Hello, again, and welcome to another episode of the really show. I'm your host Aaron Ross
Today's show the story of Eugene V. Debs. Hey if you, like the show, we would love it if you subscribe?
Baby!
Hero, to some criminal to others Eugene V.
Debs was a union activist social leader and five times us presidential candidate. With conviction so strong for his cause
That he defied the powers that be and served time in jail for. It Debs was born in 1855 in Terre Haute indiana to immigrant parents
He left high school at the age of fourteen to go to work on the railroad
He started cleaning freight engines and soon after he became a locomotive fireman
Joined the Brotherhood of Locomotive Firemen union in 1875
He serve the union in multiple functions for nearly 20 years. As a
group, the BLF enjoyed the fellowship
and service as it was at the time but we're not necessarily inclined to negotiating the wages and conditions of their employment.
Deb's felt different, than his fellow union members and so began his career as an
activist. He resigned from the BLF and helped found the American Railway Union the ARU in
1893 soon becoming its president. The ARU took on the Pullman Palace Car
Company, the Pullman Company had implemented heavy pay cuts to its already low paid employees. A
delegation of Pullman workers, went to present their grievances of low
pay and 16-hour, days to George Pullman
He would not meet them
and had them fired. As a result the delegation voted to strike. As soon as all the workers were off the premises
Pullman
had the doors locked with signs posted "close until further notice". the ARU supported the workers and the strike
They, did this
by having the union members refused to service any Pullman cars, while on the job. The famed Pullman
strike grew to include over
250,000 workers in 27 states
The strike, was very effective, but Deb's became concerned over the workers growing anger. Deb's did all he could
to, urge local ARU chapters to remain calm and avoid violence.
Unfortunately he was unable to keep the peace, and in Illinois riots broke out buildings were set on fire and trains were derailed.
This of course
Affected U.S. Mail cars, which greatly, disturbed president Grover Cleveland. A federal injunction
was issued so President Cleveland could take action.
He sent in the troops to Illinois to stop the strike. The strike failed
and soon after Deb's and four other ARU leaders were arrested for conspiracy to interfere with the U.S.
Mail. Deb's was found guilty, and sentenced to six months in jail.
One of his attorneys Clarence Darrow
would go on to become a leading member of the American Civil Liberties union, and part of the famed Scopes monkey trial of 1925.
Darrow
made an appeal to the U.S. Supreme Court that Deb's and his four other ARU leaders have been denied their constitutional
rights to trial by jury. The appeal, was rejected, and they were all sent to jail
They're going to Jail now!
Interesting to note that during the crisis President Cleveland and congress created a national holiday
Labor Day to help pacify the American Labor movement
During, Deb's six months of incarceration he, was visited by socialist and future Congressman Victor Berger.
Debs so tremendously disappointed at the outcome of the strike, saw these ideas and knew
that a great change was needed.
Deb's lost the election of 1900 William McKinley
Finishing with 96 thousand votes
Deb's would go on to run for president as a socialist party candidate in 1904
08, 12, and finally in 1920
In between campaigns in 1905 he, along with, many other organizations
helped found the IWW, The Industrial Workers of the World.
the Wobblies
Although, Deb's would eventually withdraw His support for the Wobblies as it grew more radical.
Grew more radical,
I like radical. That's good.
His 1904, 08, and twelve campaign drew larger and larger crowds and supporters and other interested people. The 1908 campaign
Was deb's most energetic that brought out the "Red Special" a train that brought his campaign throughout
the United States. in 1916 Deb's did not run for President, he refused the nomination.
Instead its deciding on a different approach.
He ran for congress on the socialist ticket in his home district of Indiana
World War One was is going on at this time and the U.S. had not yet joined the war.
Deb's campaigned on a platform of neutrality on the part of the U.S. He did not win the election. On April 16
1917 the United States made its official declaration and joined the war
Soon after the espionage act was passed. A
year after that the sedition act. These acts made it illegal for people to speak out against
America's involvement in the war, the government, the military, and to
disrespect the flag. To do so came with harsh fines and imprisonment. Of
Course the mission of these acts were to prevent
Anti-war activists and socialists from interfering with the United States agendas.
Always one to speak his beliefs, Deb's gave an anti-war speech in Canton Ohio in June of 1918
Although, this
was similar to past speeches he had given. The district attorney of Northern Ohio Edward S Wertz
Had the words of this speech carefully transcribed. Now the United States government
Had already begun imprisoning people, who were speaking out against, world war one?
Significantly Deb's had chosen Nimisilla park which is near Canton, where three socialists were being imprisoned for violating the espionage act.
His speech blasted the government for silencing wartime critics and the injustice is against others would violated the acts.
boom-boom-boom-boom
Furthermore Debs asserted that the war was a profitable enterprise for wall street
junkers and vampires to conquest and plunder, and that it was the working class
who, fight all the battles. Not long, after Deb's was arrested on violation of the espionage act.
Claims were that Deb's speech
Influenced americans to be disloyal and avoid being drafted in the military if called on her duty
Duty!
Deb's was found guilty on three counts were trying to incite refusal of military service and was sentenced to ten years
In Moundsville State Penitentiary in West Virginia.
Additionally his us citizenship, was revoked, when he was found guilty of sedition in 1918. This was only posthumously
restored in
1976
He began his sentence in Moundsville at age 63 but was soon moved to the Atlanta federal penitentiary.
His 1920 presidential campaign occurred, while he was imprisoned
Vote for convict 9653. That's what the button says
He received nine hundred and thirteen thousand popular votes the largest ever for a socialist candidate
Though, it was only 3.4 percent of the total votes cast. In
1921 he was released, from prison on presidential order from
William G. Harding
Warren G. Harding
Unfortunately spending his remaining years convalescing, from illness Eugene V.
Debs died in Elmhurst Illinois in 1926.
Although, historians have often portrayed him as lacking depth and knowledge of socialist theory. He is acknowledged as a
gifted spokesperson for American workers and an opponent of war.
The Eugene V. Deb's foundation works to continue his legacy, and his home
named a national historic landmark now. A museum on the campus of the Indiana State University
Is dedicated to his life and works. Oh
You know it.
That's our show for today thanks, again, for watching we'll see you next time
He wasn't bitter, he was go forward move ahead try to detect, try to detect it, it's not to late - whip it
Whip it good