The News-Herald. [volume] (Hillsboro, Highland Co., Ohio) 1886-1973, 1895-11-28
PRESIDENT DpBs
Released From Woodstock Prison and IN
the Hands Of His Friends,

CHICAGO, Nov. 23.-Eugene v. Debs
Tor five minutes Friday afternoon was
literally in the hands of his friends. It
was just after the arrival of the train
load OF enthusiastic admirers of the
great strike leader at the little town of
Woodstock, where he again breathed
the air of freedom for the first time in
half year. They had marched from
the railroad depot to the Jail, and Debs
stood on the steps awaiting them.
There was a preliminary thunder of
hurrahs, and then there was scene
which has hardly been duplicated in
the annals of labor affairs Without
giving him a chance to speak the
crowd rushed upon their hero, dragged
him from the steps, and in few mo-
ments had him high in the air and
he was passed from hand to hand,
while all the time others struggled to
get near Meanwhile the crowd kept
up constant yelling, and the band
played on, selecting as their theme,
"See, the Conquering Hero Comes"
Debs took it all in the good-natur
spirit in which it was meant, and
when he was put down began hand.
shaking soiree that lasted until the
train was nearly ready to start.
The train arrived at Woodstock at
o'clock. and was filed with labor
delegates and personal friends-about
500 of them in all. They occupied six
cars The Building Trades association,
the Trades and Labor assembly and
other local associations were repre-
sented, though there were many in
these associations who failed to lend
their countenance to the demonstra-
ton. Among those who went to
Woodstock was Gov. Waite, of Colo.
RADIO There was a nota BILE scene when
he and Debs met. Debs threw his arms
around the aged executives neck and
said in tremulous voice: ''God bless
you, my brother" The governor
seemed equally overcome. He made
some commonplace remark about be-
ing glad to see him again, and then
the two men fell to chatting on the
subjects nearest the hearts of both.
The march to the train was like the
triumphal entrance of ruler, for.
tunate in war, rather than the well
come to man found guilty in the
eyes of the law. The music was the
Marseilles and the streets were black
and white with hundreds of citizens of
McHenry county standing ankle deep
in the snow to catch glimpse of the
central figure of the day. Coming
back to Chicago on the train Debs was
obliged to walk twice through
all the cars and shake hands with
every occupant. When the delega-
tion reached Chicago another crowd
was waiting at the Northwestern de.
pot and the scene at Woodstock was
duplicated in milder colors. From the
depot the line of march was taken up
to Battery D, and, although there was
drizzling rain, the streets were all
filled with spectators who joined the
marchers. At Battery D., MIR. Debs
spoke for about two hours on topics
which have become familiar to all la.
Dor advocates. He denied emphatical-
ly that ex-Mayor Hopkins had any
thing whatever to do with aiding or
abetting the big railroad strike, and
said that if there was either shame or
glory attached to it, he wanted to bear
it himself and have nobody else drag.
ged in.
Five thousand people were present
at Battery ID when the procession es-
corting E. V. Debs on his return from
Woodstock reached the hall and the
meeting was soon called to order. Or
rim E. Wood dbury was chairman He
spoke briefly and introduced Mr.. Hem
ry d. Lloyd, of Chicago, who in the
course of his remarks said that Mr..
Debs was to-day the most popular man
in the United States with the real peo-
pie, because he was the repudiate of
government by injunction.