The political activist and member of the Socialist Party of America was involved in some of the largest labor disputes in the early 1900’s. The first time his efforts landed him in prison was when he called for the American Railway Union (ARU) to boycott trains carrying Pullman cars during the Pullman Strike. The federal government order the strike to be broken in order to keep the postal service running. When Debs called on the ARU to continue with the strike, ignoring the court order, President Grover Cleveland called in the US Army to break the strike. Debs served 6 months in prison for his involvement.
The second time Debs found himself in prison was after his criticism of the United States’s involvement in World War I. The government had passed the Sedition Act of 1918 in an effort to keep the country unified during their war efforts. It was under this act that Debs was found guilty of trying to undermine the established order. He was sentenced to ten years in prison and began his sentence in April 1919. The Sedition Act was repealed in December, 1920.
In 1921 the Attorney General requested for President Wilson to release Debs due to health issues. Wilson denied the request and wrote: “While the flower of American youth was pouring out its blood to vindicate the cause of civilization, this man, Debs, stood behind the lines sniping, attacking, and denouncing them....This man was a traitor to his country and he will never be pardoned during my administration”
Debs was in prison until December 1921 when he was pardoned by President Harding.
