FACING THE CHAIR STORY OF THE AMERICANIZATION OF TWO FOREIGNBORN WORKMEN _by_ JOHN DOS PASSOS PUBLISHED BY SACCO-VANZETTI DEFENSE COMMITTEE BOSTON, MASS. 1927 “AND I WILL SAY TO YOUR HONOR THAT A GOVERNMENT THAT HAS COME TO HONOR ITS OWN SECRETS MORE THAN THE LIVES OF ITS CITIZENS HAS BECOME A TYRANNY WHETHER YOU CALL IT A REPUBLIC, A MONARCHY OR ANYTHING ELSE.” —_from Atty. William G. Thompson’s argument before Judge Thayer, pleading for a new trial_. _ANATOLE FRANCE’S APPEAL TO THE AMERICAN PEOPLE_ October 31, 1921 _People of United States of America_, Listen to the appeal of an old man of the old world who is not a foreigner, for he is the fellow citizen of all mankind. In one of your states two men, Sacco and Vanzetti, have been convicted for a crime of opinion. It is horrible to think that human beings should pay with their lives for the exercise of that most sacred right which, no matter what party we belong to, we must all defend. Don’t let this most iniquitous sentence be carried out. The death of Sacco and Vanzetti will make martyrs of them and cover you with shame. You are a great people. You ought to be a just people. There are crowds of intelligent men among you, men who think. I prefer to appeal to them. I say to them beware of making martyrs. That is the unforgivable crime that nothing can wipe out and that weighs on generation after generation. Save Sacco and Vanzetti. Save them for your honor, for the honor of your children, and for the generations yet unborn. ANATOLE FRANCE. _EUGENE V. DEBS TO THE WORKERS OF AMERICA_ _Gene Debs is dead. Gene Debs lives in the hearts and minds of millions of Americans. This is his last appeal for justice._ The supreme court of Massachusetts has spoken at last and Bartolomeo Vanzetti and Nicola Sacco, two of the bravest and best scouts that ever served the labor movement, must go to the electric chair. The decision of this capitalist judicial tribunal is not surprising. It accords perfectly with the tragical farce and the farcical tragedy of the entire trial of these two absolutely innocent and shamefully persecuted working men.