The man’s a hero to the writer:
“In prison, Debs read the works of Karl Kautsky, a chief expositor of Karl Marx, and learned about socialism.[2][3] Upon his release, he launched his career as the nation’s most prominent Socialist in the first decades of the 20th century. He ran as the Socialist Party’s candidate for the presidency in 1900 (earning 0.63% of the popular vote), 1904 (2.98%), 1908 (2.83%), 1912 (5.99%), and 1920 (3.41%), 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. President Warren G. Harding commuted his sentence in December 1921. Debs died in 1926, not long after being admitted to a sanatorium.”
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eugene_V._Debs
And Bernie Sanders’ I should say.
Much of Debs’ support in the 1912 election came from NY state, which was critical for Wilson’s reelection in 1916; Debs didn’t run in 1916, believing (as did most) that Woodrow would indeed keep us out of war. Wilson wouldn’t come out and announce it, but he expected to be renominated in 1920, to run for an unprecedented third term. The delegates to the convention didn’t go for it. Regarding Debs:
[snip] In 1918, he received a 10-year prison sentence for his public opposition to the war... In 1920, the Socialist Party again nominated him as their presidential candidate and over 915,000 voted for prisoner #9653. President Wilson vigorously denied a request for Deb’s pardon in 1921. Finally, Warren G. Harding released Debs under a general amnesty on Christmas Day 1921. Harding asked the old socialist to stop by the White House. “I have heard so damned much about you, Mr Debs, that I am very glad to meet you personally” Harding remarked at their meeting. Debs died in 1926. [/snip]
http://www.eyewitnesstohistory.com/vodebs.htm
As little as I like Debs’ politics, his anti-WWI speeches leading to his imprisonment was a sign of the totalitarian nature of Progressive President Woodrow Wilson, who really didn’t have any respect for the First Amendment.
The enemy of your enemy isn’t always your friend; sometimes he’s just another enemy. Think Hitler and Stalin.