Eugene V. Debs

Posted on | November 12, 2009 | No Comments

Eugene V. Debs was the first great Union leader in the United States. He helped to start many of the international labor unions still existing today. He was the Socialist Democrat candidate for President of the United States in 1900. He was greatly influenced by Karl Marx and one of the most influential socialists of the time.

The Espionage Act of 1917 outlawed public speaking against the United States involvement in World War I. Debs felt that the United States was involved int he war only for capitalist reasons. When he spoke in public he crafted his words to ensure that he didn’t violate the Espionage Act of 1917. He failed. He was eventually convicted of violating the Act; See Debs v. United States, 249 U.S. 211 (1919). The unionists, socialists, anarchists, and communists supported him and marched for his freedom.

While in prison in 1920, he ran for president and received 3.4% of the popular vote. His health declined rapidly in prison and the attorney general ask President Wilson to pardon Debs. Denied. Once Harding became president, he pardoned Debs.

In 2008, Ralph Nader got 0.56% of the popular vote.

Debs believed that the government should provide basic human needs for all of the citizens in the United States and that the government should control policies like health care and retirement. He also believed that the United States should not be involved in wars that we have no business being in. Sound familiar? Obama?

Eugene Debs got 3.4% of the popular vote in the 1920 election for President of the United States while incarcerated.

Category: Harding, 1921-1923, Obama, 2009, Wilson, 1913-1921
Tags: espionage act of 1917 > eugene debs > eugene v debs > harding > international labor unions > karl marx > president wilson > socialist > world war i

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