THE BOLSHEVISM OF AMERICAN SOCIALISTS
To accuse American Socialists of conspiring against our fair land may at
first startle the reader. Brand as traitors to the common welfare men
who boast so loudly of being the only friends of the oppressed laborer!
Call the followers of Karl Marx the enemies of our country after they
have lavished so much precious time on exposures of those who defraud
American workingmen of an honest wage! Yet, as our investigation moves
along, telling evidence uncovers the existence of an alarmingly
widespread conspiracy.
Our Chapters VIII and IX have clearly revealed the I. W. W. as a purely
revolutionary organization, enrolling under its red flag discontented
workingmen, even negroes and Chinese, pledged to overthrow our
Government, while meanwhile, with anarchistic contempt for law and
morality, they do what damage they can through strikes and sabotage.
The same chapters proved that the Socialists are co-operating heart and
soul with the Industrial Workers of the World.
Chapters X, XI and XII gave the reader evidence of some of the terrible
results of Bolshevism in Russia, Communism in Hungary and Bavaria, and
Spartacism in Germany. Yet far from being dismayed by these horrors, the
Socialists of the United States proclaim themselves of the same breed as
the Bolshevists, Communists and Spartacans abroad, whose torch of
incendiarism they would apply to the United States.
The Socialist Party of Buffalo, New York, published a pink booklet
entitled, "The Truth About Russia," in which reference is made to the
Russian call to a world-wide Socialist revolution. On page 41, at the
conclusion of the articles of the Bolshevik Constitution concerning
rights and duties, we read:
"In proclaiming these rights and duties the Russian Socialist
Republic of the Soviets calls upon the working classes of the
entire world to accomplish their task to the very end, and in the
faith that the Socialist ideal will soon be achieved to write upon
their flags the old battle cry of the working people:
"'Proletarians of all lands, unite!
"'Long live the Socialistic world revolution!'"
The plan is for Socialists in countries outside of Russia to be helped
in their revolts against their governments by their Bolshevist comrades.
In the "Labor Scrap Book," published by Chas. H. Kerr and Co., there is
a long article by Nicholas Lenine, the Russian dictator. Several
quotations are here given:
"Russia's revolution is not a domestic revolution, but essentially
a world revolution....
"The Bolsheviki follow a consistent policy. They realized long ago
that the revolution, though primarily political, must become
economic and socialist. They know that economy and socialism have
nothing to do with racial or political boundaries and that the
future of our revolution must, therefore, be international. The
revolution must pass over all political and racial frontiers and
crush opposing economic ideas. They know that a state organized on
Socialist and pacifist lines cannot exist if hemmed in by
capitalistic and militarist states. Russia's revolution must follow
the law of all healthy organisms. It must increase. If it does not
increase it will decline....
"Russia will continue to propagandize unshrinkingly in all
countries.
"We may be left temporarily in peace to enjoy our revolutionary
social and economic system while the rest of Europe continues to
groan under a capitalism and monarchism which, perhaps, for the
time being, will be purged of a too dangerous imperialism.
"What will Russia do if this be so?
"Short-sighted men reply: 'Cherish your own revolution; thank
Heaven that you are better off than the rest of the world; and let
the rest of the world do what it likes.'
"But we Bolsheviki are against such a policy. Short of armed
pressure against any European country, we shall not shrink from
measures necessary for spreading our revolution in the world.
"The motives why every Bolshevik must approve of this policy are
overwhelming. The first is that a peace between the ideas of
revolutionary Russia and the ideas of non-revolutionary Europe
could at best be a truce....
"Each side would foster its ideas and prepare for a future
struggle, and since non-revolutionary Europe will always be better
armed than pacifist Russia, the European despots (as soon as they
have recovered from their present bitter lesson of the meaning of
war) undoubtedly would hurl themselves upon Russia in order to wipe
away the one revolutionary plague-spot.
"For that reason our revolution cannot rest until it has
established full revolution in all neighbor lands.
"The second reason why Russia must incite Europe to revolt is that
by its very nature, the revolution cannot live in isolation. Europe
must be organized, either on a capitalistic basis or a proletarian,
anti-capitalistic basis. The dual system is inconceivable. It is
impossible for Russia to exist without capitalistic banks and
industries, if she has to trade with countries which have
capitalistic banks and industries....
"In its own defense the revolution must propagandize and convert.
It must incite and urge on the masses against their present rulers
in all countries, and it must do this unshrinkingly, without fear
of consequences, or consideration for the feelings and interests of
the foreign affected parties."
The question may now be asked, What means is the Russian Bolshevist
government using to incite revolution in America? We have not, of
course, much definite information as yet; but we know that Lenine's
government has lots of money which it can use for foreign revolutionary
propaganda, and that a certain Ludwig C. A. K. Martens has been in our
country for some time claiming to represent the Soviet government and
boasting that he is able to deposit in our banks for commercial purposes
hundreds of millions of Russian gold. He is very active, has been
assisted by Morris Hillquit of "The Call," the Socialist daily of New
York City, goes about visiting different Socialist organizations, and in
return is entertained by them. During the months of April and May, 1919,
many notices of such receptions were published in "The Call." One
example will suffice. Under the caption, "Official Socialist News," in
the issue of March 31, 1919, we read:
"The central committee of Local New York, Socialist Party, greets
Comrade L. C. A. K. Martens, recently appointed the representative
of the Russian Soviet government in the United States and in his
name the victorious Russian proletariat.
"We sincerely hope that his work in behalf of the Socialist
government of Russia will be crowned with success. We pledge him
our aid, and promise that we shall not rest until the government of
the United States has ceased to be a party to the economic and
political isolation of Russia and the military occupation of
territory of the Soviet republic."
In the latter part of March, 1919, Martens shared offices with Santeri
Nuorteva, also a great friend of the American Socialists. Nuorteva was
head of the Bolshevist propaganda in this country and from his office
mailed the "Weekly Bulletin of the Bureau of Information on Soviet
Russia." Nuorteva denied that these large sheets, which are about the
same size as the propaganda sheets issued in the first months of the war
by the German Information Service, constitute propaganda. Like the
German Information Service sheets, each contains from six to ten
articles. All paint conditions in Russia under Trotzky and Lenine as
steadily improving and show those men and their aids as gentle,
kind-hearted individuals whose only sin is the betterment of mankind.
Among labor unions Bolshevism has made great headway. The New Labor
Party of Illinois in 1919 not only supported Soviet Russia but favored
the Soviet system in our own country. Sensible workingmen in the
American Federation of Labor and conservative members of the new Labor
Party had good reason for being alarmed and for suspecting that American
propagators of Bolshevism received Russian gold from some one, possibly
from Martens.
The Socialist papers of the United States approve of Bolshevism,
Spartacism and Communism, and would gladly welcome it to our country.
"The Call," New York, March 31, 1919, on its editorial page says: "The
red in the East is the dawning of a new day." On April 1, 1919, the same
paper contained a long article on the first page, entitled, "Forces of
Darkness Open Their Campaign to End Bolshevism." On April 11, 1919, in
an editorial on the impending capture of Odessa by the Bolsheviki, it
says:
"The evacuation of the Black Sea port of Odessa by foreign troops
that have been holding it for many months is news of great
significance....
"Like the German forces hurled against Soviet Russia by the mailed
fist of the Kaiser, the French, Greek and Rumanian soldiers go out
in a different mind and temper than they had going in. Wherever
they go, they will spread the ideas of human liberty and
co-operative development that they were sent to crush."
On April 13, 1919, "The Call" printed a poem on the assassinated
Spartacan leader, Karl Liebknecht:
"Liebknecht
"Liebknecht, your lonely, bitter course is run!
While we, with cautious feet, pursue the goal--
'Tis not in pity's name that we make moan--
Nay! 'tis in envy of your martyrdom!
The mirror of your flaming soul
Has caught our poverty and gloom,
In that fierce light our virtues shown
Petty, distorted, wan!
Then, hail! O martyr, in our day of doom!
Hail, fiery heart, receive the victor's crown!
Our heart a charnel house has grown
For our vast dead! Yet we make room
For freedom's slain. Shall not the tomb
Yield heavy harvest where such seed is sown?"
"The Call," April 15, 1919, published the following endorsement of
Hungarian Communism by the New York State Committee of the Socialist
Party:
"Whereas, the working class of Hungary have seized political power
and are using the same for the purpose of socializing industry and
as an instrument for the complete emancipation of labor, therefore
be it
"Resolved, that we, the State Committee of the Socialist Party of
the State of New York, in meeting assembled congratulate the
Socialist movement and the working class of Hungary on the success
of the revolution and on the position that the Hungarian Socialist
Republic has taken in defiance of the capitalist imperialists of
all lands."
In the April 24, 1919, edition of "The Call" we read:
"A new period in the evolution of the social and economic structure
of the world is at hand. A new day for those who toil. A new day
which will mean economic and political liberty based on justice for
those who toil. Some call it revolution. Well, if that be the word,
so be it. And woe be to those who in their blind folly throw
themselves in the way to stop its onward sweep throughout the
civilized world, for they shall be as grass before the sickle!
Hail, all hail, the new day!"
Again, in its issue of April 30, 1919, "The Call" favors the Hungarian
Communist regime of Bela Kun:
"'There is reason to believe,' says a dispatch from Budapest, 'that
the present Hungarian government has been unofficially approached
by the Entente with the suggestion that military invasion might be
arrested if the extremist members were replaced by more moderate
Socialists.' Making all allowance for the unreliability of the
dispatch, it is hard to say which cuts the more contemptible
figure, the Entente or the 'Moderate Socialists.'"
In its 1919 May Day edition, "The Call," under the caption, "All Attacks
on Russian Revolution Have Recoiled," shows its sympathy for Bolshevism
and Spartacism:
"Every attack of world reaction upon Soviet Russia, the center of
the world revolution, has remained fruitless. The internal strength
and the external power of the Russian Workers' and Peasants'
Republic is growing daily into a power that will successfully
withstand the onslaughts of capitalism. The possibilities of
subduing the Russian revolution by force from without decrease
constantly as the governments of the different countries are ever
more forcibly threatened by the fermentation among their own
peoples which they must combat.
"At present the second, the Socialist revolution, has come upon the
scene in Germany, which, driven to the edge of starvation, bleeding
and drained to the marrow by Kaiserism and militarism, is now being
held in the grip of Entente capitalism. There at this moment the
courageous and steadfast Socialists stand under the flag of
Spartacus, first on the barricades under the sign of the general
strike and street battles....
"The German Socialists of the Right have soiled the name of
Socialism by being inimical to the Russian revolution; by failing
to communicate with the radical English elements in the English
strike movements, which are also spontaneous expressions of
proletarian unrest; by acting as the lackeys of Kaiserism and
capitalism in opposing the November revolution to the last hour
before its outbreak; and, finally, by their unspeakable mass
murders of starving, demonstrating and striking proletarians.
"In this struggle between the revolution and the social-patriotic
bourgeois reaction which now enters into a decisive phase, two of
the noblest pioneers of the international, Dr. Karl Liebknecht and
Rosa Luxemburg, were murdered by the hate-filled bourgeois mob and
the degenerate Scheidemann-Noske henchmen. Another victim of the
treacherous reaction was Kurt Eisner, Socialist premier of Bavaria.
One need but be an honest, fearless Socialist to be in danger of
one's life under the hypocritical, false, brutal and murderous
regime of Ebert-Scheidemann-Noske. This regime revives the worst
methods of Kaiserism and holds its protecting hand over the
bourgeois and capitalists of Germany. But this blood and the blood
of our martyrs will only urge the masses to continuous
unconquerable struggle, till the criminal Ebert-Scheidemann-Noske
reaction, together with the criminals and conspirators of the old
empire, yield to the power of the revolutionary justice of the
masses."
In the May 1, 1919, issue of "The Call," the May Day Manifesto is made
public by Morris Hillquit, International Secretary of the Socialist
Party of the United States. Only part of it is hereby quoted:
"We send fraternal greetings and vows of whole-hearted sympathy to
the Socialist Soviet Republic of Russia, which is so valiantly
upholding the lofty international proletarian ideals in the face of
the combining military economic and political attacks of
reactionary powers, and in spite of the systematic campaign of
libelous misrepresentation on the part of the lying capitalist
press of the world. We send congratulations and fraternal good
wishes to the workers of Hungary on the establishment of a free
Communistic Workers' Republic, upon the ruins of the predatory
monarchy of their exploiting and land-monopolizing rulers. We
extend the hand of comradeship and solidarity to the revolutionary
Socialists of Germany and Russia, now engaged in a life-and-death
struggle to secure for the working masses of their countries the
full fruit of their victorious revolutions; to the workers of
England in their efforts to wrest the control of the industries
from the parasites in their country, and to the Socialists of
France, Italy and all other countries of Europe in their fights
against their revolutionary governments."
"The New Age," the Socialist paper of Buffalo, April 10, 1919, published
a "Greeting to the Soviet Republic of Hungary":
"The proletariat of Hungary has taken all power in its own hands.
Like a bolt from the blue the workers, soldiers and peasants of
'conquered' Hungary proclaim their intervention in the arena of
world politics--and the diplomats of capitalism are thrown into a
flurry of mingled rage and fear.
"While the wires were still hot with the news of the resignation of
Count Karolyi, president of the provisional government of Hungary,
as a protest against the peace terms of the Paris Conference, came
word of the complete triumph of revolutionary Socialism and the
establishment of the second Soviet Republic in the world.
"With little or no resistance, with no intervening period of
Socialist compromise, the Hungarian Soviet Republic rises to power
and in its initial proclamation ushers in the dictatorship of the
proletariat, decrees the socialization of the large estates, mines,
big industries, banks and lines of transportation, declares its
oneness of purpose with the revolutionary proletariat of Russia and
its readiness to form an armed alliance with the federated Soviet
Republic. All over the country Workmen's, Soldiers' and Peasants'
Councils are in action and take over the functions of government."
"The Revolutionary Age," then a Socialist paper of Boston, on March 29,
1919, showed its complete sympathy for the Bolshevists, Communists and
Spartacans:
"So the Hungarian workers set about their task and the eastern sky
is brightening.
"Already the two Soviet governments have issued an appeal to the
workers of all countries to sweep away the old system. The
bourgeois press tells of the spread of Bolshevism throughout
central Europe and the diplomats of Capitalism are turning this way
and that to avert fresh outbreaks. But they are powerless. Every
new move brings new complications, every award of territory here
brings discontent and adds to the 'menace' there.
"Next!
"The fear that weighs upon the world of Capitalism and the
diplomats in Paris is: Who next? The proclamation of a Soviet
Republic in Hungary is to them not a fact, but a symbol--a symbol
of the onward sweep of the proletarian revolution, which may break
loose in other nations.
"Through this symbol looms Soviet Russia--gigantic, mysterious and
implacable. Despised by the world of Capitalism, intrigued against
and vilified, isolated in the spaces of its own territory, attacked
by the soldiers of the Allies--Soviet Russia, through the flaming
energy of its proletariat and Socialism has conquered in spite of
all. The Allies, their Capitalism and Imperialism, are no longer a
menace to Soviet Russia; it is now Soviet Russia that menaces the
Allies through its own gigantic strength and the threat of the
international proletarian revolution....
"And this revolutionary army of Soviet Russia, massed at the
frontier, is prepared to march into Hungary or Poland or Germany to
co-operate with the revolutionary masses in any war that may be
necessary against international Imperialism and for the proletarian
revolution.
"The situation in Germany is critical and crucial. The conquest of
power by the revolutionary proletariat in Germany will assure the
world revolution. The recent butchery of the Spartacans by the
Government of 'Socialist' assassins has not crushed the
revolutionary masses; on the contrary, the masses have been
aroused, the Ebert-Scheidemann government depending more and more
upon the worst elements of the old regime; it is being isolated,
and the workers are rallying to the Soviets."
"The Ohio Socialist," published in Cleveland, and claiming to be the
"Official Organ of the Socialist Parties of Ohio, Kentucky, Virginia,
West Virginia and New Mexico," in the spring of 1919 gave its unlimited
support to Bolshevism. "The Proletarian," then a Socialist paper of
Detroit, was in thorough accord with Bolshevists, Spartacists and
Communists, of Russia, Germany and Hungary respectively. The following
quotations are taken from the April, 1919, edition:
"In order to be a good American, according to the view of the
powers that be, it is necessary to repeat and believe the stories
written in the capitalist press about the Bolsheviki. But we, who
know what is going on, and do not believe them, maintain that a
person can be truthful, and still be an American. That he can be a
good, pure, unadulterated American, and still lend his sympathies
to the Bolsheviki.
"In revolutionary Germany the struggle between the defenders of
capitalism and the champions of working class emanicipation--the
Spartacides and their adherents--continues almost unceasingly. The
'democratic' government has taken desperate steps to crush the
revolution; there have been wholesale executions and other
repressive acts....
"The final conflict is now on. 'Ruthless slaughter' is the
governmental decree with Gustav Noske, 'minister of defense,' in
charge of the butchering. And what is it that Noske and his
'Socialist' colleagues are defending? The interests of the German
capitalists. Sacred private property rights are in danger; the
stronghold of capitalism is being assailed. The expropriation of
the capitalists is the aim of the proletarian revolutionists....
"All the old friends of Kaiserism--Hoffman, Hindenberg and the
rest--are lined up against the Spartacans. Although these elements
of reaction have gained temporary victory, the workers are
undismayed."
"The Proletarian," in this same issue, referring to the Bela Kun
dictatorship of Hungary, says:
"On Sunday, March 23d, the news was flashed across America that
Hungary had swung into the ranks of the revolutionary proletarian
dictatorships....
"A note from the Paris Conference seems to have been the last straw
that 'broke the camel's back' of the middle course government,
causing President, Cabinet and all, to resign. This allowed the
political power to fall into the hands of those who are alone
capable of handling the situation--the revolutionary proletariat."
"The Chicago Socialist" is also pro-Bolshevist. In the April 1, 1919,
edition each of the three following lines extends across the top of the
front page of the paper:
"How Many Bolshevists in Chicago?
"The Vote Today Will Tell.
"Vote The Socialist Ticket."
At the bottom of the first page of this April election day issue of "The
Chicago Socialist," the following notice is given to voters:
"Vote for the great change, TODAY, by casting a Socialist ballot.
Stand up and be counted for a Soviet Republic, not only in Russia,
or in Hungary, not only in the United States or in some other land;
but stand up and be counted for the Soviet Republic of the world."
The Socialist paper of Duluth, like the other Marxian papers of the
United States, also favored Spartacism and Bolshevism, for in the March
7, 1919, issue of "The Truth" we read:
"We can honestly say that the position in Germany is very
promising. The Spartacides are now coming into their own and ere
long we shall see Bolshevism firmly established in Germany."
The pink booklet published by the Socialist Party, Buffalo, New York,
entitled, "The Truth About Russia," contains the text of the Bolshevik
Constitution, and on page 2 appears the following introduction:
"This little booklet is published by Local Buffalo, Socialist
Party, Erie County, with the object in view of giving information
to those who desire to grasp the true situation and understand the
struggle now going on in Eastern Europe between the reactionary
elements allied with German imperialism and other imperialists
against the Workers' Republic of Russia in their struggle for true
democracy."
On the back cover sheet of "The Crisis in the German Social Democracy,"
written by Karl Leibknecht, Rosa Luxemburg and Franz Mehring, and
published by the Socialist Publication Society of Brooklyn, New York,
there is an advertisement of "The Class Struggle," "a bi-monthly
magazine devoted to International Socialism." This bi-monthly "does not
exploit the ephemeral, but gives serious studies of the international
movement from the pens of comrades in all parts of the world. Among the
recent contributors are: Lenine, Trotzky, Lunacharsky, Franz Mehring,
Liebknecht, Rosa Luxemburg, Friedrich Adler, Santeri Nuorteva" So the
advertisement reads.
"The Bulletin," issued March 24, 1919, by the National Office, Socialist
Party, page 11, volunteers information which shows one phase of
Bolshevist propaganda carried on by that Party in the United States:
"The striking effective leaflet, 'The Great and Growing Fear--No
Work,' is accomplishing a double purpose and is being snapped up
eagerly and distributed by the hundreds of thousands by state and
local organizations and by individual hustlers. Two hundred
thousand copies have been sold and it will shortly go to its third
printing. Orders indicate a million edition of this powerful
leaflet. The Russian Constitution, an article and
thought-compelling cartoons on unemployment, that this leaflet
carries, make it the Socialist literature triumph of the month.
Send for sample copy and order early.
"From the hustling 'Red' town of Hamilton, Ohio, comes an order for
8,000 'Great Fear' leaflets to put the truth about the Russian
Soviet Constitution in the homes of the workers of that community."
"The Eye Opener," the official national organ of the Socialist Party of
America, in its issue of January, 1919, shows its sympathy for the
Spartacans by the following article:
"'You Did Not Die In Vain!'
"American Socialist Party to
"_Liebknecht and Luxembourg_.
"The Socialist Party executive committee has adopted a resolution
on the death of Karl Liebknecht and Rosa Luxembourg, Germany's two
most uncompromising foes of Kaiserism and imperialism. It is as
follows:
"'The National Executive Committee of the Socialist Party of the
United States of America, has learned of the deaths of our beloved
comrades, Dr. Karl Liebknecht and Rosa Luxembourg, who are reported
assassinated by the agents of the reactionary forces of Germany,
who are now conspiring to deprive the workers of that country of
the opportunity to establish a free government there.
"'These comrades, always true to the principles of revolutionary
Socialism, in the face of unqualified opposition before, during and
after the great war, commanded the love and admiration of all the
lovers of international liberty, and have, by their incomparable
devotion to this great cause, made their names immortal in the
history of working class liberation.'"
From the "New York Times," November 18, 1918, we learn that the Chicago
Socialists endorsed Bolshevism.
A despatch by the International News Service from Cleveland, Ohio, March
31, 1919, informs us that C.E. Ruthenberg, leading Socialist of that
city, after a meeting of the Cleveland Socialists on March 30, announced
that the members of the party had just voted in favor of the adoption of
the Bolshevik doctrine of Lenine and Trotzky for the further direction
of the Cleveland party and that the action of the members was
practically unanimous.
"The Call," New York, April 3, 1919, gave notice of a pro-Bolshevist
meeting to be held by the Socialists on the following Saturday afternoon
at Park Circle, New York City:
"This is the first of a series that the Socialist Party of Harlem
proposes to hold, inspired by the success of the Debs meeting two
weeks ago at the same place, when 15,000 people attended.
"The assemblage on Saturday, besides demanding that the United
States recognize Soviet Russia, will also give a welcome to the
Soviet Republic of Hungary."
In its issue of April 10, 1919, "The Call" recorded the approval by the
Queen's County, New York, Socialists of the Bolsheviki and Spartacans:
"We desire to clearly place ourselves on record for, and openly and
actively sign ourselves with the revolutionary proletariat the
world over, as at present expressed by the policies and tactics of
the Communist Party of Russia (Bolsheviki), the Communist Labor
Party in Germany (Spartacans) and other parties in harmony with
them."
On May 31, 1919, "The Call" published the declaration of the National
Executive Committee of the party in favor of Bolshevism, Communism and
Spartacism: The Socialist Party of the United States "supports
whole-heartedly the Soviet Republic of Russia and the Communist
government of Hungary.... In Germany, Austria and countries similarly
situated, its sympathies are with the more advanced Socialist groups."
In "The Call," May 17, 1919, Martens, the representative in the United
States of the Russian Soviet Government, is quoted as saying:
"Russian workers, whom I represent, acknowledge with gratitude the
sympathy toward the struggles of Soviet Russia evinced by the
Socialist Party of America, as well as by the Socialist Labor
Party, the I. W. W. and other organizations of the working class,
and they return the sympathy without discrimination."
"The Call," March 30, 1919, informs its readers that Cleveland
Socialists were organizing a Workers' and Soldiers' Soviet, and again,
on April 1, 1919, that soviets had been established in Seattle, Portland
and San Francisco. Eugene V. Debs, in an article written by him in "The
Class Struggle," said:
"From the crown of my head to the soles of my feet I am Bolshevik
and proud of it."
"The Call," April 14, 1919, published Debs' "Last Minute Message to All
New York Socialists":
"As I am about to enter the prison doors, I wish to send to the
Socialists of New York who have loyally stood by me since my first
arrest, this little message of love and cheer. These are pregnant
and promising days. We are all on the threshold of tremendous
changes. The workers of the world are awakening and bestirring
themselves as never before. All the forces that are playing upon
the modern world are making for the overthrow of despotism in all
its forms and for the emancipation of the masses of mankind. I
shall be in prison in the days to come, but my revolutionary spirit
will be abroad, and I shall not be inactive. Let us all, in the
supreme hour, measure up to our full stature and work together as
one for the great cause that means emancipation for us all. Love to
all my Comrades, and all hail to the Revolution.--Eugene Victor
Debs."
From the same issue of "The Call" we learn that Debs, on leaving
Wheeling, West Virginia, for the Moundsville prison, gave the following
statement to David Karsner, staff correspondent: "I enter the prison
doors a flaming revolutionist--my head erect, my spirit untamed, and my
soul unconquered."
A press despatch from Toledo, Ohio, March 31, 1919, describes the
serious socialist riot which took place that afternoon as a protest
against the then impending imprisonment of Debs, the self-styled
"flaming revolutionist":
"Toledo, Ohio, March 31.--When they were refused admission by city
officials to Memorial Hall, a city building where Eugene V. Debs
was scheduled to speak, 5,000 persons stormed the place, broke
windows and doors, and then paraded the streets crying, 'To hell
with the mayor.' ...
"Announcement that Debs would not be permitted to speak was made
late Saturday night, after the Socialists here had prepared to
handle an overflow crowd. The announcement appeared in the morning
papers, and was the first notice the Socialists had that their
meeting could not be held.
"When the hour for Debs to speak arrived there were at least 6,000
men and women congregated about the William McKinley monument in
Courthouse Park, across the street from Memorial hall.
"A man mounted the base of the monument. 'We'll use Memorial Hall
this afternoon if we have to wade through blood to do it!' he
shouted. A policeman grabbed him and he was thrown unceremoniously
into a patrol wagon. The man who essayed to speak next also was
arrested.
"As the crowd sensed what was occurring the radicals began to hoot
and boo the officers. Clubs were drawn and the crowd was made to
move. Then came the parade through the streets and cries of 'Down
with the mayor!' 'Hang him!' 'To hell with the police!' and others
of a similar nature.
"It was after five o'clock before the police were able to disperse
the crowd. Fist fights by the dozens occurred on corners. Hotel
lobbies were invaded by the malcontents. Street cars were held up
and threats of serious outbreaks were to be heard on every hand....
"More than seventy-five men were arrested, including Thomas Devine,
Socialist member of the city council."