Eugene Victor Debs (1855-1926) was a labor leader and socialist who believed in industrial unionism and devoted his life to working class struggle. His organizing career began in the Brotherhood of Locomotive Firemen, but his belief in one big industrial railroad union instead of smaller craft unions led him to the new American Railway Union (ARU), of which he became president. After a victory of their own, the ARU joined forces with striking Pullman workers in the great Pullman Strike. Debs also helped to found the Industrial Workers of the World (IWW), another great industrial union, but later left because he didn�t agree with the IWW tactics of direct action and sabotage. Debs was also an ardent socialist. He ran for president five times on the socialist ticket. From 1900 to 1920, he ran in every election except 1916> He last campaigned in 1920 from the Atlanta Federal Penitentiary winning 919,000 ballots for convict 9653.