Mercer, Ida F. 1914-09-08

Description:	Letter to Eugene V. Debs, 9/8/1914. Writes that Eugene V. Debss letters always help her during her periods of depression. Assures Eugene V. Debs that his hope and courage will carry her through her trial. Mentions that she is currently reading the last issue of the NATIONAL RIP-SAW and says that its articles seem to be written in his lifes blood. Writes that if it were not for times of divine exaltation there would be nothing to carry people through this capitalist hell that they live in. Tells Eugene V. Debs that if she is sentenced to a prison term that she plans on finishing up a book on piano method, write a booklet titled Glimpses of Myron Reed, and reread a couple of Karl Marxs works. Mentions that she should be able to get all of this done as long as she is put in a condemned cell. Assures Eugene V. Debs that her crime was not pre-meditated and thinks that it will be a difficult thing for the prosecution to prove. Says that her defense will be that the shooting was in self-defense. Mentions that she will soon be sending Eugene V. Debs a book of poems which she would like for him to keep. Tells Eugene V. Debs that she has no anxiety right now about her trial because she is confident that her lawyers will be able to discredit a couple of witnesses who did not even lie in her language. Writes that she has written an outline of the events that led to tragic incident of 5/2/1914 which she says should help her lawyers a great deal. Tells Eugene V. Debs that between the politics of the Democrats and the religion of Billy Sunday everything is being done to keep the working class in ingnorance and subjection. Remarks that she was sent a one-act play titled SOLIDARITY by Phil Engle about the striking coal miners in Colorado. Tells Eugene V. Debs that she has stipulated that her daughter be treated gingerly when she is being cross-examined.
Origin:	1914-09-08
Source:	http://indstate.contentdm.oclc.org/cdm/ref/collection/evdc/id/8959
Collection:	Eugene V. Debs Correspondence
Subjects:	National Rip-Saw Judicial proceedings Famous Hoosiers Labor

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