The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1920-05-10
SOVIET RUSSIA
IS APPLAUDED
BY SOCIALISTS
Berger, Hillquit, Sey-
mour and Stednan En-
thuse Audience
FLAY BOTHOF THE
GREAT PARTIES
Big Demonstrations
Greet Mention of the
Name of Eugene Debs
Roast Capitalists

New York. May g.-Eight thou
stand Socialists, who paid their
way into Madison Square Garden
here this afternoon to hear Morris
Hillquit. Victor Berger and Gey-
mour and Stedman open the So
cialist national campaign, wildly
cheered the declaration by Sted-
man that the war against Ger
many was a crime and that the
st Louis platform Of the Socialist
party. adopted in 1917, denouncing
Americas entrance into the war
was a document of honor
They rose to their feet in great
demonstration for Victor Berger.
who declared he was congress-
man from Milwaukee despite the
house OF capitalist representatives.
woodrow wilson and my friend,
Attorney General Palmer" and in
an even greater outburst for Nor
rTs Hlquit who has returned to
the Socialist movement after an
enforced absence of two years be-
cause of illness.
Every mention of the name Of Eu-
gene V Debs. who viii be nominated
for president by the Socialists and who
is now serving ten-year sentence in
the federal prison at Atlanta for vio-
ltion Of the espionage act was sig
nal for a fervid demonstration.
ATTACK CAPITAL
Every attack on the capitalist
class" and the forces of reaction" the
league OF nations. Palmer. Sweet and
Lusk was vociferously applauded.
Poland was boeed and a great cheer
given for Soviet Russia and when
Stedman declared that those who had
shed tears for Belgium had shed SO
many that they had none left for Ire-
land" a noisy scene followed
Hiiiquit. with his Incompatible IRONY
and biting sarcasm, said the Socialist
party had the advantage over both the
Republican and Democratic parties in
the campaign because it alone upheld
the somewhat Anticipated American
the people and for the people
The Democratic and Repuolicaa
parties are revolutionary organiza-
tions, trying to overthrow constituted
American government by force and vio-
lence. Attorney General Palmer should
go for them without delay"
Hillquit declared the adm inistration
has abolished the department OF
state and created a department of
propaganda in favor of every reaction
AIRY movement abroad. with a bureau
OF internment instead of the former bu-
reaG Of passports. 1t has converted the
postoffice department into an index
expurgatorius. 1t has remodelled the
department of la Dor by substituting a
bureau of failing and injunction for
the bureau of mediation and arbitra-
ton and bureau OF deportation for
the bureau of immi grafton. 1t has
a polished the department OF Justice n
charge of an attorney general and ha,
created department OF panic AMI
hysteria in charge Of an alarmist gen
erai"
BERGER MAKES CHARGE
Victor Berger accused the capitalist
class" of wishing to Supply and ter
rorizesthe nation "'rhe capitalists say
that socialism and Bolshevism are the
same thing" he said Not yet, but
If they keep on as they are going II
will be the same thing. But it will
not depend upon people Of my type To
bring about forcefA revolution and
Bolshevism. 1t will depend upon our
capitalist rulers. II they are going to
put our legal representatives. out OF
office. the working class Will lose faith
in political action.
Il don't want any violent revolution
To begin with ] am too old and could
not take part. But the more important
reason is that violence does not beget
anything permanent Violent revolu-
ton Will not bring about anything
worth while. We must educate the
people to peaceful methods"
But let us stick to our colors.~ he
concluded. and our color is red. let
there be no question about that
Seymour Stedman, the Chicago law
yer who defended Debs and who is be-
ing suggested a candidate for the vice
presidency on the Socialist ticket, out
lined the issue of the Socialist cam
paign. He reiterated the Socialist OPP
position to the war denounced the
league of nations, the abandonment OF
the rights of small nationsH and ex-
pressed the friendliness OF the So
cialst party for Soviet Russia,
We want no Russian revolution or
methods here" he said We must
fight for socialism in our own way
here, by the ballot. in the unions and
on the Industrial field"