Channels, Spring 2017

Channels • 2017 • Volume 1 • Number 2 Page 59 efforts was harmful to party unity. For their part, the radical left-wing of the Party sought to give thnme nomination to Haywood, the most popular party figure other than Debs. 40 While Debs ultimately won the nomination, Berger held his Wisconsin delegation for Thompson to the end, making a bitter point. If Debs was unwilling to lead in deciding Party policy, then the extreme wings would support their own candidates to serve as the Party’s figurehead. The 1908 campaign began on this note. Fortunately, the Party organization had come up with more support for Debs, as over 200,000 individuals had contributed to fund a train for Debs’ campaign called the Red Special. 41 This allowed Debs to travel farther and faster, giving more and more speeches to rally support for the cause. By now he was a legendary figure. In Illinois, as two workers listened to Algie M. Simons speak, one asked the other if it was Debs speaking. The other replied, “Oh no, that ain’t Debs – when Debs comes out, you’ll think its Jesus Christ.” 42 Nevertheless, open conflict between Debs and Berger was also the worst it had been in some time. When the two former allies secured an interview with prominent progressive journalist Lincoln Steffens, a sign of the increased impact the Socialist Party was making, they proceeded to disagree over policy. When Steffens asked what Debs would do with trusts and the candidate proposed confiscation without payment, Berger immediately jumped in, countermanding Debs and claiming that the Socialist Party would have the government pay to confiscate the trusts. 43 This open defiance of the Party’s presidential campaign was simple spite on Berger’s part, and it led Steffens to conclude that Debs was not “presidential timber.” 44 Despite this opposition, Debs campaigned harder than ever, hoping to capitalize on the increased support and maintain the strong track record of growth that his presidential campaigns had thus far created. Unfortunately, this incredible pace resulted in health problems for Debs. His throat became increasingly weak, forcing him to leave others to complete his speeches at times. 45 Nevertheless, he continued on, although the campaign was ultimately a disappointment. Debs collected only around 420,000 votes, a discouraging increase of 20,000 from 1904. As a result, the ideological divisions would flare up even more fiercely within the Socialist Party. While these issues smoldered in the immediate wake of the 1908 election, the Party evaluated the disappointing results. The Party membership had more than doubled since 1904, rising to well over 40,000. But a correspondingly large increase in the popular vote 40 Morgan, H. Wayne. 1962. Eugene V. Debs; socialist for President. n.p.: Syracuse, University Press, 1962., 93. 41 Morgan, H. Wayne. 1962. Eugene V. Debs; socialist for President . n.p.: Syracuse, University Press, 1962., 111. 42 Salvatore, Nick. 1982. Eugene V. Debs : citizen and socialist . n.p.: Urbana : University of Illinois Press, ©1982., 223. 43 Morgan, H. Wayne. 1962. Eugene V. Debs; socialist for President . n.p.: Syracuse, University Press, 1962., 97. 44 Ibid, 98. 45 Ibid, 105.