The labor journal. [volume] (Everett, Wash.) 1909-1976, 1922-02-17
EUGENE Y. DEBS
SENT LETTER OF
CHEER TO MOONEY

San Francisco, Feb. Isl have
thought of you thousand times,
YOU who have been more brutally
matreated and who have been com.
PEELED to suffer more than any OF
us
81 am sure | need not tell you that
my heart is still in prison and VIII
be there until the last, the very last
of the political prisoners and the
class war prisoners is liberated. II
will be some time before my physical
condition will allow me to take the
platform but meanwhile | shall do
what / can with my pen and IN
every other way | know to increase
the agitation and to augment the
demand and pressure for your re-
lease and that of Billings as well
as all others who are in prison
for serving the working class"
Eugene V. Debs, himself buffeted
about by the dark forces of reaction
which sought to stifle his voice IN
defense of the workers of America,
pens the above letter to Tom Mooney
who, with Warren X. Billings, have
been railroaded to the tolls for life
because of their devotion to organic
ed labor in the State of California.
Sought Him Out
your holiday greeting" writes
the veteran Socialist leader, (Which
came into my hands with thousands
of others on my return seemed to
seek me out for it found me early
and gave me unspeakable JOY. For
reasons you understand it held some
thing of it's own from your heart
to NINE"
Harried by his numerous friends
who have sought to demonstrate
their affection and loyalty, Debs,
since his release from Atlanta, had
found it difficult to single out his
comrades in the prisons of the coun-
try in order to communicate his vow
to keep up his struggle until they
are all liberated.
To Tom Mooney, he writes:
at has been in my heart to drop
you this line ever since my return,
but there has been no chance. You
cannot imagine what time We have
had since my return. 1t will be the
the same with you on your release.
You will know then how the COM
rades love you for the living death
you suffered to give life to the work.
ing class.
81 am stronger than ever in spirit
but lacking in physical strength
and l have to keep quiet for a con-
siderable time, if that be possible,
to avoid a breakdown. Otherwise
as you know | should be at my post
again without delay. | need not as
sure you that l will do the best |
can with the strength l have and
until l am able to take up my
regular work agin.
"How my heart has ached for your
dear Rena and for Billings and his
dear ones! | forgot myself entirely
as l thought of what you had been
through since we campaigned to-
gether many years ago.
81 was made happy indeed by the |
visit of your fine brother, John.
What royal spirit and loyal brother
he isl And isn't it great to have
that kind of brother to stand by
you, forgetting all about himself |
and never ceasing or firing in his |
devotion and service to you! | know. |
You and l have had our trials, but
we have also had our blessings. We
have the nobest of wives who have
passed through the fire with us or
rather for US without ever wavering
for a moment in their loyal devotion
and their tender ministrations-
81 am not saying good cheer to
you, dear Tom! You do not need it |
for you are winning every day and
your day of liberation and complete
victory is drawing near"