Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1894-07-13
EUGENE. Y. DEBS.
PRESIDENT OF THE AMERICAN
RAILWAY UNION.
OrgahiZatiOns-Al Great Organizer
Past Successes.

PAST Successes.
Thousands OF people are daily in
quiring who is Eugene V. Debs, VIII,
has lately sprung into such grea
prominence as President of the Amer
lean Railway Union. Debs is a loco
motive fireman and one of the ables
and most popular of men. He is no
quite 30 years of age, having beer
born November 5, 1865, in Terrt
Haute, Ind, which city is still hi,
home. His father is well-to-to gro
ceryman there.
Young Debs attended the public
schools for time, and took a course
at business college, prosecuting his
studies mostly at night and working
during the day, assisting his father
who was then, as now, in the grocery
business.
In May, 1870, he commenced work
in the Vandalia paint shops at Terre
Haute, where he continued about 20
months, until, when only 16 years oil
age, he was given position as fireman
on a Vandalia engine, running be-
tween indianapolis and Terre Haute.
He held this position little over
three years, when he left it to accept a
position in wholesale house, in which
he remained until 1879, when he was
elected city clerk of Terre Haute on
the Democratic ticket, running 100
votes ahead of his ticket. He was
reelected at the end of his first term
by term by majority of 1,lO2, being
one of only two Democrats elected in
the city.
Prior to his election as city clerk OF
Terre Haute he had joined Vioga
lodge, No. l6, Brotherhood of Loco.
motive Firemen, at Terre Haute, and
his lodge at the national
of the brotherhood at In
dianapolis in 1877. Again in 1878 he
was delegate to and assistant secretary
of the convention of locomotive fire.
men held at Buffalo. This conven-
ton elected him associate editor OF the
Locomotive Firemen's Magazine, the
official organ OF the order.
In 1850, when only Is years of age,
he was appointed grand secretary and
treasurer of the Brotherhood OF Loco.
motive Firemen, which position he
held continuously for II years, when
he retired, it was said, because he was
dissatisfied with the management OF
the brotherhood's affairs by some OF
the other officers. At the time of
Debs' appointment as grand secretary
and treasurer of the order it was with
out dollar and $1,000 in debt. There
were GO lodges with a total member
ship OF less than 1000, many OF them
badly disorganized and their members
The order from that
time on grew rapidly, the debt was
soon paid off, the poorly organized
lodges were put on their feet again,
and when he retired from the position
there were nearly 500 splendidy or
ganized lodges with 10000 members.
1t is significant fact that while the
of Locomotive Firemen
at once commenced and afterwards
to prosper, when Debs took
charge OF it, it Immediately got on the
down grade when he left it, and has
been there ever since.
He has wide reputation as an or
ganizer. Manager Towne, of the
Southern Pacific. is quoted as saying:
"Debs is the greatest organizer that 1
ever heard Of" The fact that he is
Of an organizer is shown
by the magnitude of the present
strike, which he cheerfully promises to
make bigger if it continues a little
longer, and no one doubts his ability
to fulfill his promises to that effect.
When the American Railway Union
began its fight against the Great
Northern Railway Company all the
unions were arrayed against it.
The Brotherhood of Locomotive En-
gineers, the Order of Railway Con-
ductors, the Brotherhood of Locomo-
tive Firemen, the Brotherhood of Rail-
way Switchmen, all the railroad
were opposed to the
strike on the Great Northern railroad
a few months ago.
The chiefs of the various organiza.
tions of railroad men met and con-
ferred with the heads of the railroad
They rendered the rail-
road men their support, and told them
that their employees would not strike.
Orders we're issued to the members OF
the orders named not to 90 out with
the American Railway Union. With
all the old leaders of the old organi'
cations arrayed against him, Eugene
Debs won the strike against the Great
Northern Railroad company, and from
that day the leaders of the old organi'
cations have seen their power wane.
Eugene Debs stands to-day the most
conspicuous figure in the labor world.
In person Mr.. Debs is over six feet in
height, we'll formed and OF grace
full bearing and exceedingly pleasant
address. He is unassuming, yet seems
nossessed of all the requisites for .
great leader of men. as which he has
figured for the past IA years. He was
elected a member of the Indiana legls'
lsture in 1885. The strike he has In
aueurated oyershadows in magnitude
any previous strike ever known, with
great liability OF becoming still larger
HAY harvest has arrived on the Still