Eugene Vs Hubs

Eugene V. Debs Eugene V. Debs was an important figure in the history of American labor. Debs was the founder of the many different unions. Deb also ran for president several times as a third party Socialist candidate. Debs also spent time in prison for various crimes. Eugene V. Debs was a high school dropout, who started working on the railroad at the age of fourteen. In the beginning he started as a painter, later becoming a railroad fireman. Debs attended night school during this time at a local business college. In 1875 Debs was a charter member and elected secretary to Vigo Lodge, Brotherhood of Locomotive Firemen. This was his first taste of a union. In 1879 Debs began to dabble in politics. First by being elected city clerk
The American Railway Union was formed in Chicago in June of 1893. The union struck Great Northern Railway, which gave into most the union’s demands. The strike was ARUs first successful strike. After this, came what propelled Debs into national prominence, the Pullman strike of 1894. The Pullman Strike was due the Pullman Palace Car Company cutting wages by 28%. Most Pullman employees lived in housing that was provided by the company. When Pullman reduced the wages the company did not reduce the cost of the housing for its employees. This led the employees to strike, although they were not a union. Debs came in an allowed them to join his ARU, so that they would credibility. Initially the strike had no effect, as the Pullman Company did not negotiate with the union or its leaders. This led Debs to the boycotting of all Pullman cars on the rail. Workers would refuse to work Pullman cars or any car that was attached to one. This outraged the American government, since the primary way that mail was transported was on rail. A court injunction was ordered that Debs and other leaders to stop the interference of the mail. Debs and the other leaders did not acknowledge the injunction. This forced then president Grover Cleveland to send in Army troops to get the mail going again. As a result of this, 13 strikers were killed and property damage was in the millions.
After he was released he was celebrated as a hero. During his time in jail Debs began reading on the Socialist movement in the United States. After his stint jail Debs began running for president under the Socialist party ticket. He ran unsuccessfully five times; 1900, 1904, 1908, 1912, and finally in 1920. Debs was never a favorite or what you would call a contender. He never received one electoral vote. After the 1904 election Debs started another workers union. The Industrial Workers of the World was formed in 1905 by Debs and other Socialist supporters. The union was formed to promote worker solidarity. The union was organized without one particular industry focused on. It did however spawn smaller groups that focused on specific trade groups. The union is still around today, but its numbers are small. Debs second time in jail came in 1919, after a speech he gave in Canton, OH in June of 1818. During the speech Debs denounced World War I, and was siding with Russia and Germany. Debs was arrested and convicted under a war time espionage law. His sentence was commuted by the same man who defeated him in the 1920 presidential election, Warren G. Harding. Five years after leaving the federal prison, Debs died in 1926. Debs is often heralded as a hero to the working men and