The Bending Cross: A Biography of Eugene Victor Debs

Rating:
Summary: Eugene V. Debs--From Moderate to Radical--An Evolution
Review: The first section of this book is especially good, in that Ginger estahlishes the the moderate basis of Debs character. With this foundation, his evolution into a radical figure in American history is explained.

A must for those interested in labor history, highly recommended for those interested in America's social history. An enjoyable read for those who like biography.

Rating:
Summary: Obsessive honesty
Review: Zealot, compassionate, humane, intemperate, ambitious, intensely honest and driven to greatness despite his flaws -- such is the biographical picture aptly drawn by Ray Ginger in this highly readable biography of Eugene Debs, five time socialist candidate for President of the United States.

Hardly ever without hope, Eugene Debs faced overwhelming odds in trying to change society for the better. His initial goal was to strengthen the labor movement, to give it suficient power to negotiate with its bosses. His intense dedication and his obsessive honesty gave new life first to the Brotherhood of Locomotive Firemen in the late 19th Century and then for nearly 50 years his great energy served the labor movement in general. Even though he came from a middle class merchant family, Debs recoiled at the cruel advantage big corporations took of its laborers who were forced to toil long hours for low pay under miserable conditions. He was their dynamic, compassionate general who led non-violent, wide-spread strikes to force employers to agree to improve the lot of the people who worked for them.

Debs was not always successful but he succeeded in so many ways that his followers and admirers elevated him to near sainthood.

Ray Ginger has sifted through a monumental amount of written material to produce a fascinating study of a man who deserves to join the ranks of Great Americans in History. Though a paeon to Debs, Mr. Ginger did not gloss over Debs' faults: his naivete, his drunken bouts, his inflexibility and even his bigotry.

A minor point: Mr. Ginger incorrectly writes Vladimir Ilich Lenin's first name as "Nicolai" -- several times. How such an error escaped an otherwise thorough author or his editors was a mild distraction. Nevertheless, for those interested in the history of labor unions in the United States, this book is a 'must-have'.