Eugene V. Debs, labor leader and socialist, sentenced to 10 years for opposing World War I. While in jail Debs received one million votes for president - 1918
Some 75,000 coal miners in Pennsylvania, Ohio and West Virginia end a 10-week strike after winning an 8-hour day, semi-monthly pay, and the abolition of overpriced company-owned stores, where they had been forced to shop. (Remember the song, "Sixteen Tons," by coal miner?s son Merle Travis, in which there?s this line: "I owe my soul to the company store.") - 1897
In Pennsylvania, Polish, Lithuanian and Slovak miners are gunned down by the Lattimer Mine?s sheriff deputies?19 dead, more than 50 wounded?during a peaceful march from Hazelton to Lattimer. Some 3,000 were marching for collective bargaining and civil liberty. The shooters were tried for murder but the jury failed to convict ? 1897
In convention at Topeka, Kan., delegates create the Brotherhood of Railway Carmen of America. The men who repaired the nation's rail cars were paid 10 or 15? an hour, working 12 hours a day, often seven days a week - 1890