debs wrote the socialist party from now on is the party of the people. the virile young giant will go make history in the next few years, soon after, the democrats will feel empowered and thousands who voted their ticket will turn from them in disgust. how was he as a prognosticator? >> the socialist party started to decline right after that election, at least in terms of membership, and never recovered that peak. >> why? >> one reason was the wilson administration did the opposite of what debs predicted. it brought in a slate of reforms. our controls for eight-hour day for railroad workers, some regulation of the banking system, some gestures for the right for unions to organize. only small steps to what the socialists wanted, but enough to win a lot of voters. >> let's take the next telephone call. this is from courtland, new york. sharon is on the line. go ahead, please. >> caller: i want to thank c-span3 for the series. i'm? joy enjoying it so much. i wonder if your guests would comment on the formative years and what his parents did for a living. th

over -- the socialist party had -- there was a split within the socialist party that affected the i.w.w., so he remained very much supported the i.w.w. but took less of a leadership position once rival socialist party leaders, i think it was morris hillquist took -- and big bill haywood took over the i.w.w., brought in different divisions than debs had in mind. >> was the i.w.w. the wobbly? >> yes. one of the most important breaks was over the issue of violence or sabotage. the wobblies argued. this was a tough bunch in a tough environment working in the mines and lumber fields. they argued there were times when in order to advance their cause, they needed to use sabotage or other forms of violence in order to fight back. >> did debs agree with that? >> debs did not agree with that. he wasn't a pacifist. he recognized you needed violence at times, but advocating violence was not appropriate for american democracy. in fact, workers always lost. when they tried violence, most of the power to spread violence around belonged to the state. >> next up is minneapolis. this is ken. hi, ken. >>

we feature eugene debs, a five-time presidential candidate for the socialist party. this 90-minute program was recorded at debs' home and museum in terre haute, indiana. each sunday, through labor day weekend, you can watch the contenders here on american history tv on c pan -- c-span 3. >> our featured contender is eugene v.debs, the nation's most celebrated world war i protester. this december, 1921 footage captures him after his return from indiana after a federal conviction stemming from the war protests. tonight, we are in terre haute and the debs home and museum. let me introduce you to one of our two guests, ernest freeberg, whose book is called "democracy's prisoner." it has been 85 years since debs died, why do we care about him? >> he was one of the most important labor leaders at a crucial time of conflict between labor and capital. more importantly, he was the central figure in a socialist movement at a time when it was a viable, growing, and important part of the american political culture. >> is he interesting as a snapshot in time or does he have a las

i think the problem was you had at the time, you had eugene debs and socialist labor party and the socialist workers party. then you had sam gompers. of the american federation of labor, and gauompers and debs didn't see eye to eye. that a problem, that they never a unified workers movement in the country. it was a splittered group. that was the problem that he never was able to achieve his goals. i wonder if your guests could comment on that. thank you very much. >> lisa phillips. >> there was a huge split and the caller is right. this continues to the present day among labor unions with the split between craft unionism which was embodied by the labor union versus industrial unionism which is what debs advocated. he was in a working class movement where you erased the lines that divided skilled workers from unskilled workers. the american federation of labor was composed of very tightly organized craft based unions. whether they are coopers or plumbers or brick layers or that sort of thing. it was a very different kind of approach toward representing working class interests. they did not se

around him he saw the socialist party dissint grating. a month ago he died a the age of 71. what were his final years like after prison? >> he spent the rest of his life trying to rebuild the socialist party that had been splintered by the war without success. that was both the self inflicted wound because the socialist party had a split own communism. it was a very difficult thing for him. th comnists were trying to convin h to joi them. he was the country's most famous high profile a bel radical and the communists wanted to have him on board.success. >> he is buried here in terre haute, indiana, at highland lawns cemetery. we have video of his grave site. we're going to look at that as we listen to manny from new york city. >> caller: yes, hi. my question is what was eugene debs' view on the russian revolution, and did he visit russia at this time, and can you separate socialism from marxism during this time period? thank you very much. >> tnks so much. huge topics annot ch>> right. he did not visit russia. there was an attempt to get him o to russia. the bolsheviks consid

elections in greece this could mean a coalition between the new democracy and its allies the socialist party now these parties want to keep greece in the euro and retain the e.u. i.m.f. bailout but still renegotiate its terms while the series of party has been campaigning on anti austerity programs this election is being closely monitored across europe as its results could see the breakup of the whole euro zone and come as less likely if greek conservatives form a coalition the current election was called after the first one in may ended without a deal a little later who hoped to be talking to journalist and political analyst christophe is for his expert opinion on the developments there in greece that's coming your way a little later. the un backed peace plan in syria took another blow with the observer mission there suspending its activities due to an escalation of violence the rebels and the government have abandoned any commitment to the ceasefire this is the syrian opposition leader has repeated calls for military intervention in the country what is more of an ocean a report on how syri

clear left majority big issue is whether it would be dismissed or it would be built only around a socialist party all do we need to support a socialist eyes such as the come in useful kinda greens in parliament french politics are. interesting because they're not always go with the overall cycle in europe where we do see certainly is the rise of those nationalist he's all over the board in europe and this is clearly the case in france as elsewhere in europe and this is this is a phenomenon that is happening across the ball when it comes to the rise of socialism what it was clear in the recent actions in europe is that the. parties in power have about a tendency to lose elections that don't happen in greece in. spain and in italy so this is a situation where incumbents are in trouble. well stay with us here on r.t. still to come was the mubarak is reported in predictable edition egyptians gathered to express anger that the former president was not sentenced to death for his violent suppression of demonstrators during the revolution that ousted him from power. but first year asia's two biggest coun

round of what he really wants is an absolute majority if not an absolute majority of all the socialist party getting more than fifty percent that would be a majority of the left at least he would support his policies but let's remember that during the presidential election the people would come and voted for socialist stuff and so long they had voted for change in a smart as they didn't want anymore so symbolically this is a test of a long ability to get that support from the french people he doesn't get the majority essentially he will have a president who is on the left and you will have a parliament that is on the right right now before this elections it was the conservatives that was had the majority in the lower house and this will certainly pose problems into passing new laws that he wants to get into place such as this proposal to add sixty thousand new jobs in education sector or tax the rich by as much as seventy five percent you know first of all a lot it was campaigning on. the more growth measures and getting faster out of the crisis and then if he doesn't get if he doesn't get t

the only real option for new democracy of the moment seems to be house of the socialist party who they have governed with before us because they both share the message of hope. even though. party would like to see some major changes to get bailed out deal struck with the i.m.f. the e.u. and eurozone troika now pasok are also presenting their own problems because we're seeing reports at the moment they may not be willing to function with new democracy without the inputs of so reserve because they have had such a significant sway when it comes to these elections indeed even if they're not part of a future government series are still largely to have a major showing when it comes to a future hanumant greece their opinions will count and that will be quite crucial so a lot of these trying to stop any future austerity deals being made and the reworkings of that bailout plan they stand for a cancellation of austerity full stop saying it's been far too costly for the greek nation already they want to remain within the euro but this is been where much talk has centered in the build up to this c

and if the socialist party does get a majority france will in fact be a left country a socialist country in the midst of the whole europe that is going through a very conservative right. lead out of the crisis thanks very much indeed for that live update in paris texas ilya. you're with a weekly this is coming to you live from moscow with you twenty four hours a day still ahead this hour thousands of egyptians are furious hosni mubarak was sentenced to death the former president is now also to be in critical condition. that's still to come but first your asia's two biggest countries have cemented their partnership this week as russian president vladimir putin visited china for the business deals or so on but apart from ensuring that trade is flourishing moscow and beijing have a number of pressing international issues to tackle next year to shift the reports from the chinese capital. who could have thought half a century ago when china and russia cost over disputed territory that in twenty twelfth russia's president would be greeted by a red carpet in beijing during a lavish stat

he agreed with the leader of the third place socialist party. together the two parties will have a slim majority in parliament. they're expected to seek other partners to build a more stable government. >>> that's all for this edition of "newsline" from tokyo. do join us again.

over twenty seven percent this could mean a coalition between new democracy and its allies the socialist party buddies jacob greaves is in athens. the latest official results we're getting in has new democracy leading the way about twenty nine point five percent of the vote and they are outstripping sarees are only just about two percent series are coming in with twenty seven point one percent of the vote is still though presenting new democracy with a problem even though they may prove victors they'll likely have to form a coalition because they haven't won an overall majority it seems by this latest result that means they may have to look to others with similar ideas the only one who's ran today for office would be the pasok the socialist party who they form the government with in the past they also support austerity though they say they would want to see changes to the current bailout conditions in the past have been implemented by the e.u. i.m.f. and eurozone troika now when it comes to pass that there's also another problem being presented here we have reports that they may not want to wo

he agreed with the leader of the third place socialist party. together the two parties will have a slim majority in parliament. they're expected to seek other partners to build a more stable government. >>> that's all for this edition of "newsline" from tokyo. do join us again. maybe you have some energy- saving appliances, like an energy star-rated washer and dryer. but what about your tv? chances are it's on more than your washer, dryer, and kitchen appliances combined. did you know that if half of us in the u.s. replaced our regular tvs with an energy star model, the change would be like shutting down a power plant? you can find the energy star on everything from standard to high def to the largest flat-screen your heart desires. ow that makes sense.

over twenty seven percent this could mean a coalition between new democracy and its allies the socialist party. in athens. the latest official results we're getting in has new democracy leading the way about twenty nine point five percent of the vote and they are outstripping sarees are only just about two percent series are coming in with twenty seven point one percent of the vote is still though presenting new democracy with a problem even though they may prove their likely have to form a coalition because they haven't won an overall majority seized by this latest result that means they may have to look to others with similar ideas the only one who's ran today for office would be the pasok the socialist party who they fall the government with in the past they also support austerity so this.

president francois hollande socialist party and its leftist now i stand to take control of parliament following in a triumphant first round say and their allies secure more than forty six percent giving a powerful boost to alonso before mandate as are so he has the latest from paris the results of the first sort of these are very good. for the socialist party in trying to get a majority of the lower house of parliament however nothing is certain definitely there's no time for complacency they can't just sit around and expect the same results in the second rail it's not forget that the actual voter turnout this time is just forty eight point three percent though if more people come out to vote in the second round the question is which side are they going to vote for and also there are still the u.n. people already the conservatives still trying to rally whatever support they can get most of dissipated a policy that is the one that he's speaking about quite a lot during his campaign which is more growth for friends. that's on the one hand and how this translates for the french people is

president francois hollande socialist party and its leftist allies stand to take control of parliament following a triumphant first round they and their allies secure bore them forty six percent giving a powerful boost to alonzo reform mandate as our ceiling is following the race for power in paris. what he really wants is an absolute majority if not an absolute majority of all the socialist party getting more than fifty percent that would be a majority of the left at least he would support his policies but let's remember that during the presidential elections people would come and voted for socialist stuff and so long they had voted for change in a smart as they didn't want and even more so symbolically this is a test of the young the ability to get support from the french people if he doesn't get the majority essentially you will have a president who is on the left and you will have a parliament that is on the right right now before this elections it was the conservatives that was had the majority in the lower house and this will certainly pose problems into passing new laws that he

but first france's socialist president has been. left wing party secured a majority in the first round of the parliamentary election the forty six percent when you could see secure the lower house and receive a powerful mandate for his reform plans. is in paris the results of the first round sort of these are very good. for the socialist party in trying to get a majority of the lower house of parliament however nothing is certain definitely there's no time for complacency they can't just sit around and expect the same results in the second round they are still the u.n. people already the conservatives still trying to rally whatever support they can get most of dissipated a policy that is the one that he's speaking about quite a lot during his campaign which is one group of friends for the spirity that's on the one hand and how this translates for the french people is that more jobs taxing the rich it's tax and spend policy that is not. as much as seventy five percent tax for the rich certainly not something that conservatives want if he wants to ge

the results of the first round certainly is a very good moral boost for the socialist party in trying to get a majority of the lower house of parliament however nothing is a certain definitely there's no time for complacency or they can just sit around and expect the same results in the second round there are still the un people already the conservatives still trying to rally whatever support they can get most of dissipated a policy that is the one that he's speaking about quite a lot during his campaign which is one group of friends for the spirity that's on the one hand and how this translates for the french people is that more jobs taxing the rich it's tax and spend policy that would not limited. as much as seventy five percent tax for the rich certainly not something that conservatives wanted so if you want to get this a policy like that through he will need the support of the lower house just remember the socialists already have the support of the senate so it will be much easier to get things through you also promise about sixty thousand jobs in the next five years as well as re

socialist. such as the communist party and the greens in parliament but. out of the three stars i don't foresee major changes you know learned a stance with the views of europe but haven't people voted for him as a president because of his a sturdy policies and you would think that perhaps in this parliament or election the sentiment would go his way as well. clearly the. left majority did it. including the mr on yourself or are more leaning towards a more relaxed body he wouldn't come to a story. then then because you were but all together you feel it is keeping its promise which is through to try to reduce the deficit by raising taxes not so much by only reducing government spending because you are proposing looking at the results so far the national front you perform quite well in the presidential election seem to gather more than ten percent now how lame fluence the politics of this new government in parliament. the interesting thing is that given the french victory system. most likely scenario is that the national front will only get one two three mem

a lot of behind this could mean a coalition between the new democracy and its allies of the socialist. party. polls have closed on the final day of egypt's presidential election runoff with these women candidates playing in self in the lead meanwhile the two generals effective forgive themselves and lawmaking powers raising fears that the old establishment is still in charge. and the syrian turmoil takes another turn if you want observers suspending their mission through an escalation of violence such as the head of the monitors the treatment demands that both sides of the conflict allow the evacuation of civilians from combat zones. but next the effects of the global economic crisis are still being felt right across the world and meet the person who predicted it all. thank you very much for your time in two thousand and six you predicted that there would be a deep economic crisis and six years later we're still in it now did you expect it to last so long that it would be so deep and where are we in the middle in the beginning or maybe there's light at the end of the tunnel and the crisis mo

left wing rivals behind this could mean a coalition between new democracy and its allies the socialist party. polls of closing the final day of egypt's presidential election runoff critics say both the revolution backwards and all the minute council has issued an interim constitutional declaration giving. policy. on the syrian turmoil takes another turn with un observers suspending the machine due to an escalation of violence that says the head of the most esteemed among supposed signs called with a lousy evacuation of civilians from. and so. that's it for me at the moment. she'll continue with the news team in half an hour from now in the meantime a passion for unconventional travel special report meet some unique tourists so if the world living room by living room. i see a. few months ago i was in here with my host to house me for two months and knowing that he has a boy we've like two years old so i like. the husband and i pretty our son called me. as you dance and when i saw so i said. it will be ok mommy.

european union needs but will this country fronts i doubt it if it's true teaches any lesson the socialist party of france never says the election of president. has gone it's taken up a neoliberal policies privatizing i think in the first months maybe the first year he will take some tepid steps in that direction but slowly he will start using european union as an excuse for just keeping the austerity plan going and for the growth plan to be something minor think the european central bank the i.m.f. are near liberal institutions and basically what they are now doing is doing exactly what happened in the seventy's and not in america check and that is the deconstruction or if you want a total destruction of the social welfare state as it was established after the second world war true that manaf it of banks for financial fun in so that each etc it's not it's not a secret what we call the so-called regrettable consequence of these dollars are actually what i think it is very much object and it is aimed at. on thursday supreme court dismissed as latest appeal to reopen the case against his extraditi