The foregoing appeals strongly for comment, especially the statement of Mr. Robbins, coal baron and labor leader, that Socialism is a menace to organized labor, but I will only say that Mr. Robbins knows quite well that Socialism is a menace only to the class suggested by his name and that this prompts him to assail it while he places diamond decorations upon the “conservative” leaders of his coal-digging wage-slaves.
The fact that Mr. John Mitchell, labor leader, sees nothing wrong in accepting a diamond badge from the rich and designing exploiters of his poor and pilfered followers; that he evidently has not the least conception of what such a testimonial really symbolizes, may serve sufficiently in mitigation to shield him from merited contempt and condemnation.
Eugene V. Debs.
The editions of the Herald containing the letters were speedily exhausted, and as there seemed to be an increasing interest in the controversy it was finally concluded to publish the correspondence in pamphlet form to supply the great demand.
CELL OCCUPIED BY DEBS IN WOODSTOCK JAIL
The Federal Government and the Chicago Strike
Reply to the article on “The Government in the Chicago Strike of 1894” in McClure’s Magazine, July, 1904, by Grover Cleveland, ex-President of the U. S.
Written for and rejected by McClure’s Magazine. Published by Appeal to Reason, August 27, 1904.
In the July issue of McClure’s Magazine ex-President Grover Cleveland has an article on “The Government in the Chicago Strike of 1894.” That there may be no mistake about the meaning of “government” in this connection it should be understood that Mr. Cleveland has reference to the Federal government, of which he was the executive head at the time of the strike in question, and not to the State government of Illinois, or the municipal government of Chicago, both of which were overridden and set at defiance by the executive authority, enforced by the military power of the Federal government under the administration of Mr. Cleveland.