Eugene+V.+Debs

Eugene V. Debs



The poster is designed the way it is because Eugene V. Debs worked for the lower-class and working-class citizens. It includes the symbol of the Socialist Party because it is what Debs and the rest of the Socialist Party stood for.

__**Eulogy of Eugene V. Debs**__ Eugene V. Debs was a man destined for something big although he was not always politically active. He dropped out of high school and worked in a railroad yard which sparked his first interest in unions. While in jail for a strike against the Chicago Pullman Palace Car Company, he met Victor Berger who introduced Debs to the ideal of socialism. His first experience in politics was when he was City Clerk in Terre Haute and then represented Terre Haute in the Indiana General Assembly. He recognized the need for workers’ rights and became a founder of the Socialist part in 1901 and then running for the presidency 5 times unsuccessfully. Debs is credited as one of the biggest supporters of the Socialist party and united the otherwise divided party behind him whenever he ran for office. He was an avid supporter of women’s suffrage, restricting child labor, and protecting workers’ rights to join unions. Debs was part of many labor unions including BLF, the Brotherhood of Locomotive Firemen. He was the editor of their magazine and double their readership. Debs was then appointed Secretary- Treasurer of BLF. Debs was a great communicator who did not believe in intra- party fighting. He was an idea man who never stopped fighting for the common worker. Debs was an active fighter for industry wide unions. He believed that unless the whole industry was united under one union they would not have much influence. He formed the American Railway Union, the ARU, a union that included all aspects of American railways. The workers responded well and membership boomed. However, the power dwindled with the Pullman Boycott. Workers for the Pullman Company came to the ARU asking for support in a strike against the company and the ARU obliged. They did not realize that the Pullman Company was backed up by the federal government, the National Guard, and the press. The strike was broken up and Debs, the leader, was sent to jail for a year. However, this led to Debs getting interested in the political aspect of worker reform. Debs was an avid campaigner. Although he lost the election for Congress back home in Indiana, Debs did not let that stop him from going for the presidency once more in 1920. During his last campaign, which he made from a prison, he received more than one million votes. He was also known to make speeches from a train, called the Red Special Train, which went to every part of the country. As a leader and speaker of the Socialist Party, Debs fought for rights for workers and women before the other major political parties took an interest. However, Debs really made a name for himself when he made an anti-war speech in Ohio protesting World War I. He was arrested and sentenced to ten years in jail. Although Debs had some set backs throughout his political life he was a devoted fighter for rights fort the common man.



__**Letter from a Female Suffragist**__

Dear Mr. Eugene V. Debs,

I read your article in Socialist Women about Susan B. Anthony a few years ago, and just recently read your other article in Progressive Woman. I met Miss Anthony once many years ago, when I was just a young lady, and she really was a magnificent woman. So many people treated her with contempt when she deserved to be commended for her work as a suffragist. She inspired me to push for suffrage and equality for women in our country. When I heard you were running for president in this election, I was very delighted, having read your other article and hearing that you supported women's suffrage. The Socialist party has always intrigued me, since I have been told that socialists don't discriminate against anybody no matter their sex or race. Since then I have hoped a socialist might someday win the election, and with your nomination this year I sincerely hope this will be the year a socialist takes the presidency. So therefore I wish you the best of luck in this election, because I know that if elected, you will do all you can to create equality among all Americans. Our country is supposed to be "the land of opportunity," but without suffrage how can woman have equal opportunity? I know you understand this and will do what you can to help woman achieve equality. Thank you for all you have done for us so far and all you will do for us in the future.

Sincerely, Abby Normal

__**Radio Interview: A Sit Down With A Socialist** __ Host: And Now I’ll bring on our next guest, Eugene Debs! Eugene! Eugene: Hi. Host: Thanks for taking time to sits down with us Eugene. Eugene: Well, thanks for allowing a socialist to talk on the radio. (They both laugh.) Host: Oh, you reds sure are cut-ups! So, I understand you’re running for president in the upcoming election? Eugene: Yes, that is correct. Host: Having any luck drumming up support? Eugene: As much as can be expected in a capitalist nation. Host: Hmm, that’s right. You’re a socialist aren’t you? Eugene: That correct, I am running for the Socialist Party. Host: What is a Socialist exactly? Eugene: Well, the socialist party believes that the distribution of land, wealth, resources, and those sorts of things should be put in the hands of the people. This way, everyone in the community has an equal share of power, and an equal share of the money. Host: That sounds nice. I wouldn’t mind have control of some of the millions made by those railroad trusts! (They both laugh.) Speaking of which, what do you think of the railroads? Do you think they’re justified in their actions? Eugene: Did Karl Marx write “The Poverty of Philosophy” to support P. J. Proudhon? (Eugene laughs, but Host remains silent.) Host: Um, I don’t know… did he? Eugene: Oh, no. No he did not. I am fully opposed to the actions of the railroads. In fact, I was at the forefront of this country’s first union against the railroad companies! Host: That’s quite an accomplishment. Eugene: Yes quite. Host: So… does being a socialist get you a lot of women? Eugene: What? Host: Does it get you a lot of support from women? Do the suffragists support you? Eugene: Oh, yes. We are in full support of the suffragists. It wouldn’t be right for a party who believes in the community to exclude certain members from their rights now would it? Host: I suppose it wouldn’t. Well, I’m sad to say that we are out of time. Again, thanks for sitting down with us. Eugene: Thank you. Host: Good luck with the campaign! Eugene: Yeah, I tell you I’m getting a little stressed out. I tell you, I might get so cracked that they might have to lock me up! (They both laugh.) Host: Oh, you socialists are a riot and a half. To everybody listening, good night and remember, a vote for a socialist makes you a potential threat to America!

Sources:

Budd, C. J. (1912, August 10). Untitled [The Mammoth Chameleon]. In //HarpWeek//. Retrieved February 26, 2009, from HarpWeek, LLC Web site: http://elections.harpweek.com/1912/cartoon-1912-Medium.asp?UniqueID=28&Year=1912

//Eugene V. Debs Internet Archive//. (n.d.). Retrieved February 26, 2009, from Marxists Internet Archive Web site: http://www.marxists.org/archive/debs/ High Ground Digital LLC. (2008). //EugeneVDebs.com//. Retrieved February 26, 2009, from http://www.eugenevdebs.com/

//How They're Acting- And How They Feel//. (n.d.). Retrieved February 26, 2009, from http://www.archives.gov/education/lessons/election-cartoons/images/how-theyre-acting.gif

Kemble, E. W. (1912, March 9). "I Believe In Giving Every Man A Square Deal". In //HarpWeek//. Retrieved February 26, 2009, from HarpWeek, LLC Web site: http://elections.harpweek.com/1912/cartoon-1912-Medium.asp?UniqueID=13&Year=1912

Kemble, E. W. (1912, August 10). “Mr. Taft Makes the First Drive”. In //HarpWeek//. Retrieved February 26, 2009, from HarpWeek, LLC Web site: http://elections.harpweek.com/1912/cartoon-1912-Medium.asp?UniqueID=40&Year=1912