Pawtucket tribune. (Pawtucket, R.I.) 1890-189?, 1895-09-14
ONE DAY WITH DEBS.
HOW THE LABOR LEADER SPENDS
HIS TIME IN PRISON.

He Has a stenographer and Enough to
DO to Keep Himself Busy sy-Curiosities Of
Mail-Locked Out OF Jal-Extremss OF
! Literature.
"Mr. Debs, would like to spend day
with you"
Mr. Debs glanced undccidcdly at the
pile of letters.
"Oh, don't want to interfere with your
work" said the visitor. 81 want to watch
you at it,"
Mr.. Debs' face cleared.
"I'u be glad to have you II the sheriff
raises no objections" no said.
The sheriff had already referred the
question to Mr.. Debs, so this settled it,
Then Mr.. Debs seemed divided between a
desire to return TO his work and O wish to
entertain his visitor. At last he struck
the happy expedient of compromise He
went back to his mail, tearing open and
glnncing at paper after paper and talking
at the same time.
"That's my cell in there" he said
pointing with the end Of his lead pencil
"You can see it through the bars. I'm
fortunate enough to occupy it alone, though
there is room for three in it,
"Pve been somewhat thrown out of my
regular routine by press of work. When
we first came here we made set Of rules
which stated how each hour was to be en-
ployed We set the alarm clock at g.
When it struck, every man had to rise
bathe and spend some time in exercise
We had the freedom of the yard out there
and used il in playing handball."
The visitor stepped to the window and
looked Rpfora hin, A email hara
yard, surrounded by a high iron fence,
tramped smooth and hard
"Then, Mr.. Debs went on, "we had
breakfast and devoted ourselves to study
until 1916, when we each took n turn at
the punching bag and chest weights. Aft
or that came dinner. The afternoon we
spent in work, and ut o'clock Hogan put
us through the army drill in squads of two
with an old musket of Sheriff Eckert and
a wooden gun. In the evening we debated
current topics, like money and the new
woman and boomers, and mt 10 o'clock
we went to bed. Before they left, though,
we had to increase the time for work and
almost lost sight of the rules altogether
because of the increase in our mail. One
night we mailed 325 letters"
"Did any one ever rebel against the
rulesS" asked the visitor.
Mr.. Debs laughed. "It was like mutu-
ally swearing off smoking" he said. "We
never all rebelled at once, and those who
stood firm made the others keep to them.
I intend to keep them now that am
alone" he went on after pause, "but for
the last few days 1 have been too busy
It's strange thing, but the other prison
ers, over whom of course we had no power,
obeyed the rules just as wo did. During
hn ofvt Ixy hat -
from them"
Mr.. Debs tore open the last envelope be-
fore him and glanced Mt the letter within
1t. He folded up the papers and tucked
them away in the drawer Of the table.
Then he gathered up tho letters and took
his hat from the top Of the bookshelves.
I'm going over to the other place
now" he said. "The stenographer must
be there by this time"
Just where the other place was the Wis
itOr did not know, but no followed obedi-
emily Mr.. Debs pushed open tho door Of
the corridor and descended tho stone steps.
He crossed the yard and entered tho base
ment Of tho courthouse.
"This is the old jail" he said over his
shoulder.
Down the side and across the back Of
tho brick cells, whose doors stood open,
displaying dust, broken furniture and the
hundred and one things which collect In
general storeroom, no led Tho way until at
Last no camo to the door In tho farthest
corner OF the courthouse.
"This Is my Office" ho said, with a
smile, as he turned tho knob
The room inside was small and low, but
Its walls were covered with a bright
paper, and 1t was cool and pleasant. It's
door was some two feet below the level of
tho ground outside. In it were a bed, a
table. thrce chairs and typewriter on
low stand. The stenographer, a light
haired, smooth faced young man. sat near
the window. The windows were without
bars, and tho sunlight pouring into tho
room fell on tho floor In square blocks un-
divided by the dark shadows which mark
Cd 10 In tho jail. From tho windows one
could look out across the park and 500 tho
waiting teams and the groups OF sunburnt
farmers before the stores. For few min |
utes Mr.. Debs stood looking out at the |
square Thon no sat down In sway |
backed, dilapidated rocking chair, and tho |
'stenographer took his place at the table. |
II