conferred on him by his comrades
lanes ONcal said:
"Comradc Debs: We have made
this journey to formally notify you
If your nomination for the presi-
lency by the Socialist party. While
this nomination is made by the So
-t.lli cf
dreds Of thousands OF working mon
ana women and other citizens,
heartily approve 1t.
In rendering you this nomination,
we do 1t with the knowledge Of your
infaltcrinS loyalty to the masses and
your answering devotion to the
deals of Socialism. In the struggle
or humanity for liberation, its ad-
vance couricrs have often spoken
from felons cell. In tho long roll
pr liberators your name has been
added to this glorious list.
the felon of ono age becomes an
emancipation in the view Of postcrity.
Socrates, Christ. Bruno, Sayonaro,a
LoVcjoy and John Brown have trod
This path. History will record its
Judgment of you, dear comrades asif
has Of Thorn.
I'm an hour OF passion and au-
:ocracy you spoke as they. smoke.
You defended tho human mind nm
chained and tho right of ungaered
Impression of opinion. You incarnate
he best ideals and traditions in
American history and the hopes of
humanity.
with affection too profound to
Express in words. in tho name of tho
SOCIALISTS of the United States and
aany thousands OF other liberty-loy-
ng mon and women. we tender this