Keowee courier. [volume] (Pickens Court House, S.C.) 1849-current, 1920-06-02
DEBs NOTIFIED OF NOMINATION
Federal Prisoner No. 2653 Accepts
the NOminatiOn--IOS for Movies
(Atlanta Georgian, May 3O.)

ditional stripes, Eugene v. Debs, for
many years the standard bearer of
the Socialist party, now Federal
Prisoner No. 2653 Saturday receiv-
ed formal notification that he had
again been nominated for the Presi-
dancy Of the United States, and in a
carefully prepared and slowly deliv-
cred address he accepted the honor
paid him by his comrades.
1t was a scene unique in the his
tory OF American politics-the ten
dering Of nomination for the pres
idency Of nation to q man then
serving in prison for violating the
laws Of that nation-a man whose
prison term would outlast two terms
as President II he were elected, who
can make no campaign addresses,
who will not be permitted even to
issue campaign literature or state
ments or to write political letters.
Posed for the Movies.
The official notification took place
in the office Of Warden Zerbst at the
front Of the big prison, after Con-
yict Debs and the party Of comrades
who had called upon him had gone
into the May sunshine outside the
main entrance and posed for innu-
merable photographs and many feet
Of movie film. Debs' blue eyes blink
| ed in the bright sunshine, made glar-
Ing Dy the white marble steps and
| the tall wallis. His bald head glis-
| tened as he bent forward to greet
| the comrades as they passed in re-
view and shook hands with the idol
Of their party. After this ceremony
he turned and went back into the
prison-with nine more years to
| stay there unless a pardon comes to
| him or general amnesty is granted
to all prisoners convicted Of sedi-
ton, espionage and similar, offenses
| classed as political"
Where Debs Stands To-day.
| Speaking to those present who had
come to tender him the nomina ton
Of the Socialist party for President, ),
| Debs said:
Before accepting this nomina-
ltion, it. As pr that " should, explain
|sthe.r reason thatt psoGtp cd srne to coHS
| sent to the use OF my name. When I
was last nominated, in 1912, con-.
cluded that l had already been hon
ored far beyond my deserts and could
never again, in justice to the party
and to myself, allow my name to be
used in connection with the nomina-
ton for any office.
But I have often had to change
my mind as to what | should or
should not do. I declined the first
nomination was ever offered by the
Socialist party, in 1900, because |
decided to avoid every appearance of
self-seeking, but found it necessary
to change my mind because my duty
to the party was paramount.
! so when IT came tn pasS thot NV
comrades began to write to urge me
to become again the standard bearer
OF the Socialist party, in the belief
that this might bring together the
various elements which have arisen
in the party, felt that If my accept
| ance OF the nomination would have
| tendency to reunite these elements
| 1T was my duty to grant the request
| OF my comrades. / considered the
matter carefully, and | yield to tn cir
judgment
81 feel that, in justice to this ex-
preston Of confidence, must be per-
fectly frank with these delegates,
and through them with the comrades
at large. / have seen the platform
you have adopted, and regret that
I cannot give it my unqualified ap-
proval. I admit that it is a mastery
piece of writing, and that it sets
forth the essential principles Of the
| Socialist party. But it could have
been made to have more effective
appeal to the working class OF the
country. More stress should have
been given to the necessity for indus
trial organization.
"However, q platform Is not so
very important, after all. We can
breathe the breath Of revolution into
any kind Of platform, and the most
perfectly written platform Is useless
without that. A party platform Is
like musical instrument--youc can
play any tune you wish to get out
Of it.
II have always been a radical, and
never more than now. 7 was never
AFRAID of being too radical, but
have been afraid of becoming con-
servative. If we are right, we cannot
be too radical.
81 warn the Socialist party against
any policy or attitude that would in
dicate we are afraid to state our DO
sition clearly and definitely, without
fear OF the consequences. The Social
ist platform is not intended to catch
votes, but to show frankly and ex-
actly where we stand"
Debs closed his address by thank
ing personally the members of the
delegation and expressing through
them his thanks to his comrades
throughout the country.