Upton Sinclair was a man of seemingly contrasted opinions. Sinclair clung to the belief that capitalism could be reformed to benefit the working class, but joined the Socialist Party of America in 1902. In 1934, he abandoned the Socialist Party, and joined the Democratic Party Primary under the false pretense that it would help him get elected as governor of California. He wrote several pieces in the defense of both democracy and socialism. Sinclair wrote in an article during World War I, “If Germany be allowed to win this war--then we in America shall have to drop every other activity and devote the next twenty or thirty years to preparing for a last-ditch defense of the democratic principle.” However, after the Espionage Act of 1917, he renounced his written views, and acknowledged that his position on WWI had been incorrect. Sinclair most likely did this to avoid imprisonment unlike Eugene Debs, who served 10 years behind bars because of his anti-war speech in 1918. Put simply, Upton Sinclair was 87% opportunist, and only 13% progressivist.…show more content… Eugene Debs, leader of this party, stated in Socialist Ideals, “Socialism is merely an extension of the ideal of democracy into the economic field.” Debs and Sinclair worked closely together throughout the next three decades to put industry in control of the people so that they may pursue their own private interests. This party was eventually broken up in 1937 due to its inability to provide a unified response to multiple important questions. Sinclair left the Socialist Party of America in 1934, and joined the Democratic Party Primary to aid in his election as governor of California. Ultimately, Upton Sinclair lost the election and alienated his peers and family by deserting his socialist ideals. It was his son David that first accused Sinclair of “insane
