The labor journal. [volume] (Everett, Wash.) 1909-1976, 1922-03-17
TWO APPEALS TO AMERICAN
WORKERS; DO CONSIDER BOTH
EUGENE DEBS URGES ALL
TO REMEMBER FAMINE
STRICKEN RUSSIANS

Eugene V. Debs, from his home in
Tere Haute. has issued an appeal
for famine relief for Soviet Russia
which every American worker will
heed Deeply sympathizing with the
struggle of the workers in Russia in
their fight against the heartless rul-
ing class of the world, he calls upon
everyone to give the starving in Rus
STA "the bread we hold in our
hands, The appeal for contribu-
tions for Russian famine relief by
Eugene V. Debs follows:
Where the bravest of our COM
rades have fought and suffered and
sacrificed their all with a sublime
hcroism that has no parallel in his
tory; where the embattled Russian
revolutionists have staunchly stood
and held their ground against the
combined powers of the worlds des-
potism and reaction in the war Of
the workers for liberation, there, too.
are millions of men, women and chill
dren stricken with gaunt hunger and
writhing in the skeleton clutch of
starvation. These Russian comrades
Of ours whose matchleSs valor and
self-sacrifice have thrilled and in
spired the workers Of all nations and
challenged the plaudits Of the whole
world now look to YOU, American
workers, to come to their rescue IN
the desperate crisis now upon them
and save them to humanity in the
rebuilding of the ruined world.
These heroes in Russia who have
immortalibed their cause, our cause
who have paid in Overlooking meas
ure in blood and tears and agony I'M
speakable, the price of their fidelity
and devotion to the oppressed and
exploited toilers not only Of then
own land but Of the whole world, now
appeal to US for the food that shall
save them from periShing as host
ages to starvation. and shall we now
fail to return in small part what We
owe them for what they have SUI
fered in the awful years Of the revo-
luton to break the letters of labor
everywhere and set humanity free
from the curse Of the ages?
IN Russia our comrades have sui
fered and endured beyond the power
Of words to express 70 save - SUI
fering; they have gone hungry a-c
naked that we m.-L- De Ted ard
clothed; they have barred -1=- heroic
breasts to the oarc-e1S n. ri e1s
OF a hostile ard cea-r.=ss ---l-E
class world TO give berry &c the
human race. anu sca- -aCse marry
spirits. those glor.C-s sous a1c Their
helpless children now BE permitted .
die ignominious.v --r TIE want Of
the bread we hold in OUT hands?
No, a thousaEl times no. We
should merit eternal reproach for
our recreancy II We failed in this
crucial hour to give and 70 give
promptly, and 70 give again and
again to the ful! limit Of our power.
The starving workers and peas
ants Of Soviet Russia cry aloud to
US in the throes Of their desperation
and agony, and unless our hearts are
of stone we can hear them by day
/ and night, and l appeal to every
member of the American working
class, to every man, woman and child
with sympathy for starving fellow
creatures. to every human being re-
sponsive TO human suffering within
reach of my voice. to give and give
at once and give freely and to the
last dollar and the last penny that
may be spared to the Friends of
Soviet Russia. swelling the present
contributions an hundredfold, for the
relief as far as possible Of the awful
famine in the struggling Soviet re-
public and for the rescue of the mil
lions of its threatened victims whose
cruel and shocking fate would for
ever shame our common humanity
and leave a foul and damning blot
on our Wanted civilization"
(Signed) EUGENE V. DEBS."