Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1920-05-12
Socialists Party Enters Cam
paign.
paign.

Socialists Party Enters lam
paign.
New York, May 9.-The Socialist
party of America today plunged into
the active political warfare of the
1920 presidential campaign with
broadside after broadside fired by its
"big guns" at the national conven-
ton mass meeting in Madison Square
Garden.
Ensconsced in this fortress, which
was surrounded by strong Gordon
of New York police to guard against
"anti-radicap demonstrations the
meeting hailed Eugene V. Debs, now
serving ten years in the Atlanta fed
eral prison for violation of the es-
pionage act, as the Socialist candi-
date for the presidency. Ovation af-
ter ovation greeter the characterize
tion of Debs as "our only candidate"
international socialism to be gain
ed by peaceful means through the
reinforcement of political action by
industrial action"-declared by
, speeches Of Socialist leaders to sig
nifty the general strike"-was de-
clared the aim of the party amid the
cheers Of an audience Of 5000 per-
sons. the singing of the "Interna-
tionale," the hymn of "Free Rus
sia" and the "Marseillaise."
There was free entry into the Gar
den of party leaders, but great care
was exercised to exclude agents of
the industrial Workers of the World
and Communist sympathizers who at
tempted to distribute propaganda at
the meeting.
Debs Proclaimed.
Debs was proclaimed the party's
presidential nominee by Morris Hill
quit in an address, in which he de-
nounced the administration at Wash
ington and both Democratic and Re-
publican parties as radically revolu-
tionary-in contrast to the Socialist
party, the only conservative force in
American politics"
Seymour Stedman of Chicago, gen
eral counsel of the Socialist party,
outlined it's 1920 campaign as al
ready conceived by the national ex-
ecutive committee. He advocated an
international peace congress elected
by the voters of the nations of the
world, cessation of the exploitation
of Poland" as means to attack So
Wet Russia, and the independence Of
Ireland, India and Egypt. Reinforce
ment of political action by ''indus-
trial action" headed the party's list
of domestic issues, according to Mr..
Stedman, who declared also for pub
lie ownership Of railroads and re-
lease of political prisoners" as
among principal party demands.
Mr.. Eillquit, in attacking the adj
ninistration, declared it had employ
ed force and violence in "revolu-
tionary" tactics.
"The Democratic administration"
he said, "has forcibly overthrown the
cornerstone of the republic, the free
dom of the press, speech and assem-
blage and has substituted for it the
rule of the club and the Jail.
"It has turned over democracy in
to an autocracy and has revolution
lied all departments of the federal
government-in fact, if not in name.
1t has abolished the department of
state and created a department of
propaganda in favor in every reac-
tionary cause and movement abroad
with bureau of internment instead
of the former bureau of passports.
1t has converted the postoffice de-
partment into an index expurgato-
rious. 1t has remodelled the depart,
ment of labor by substituting bu-
reau of jailing and injunctiom for
the bureau of mediation and concil-
iation, and a bureau of deportation
for the bureau of immigration. 1t has
abolished the department of justice
in charge of an attorney and has
created department of panic and
hysteria in charge of an alarmist
general.
'sNor is the Republican party less