Today in Labor History: November 5 -- Eugene V. Debs Born

1916: Everett, Wash., massacre, at least seven Wobblies killed, 50 were wounded and an indeterminate number wound up missing.

1855: Eugene V. Debs - labor leader, socialist, three-time candidate for president and first president of the American Railway Union, born.

Labor leader, radical, Socialist, presidential candidate, Eugene Victor Debs was a homegrown American original. He formed the American Railway Union, led the Pullman strike of the 1890's in which he was jailed, and emerged a dedicated Socialist. An idealistic, impassioned fighter for economic and social justice, he was brilliant, eloquent and eminently human. As a "radical" he fought for women's suffrage, workmen's compensation, pensions and social security -- all commonplace today. Five times the Socialist candidate for president, his last campaign was run from federal prison where he garnered almost a million votes.

Read more about Eugene V. Debs
Wikipedia biography
Debs Personal History site