The text below was written in 1918: "in this country—the most favored beneath the bending skies—we have vast areas of the richest and most fertile soil, material resources in inexhaustible abundance, the most marvelous productive machinery on earth, and millions of eager workers ready to apply their labor to that machinery to produce in abundance for every man, woman, and child—and if there are still vast numbers of our people who are the victims of poverty and whose lives are an unceasing struggle all the way from youth to old age, until at last death comes to their rescue and lulls these hapless victims to dreamless sleep, it is not the fault of the almighty: it cannot be charged to nature, but it is due entirely to the outgrown social system in which we live that ought to be abolished not only in the interest of the toiling masses but in the higher interest of all humanity…" according to eugene debs, what problems will socialism resolve? it will eliminate the restrictions to industrial freedom that capitalism creates. it will direct the energies of the toiling masses toward prosperous endeavors. it will destroy the power of greed and exploitation in the american economy. it will end poverty and put an end to the life-long struggle of the working class.