November 1, 1987
By Deborah Curtis Drummy
Vigo County Historical Society
Let’s give Debs his due
Thursday--Nov. 5--marks the 132nd anniversary of the birth of Eugene Victor Debs.
One might think that the community would consider that date cause for celebration. The Debs Foundation certainly remembers and honors its hero with the prestigious Debs Award. But there is no great communitywide sense of pride for one of Terre Haute’s most dynamic and historically significant natives. The day will pass with little or no hoopla.
The denial of Debs seems to be a tradition born in the attitudes and politics of the world as it was during the decades before and during World War I, the period of Debs’ most zealous activism.
Having organized the local chapter of the Brotherhood of Locomotive Firemen, the Brotherhood of Brakemen, and the American Railway Union, and then leading them with fiery enthusiasm, Debs certainly earned his place in history as the “father of industrial unionism.” But perhaps what distressed Terre Hauteans most was his role in establishing the Socialist Party of America in 1898.
To the average turn-of-the-century midwestern mind, the word “socialist” had a very foreign ring, and to many the notion of “foreign” equated with “un-American.” But in reality, some of Debs’ radical Socialist objectives were extreme only in the context of turn-of-the-century thought. Many of those same ideas have since become part of the American mainstream: the 40-hour work week, child-labor laws, women’s suffrage, and equal rights for minorities.
The title of socialist aside, perhaps some of the negative feelings about Debs spring from his reputation as a “rabble-rouser.” His exceptional public speaking talents certainly aided his ability to captivate and excite an audience, no doubt frustrating those at odds with his philosophies. It’s easy to understand why those who disagreed with Debs’ ideas may have tagged him with the badge of troublemaker. Perhaps a reminder that our nation was founded by a bunch of “rabble-rousers,” and that most significant social reforms in this country have been born out of controversy, might cause a few locals to re-evaluate their feelings about Debs.
While sifting through museum materials on Debs’ life, I found a few recurrent themes which would serve any man’s reputation quite well, and which should make Terre Hauteans proud of Debs whether they agreed with his politics or not.
The most dominantly repeated observation was that virtually everyone who met Debs liked him--even his political foes. He was famous for his warmth and kindness, but it takes a very special man to have personal appeal strong enough to transcend the venom inspired by political opposition.
The other commendable observation was made by the wardens who were Debs’ keepers during his imprisonment for opposing World War I. (He was later pardoned by President Harding.) The wardens regarded Debs as a model prisoner whose deep warmth and humanity exerted a calming and rehabilitating influence on his fellow prisoners.
This week’s historical treasure, framed oil portrait of Eugene Debs, is a recent addition to the collection in the museum. Debs sat for the London artist Oppenheimer, who had been commissioned by the British Labor Party to create a portrait suitable for reproduction in a book about the U.S. labor movement. The painting was finished in 1921, but the book was never published because the Labor Party lost its power in the government.
The painting was donated to the museum by Dr. Benjamin Strong, whose father purchased it from the artist. Debs is said to have seen and liked the portrait, thinking it made him look handsome.
It does indeed add a striking touch to the entrance hall of the museum, and, give its historical significance, at not only the local, but also at the national and even international levels. We are fortunate that the painting found its way to the town Eugene Victor Debs called home.
The Historical Museum of the Wabash Valley, 1411 S. Sixth St., is open from 1 to 4 p.m. Tuesday through Sunday.