Biography of: Eugene Victor Debs
Author: Mollie Frail
Timeline
Leadership Style
Political Philosophy
Timeline
- November 5, 1855 Eugene Victor Debs was born in Terre Haute, Indiana
- 1869 Left home to work in railroad shops
- 1875 He helped organize a local lodge of the Brotherhood of Locomotive Firemen
- 1880 Debs was elected national secretary and treasurer
- 1879-83 He served as city clerk of Terre Haute
- 1885 Served one term in the lower house of Indiana legislature
- 1893 Debs became president of the newly established American Railroad Union
- April 1894 A successful strike was conducted against the great Northern Railroad for higher wages
- May-November 1895 Debs was sentenced to six months in jail after a federal injunction halted the Chicago Pullman Palace Car Company strike which he was helping to direct
- 1896 Debs campaigned for the Democratic-Populist presidential candidate William Jenning Bryan
- 1897 Debs announced his conversion to Socialism
- 1898 Led in establishing the Socialist Party of America
- 1900 Debs was the party's presidential candidate polling only 96,000 votes
- 1904 His total raised to 400,000/wrote a pamphlet Unionism and Socialism
- 1905 He helped found the Industrial Workers of the World
- 1908 Debs was the Socialist candidate for president
- 1912 Again Debs was the Socialist candidate for president
- 1916 He refused the nomination
- 1917 His citizenship was lost when he was convicted of sedition
- 1920 His highest popular vote (about 915,000) was cast even though he was in prison for criticizing the government's prosecution of persons charged with the sedition in violation of the 1917 Espionage Act
- 1921 He was released from the presidential order
- October 20, 1926 Eugene Victor Debs died in Elmhurst, Ill.
- 1976 His citizenship was restored
Information above was taken from the Encyclopedia Britannica along with the Indiana Historical Society-Manuscripts and Archives
Leadership Style
Eugene Debs, American laborer and political leader was five times the Socialist candidate for the President of the United States. He was an activist in the labor movement of the 1980's. He later returned to radical politics to show his dissatisfaction with economic and social conditions. He was an eloquent speaker and often times won support through his personal warmth, integrity, and sincerity. Many said that he was saintly and his personal character was virtually blameless.
I believe Eugene Debs' leadership style can be best characterized as authoritarian. I think that he used this authoritative style in a positive way. What first comes to mind when I think of authoritarian leadership is that of a harsh ruler who controls his followers. On the contrary, when I think of Eugene Debs as an authoritarian I think of a man whom people look up to, agree with his findings, and want to be part of his quest to make a better America.
The name Eugene Debs has been associated with socialism since the formation of the socialist party. His thoughts, concerns, and beliefs encompass what the party stands for, this explains his classification of an authoritarian leader. He was, after all, the people's choice for the Socialist candidate five times. To be chosen standard of the Socialist party in three successive electoral campaigns is a unique honor. He has put in countless effort for the Socialist party. He has fought and been punished for his views, but remained persistent and fought again. His followers listen to him, their leader, their representative, and their god because they believe he possessed the ability to make things happen in their favor. No man in America has done more noble service for the cause of Socialism than Eugene Debs. "No man has given more freely of his strength to keep the altar fires of Revolution bright" (Ehrmann 6). Eugene Debs is more widely recognized with the Socialist party than any other man is.
Eugene Debs was trained to be the standard bearer of the socialist party. He has bore the people's banner, and has bore it proudly, nobly, whatever the fight was fiercest. When he shouted the battle cry of the Socialism it echoed through the land from sea to sea (Ehrmann 9).
Political Philosophy
Eugene Debs political philosophy is radicalism with an innovative argument. Radicalism is by definition "the dissatisfaction with the existing order, committed to a blueprint for thoroughgoing change, and thus is willing to initiate reform, but its patience and peacefulness set it off sharply from the revolutionary brand" (Stewart, Smith, & Denton Jr. 225). Eugene Debs was dissatisfied with the existing order. He believed in socialism, which in many ways eliminates competitive spirit. In a speech entitled "The Issue" given on May 23, 1908, Debs said "I am in revolt against capitalism. I am opposed to capitalism because I love my fellow men, and if I am opposing you I am opposing you for what I believe to be your good." He was committed to chance. This is a good example of an innovative argument. The definition of an innovative argument is a nagging dissatisfaction with the existing order and a preference for experimental change. He was dissatisfied with capitalism and wanted change. The change he was fighting for was the existence of a socialist society. In another speech entitled "The Canton, Ohio Speech" given June 16, 1918, an anti-war speech, Debs said "to speak on labor; to plead the cause of the man and women and children in toil; to serve the working class, has always been to me a high privilege." Debs said in that speech, "to the extent that I am able to help those who are unable to help themselves, to that extent, and to that extent alone, do I honor myself and the party to which I belong." Debs wanted many things to change in the capitalist society. He opposed the system under which we lived today because he believed it was subversive of the best interests of the people. He said "I am not satisfied with things as they are, and I know that no matter what the administration, there will be not material change in the condition of the people until we have a new social system based upon the mutual economic interests of the whole people" (The Issue 4). Debs was willing and ready to initiate reform. In his speech "The Canton, Ohio Speech," he said, "In good time we are going to sweep into power in this nation and throughout the world. We are going to destroy all enslaving and degrading capitalist institutions and re-create them as free and humanizing institutions. The sun of capitalism is setting; the sun socialism is rising. It is our duty to build the new nation and the free republic. We are pledged to do our part."
Eugene Debs believed in change and was not content with the society in which he lived. He proclaimed the views of the Socialist party and he did it with love for the cause. Debs was splendidly equipped for the task that was assigned to him. He performed his task with heart, charisma, and strength. "Debs draws love from a million hearts as well draws from showers and springs; and like a well he gives it back to all who thirst for love as they cross the desert for life" (Ehrmann 6).
Works Cited
- Ehrmann, Max. Eugene V. Debs as an Orator: Northwestern University School of Speech Department of Communication Studies August 1907
- "Eugene V. Debs." Encyclopedia Britannica. 1999-2000.
- Eugene V. Debs Papers. Indiana Historical Society-Manuscript &Archives. www.indianahistory.org
- "The Canton, Ohio Speech." Northwestern University School of Speech Department of Communications
- "The Issue." Northwestern University School of Speech Department of Communications
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