E.E. Long

 

Born in 1874 and raised in the Populist Era and the Golden Age of Free Thought, (1860-1900), E.E. Long registered as a Socialist in 1901 - and remained so for the rest of his life. His distrust of capitalism began when he was a nine year old in Simpson, Kansas classroom.

 

 

Eugene V. Debs

 

Founder of the Socialist Party. As a labor organizers in the late 1800’s, Eugene Debs was a man of such moral force that he was willing to go to jail for his beliefs in support of working people.  Debs was E.E.’s inspiration.

 

 

Dana Long

 

E.E.’s only son, Dana grew up to be a complacent capitalist, comfortable in a world measured by what you owned. Dana challenged his father’s mental competency in giving his property away.

 

Melvin Belli

 

The acclaimed trial lawyer that Dana hired to prove that E. E. was mentally incompetent when he agreed to give away his property. Belli’s aim was to prove that the gift was a hidden gift to the Communist Party and against the law.

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Christine Long (later Hunter)

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The clueless nine-year-old at the time of the controversy, and later the author of this book. What drove her to research and write this book?