Post on 19-Jan-2018
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Eugene DebsEugene DebsAmerican SocialistAmerican Socialist
Pullman, Illinois – self contained city for Pullman workers
The Pullman Company, citing falling revenue after the economic Panic of 1893 had cut the wages of itsemployees by 28%
Workers asked forbetter pay and a shorter work week
To gain support unioncalled a boycott of the handling trainswith Pullman Cars
Nationwide Pullman Strikeaffecting most lines west of Detroit, and more than250,000 workers in 27 state
Debs was instrumentalin the founding of the American Railway Union (ARU) one of the nation's first industrial unions
Called for an end of the boycott fearingother unions mighttake ARU’s support
The membership ignored his warnings and refused to handle Pullman cars or any other railroad cars attached to them, including cars containing U.S. Mail by refusing to show up for work
To keep the mail running, President Grover Cleveland used the U.S. Army to break the strike.
The Federal Government intervened, obtaining an injunction againstthe strike on thetheory that the strikers had obstructed the U.S. Mail
13 strikers were killed, and thousands were blacklisted An estimated $80-million worth of property was damaged
Debs was found guilty of contempt of court for violating the injunction and sent to federal prison
Debs was represented by Clarence Darrow who had been the lawyerfor the Pullman Company
“Switched sides" to represent Debs.
Darrow, a leading civil libertarian lawyer made a substantialfinancial sacrificeto represent Debs
At the time of his arrest for mail obstruction, Debs was not yet a socialist
While serving his six monthterm in the jail Debs received a steady stream of mailfrom socialists around the country
Sent a copy of Das Kapital
Debs emerged from jail at the end of his sentence a changed man.
Spent the final three decades of his life fighting for the socialist cause.
Debs founded the Social Democratic Party of the United States
Ran as the Socialist Party's candidate for the presidency in 1900, 1904, 1908, 1912 and 1920 the last time from a prison cell
Debs was noted for his oratory, and his speech denouncing American participation in World War I led to his second arrest in 1918
He was convicted under the Espionage Act of 1917 and sentenced to a term of 10 years
His trial defense called no witnesses, asking that Debs be allowed to address the court in his defense.
That unusual request was granted, and Debs spoke for two hours.
Your Honor, years ago I recognized my kinship with all living beings, and I made up my mind that I was not one bit better than the meanest on earth.
I said then, and I say now, that while there is a lower class, I am in it, and while there is a criminal element I am of it, and while there is a soul in prison, I am not free.
Debs ran for president in the 1920 election while in prison
He received 919,799, write-in votes (3.4%),
President Harding commuted his sentence in December 1921. Seymour Stedman,
vice-presidential candidate
When Debs was released from prison, the other prisoners sent him off with "a roar of cheers" and a crowd of 50,000 greeted his return to Terre Haute to the accompaniment of band music.