South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1919-04-08
No CLEMENC To
DEbS, VIEW Of
j. s. ATTORNEY
Petition Not Yet Filed With
Government in Socialist
Leaders Case.

D..
Cen. Palmer announced i'm a state
ment last night that he would oppose
stronely any effort 10 obtain execu-
tive clemcncy for Eugene V. Debs
the socialist leader sentenced TO 10
years imprisonment for violation Of
the espionage act The attorney gen.
cral said he had received several
communications urging him TO rec
ommend clemency for Debs.
Mr.. Palmer said he believed his
duty in the Debs case 10 be clear
and was convinced that ''he would
be doing a grieyOus wrong 10 tho
country and striking a blow at law
enforcement" should ne adopt any
course which would interfere with
the normal administration Of justice
in this case"
The statement issued by the at
torne. general follows.
MIR. Palmcr's Statement.
Eugene V. Debs has filed no pc
tition with either the president or
the attorney general asking for the
, exercise Of executive clemency. The
facts are such in his case that until
such petition be made by him,
should not feel called upon TO con-
slider making any recommendations
in his case. Debs was convicted. not
because OF his political or economic
views, but because he plainly vio-
lated the laws of the land"
con June is, 1918, during the most
/ critical period of the war, Debs made
a speech at Canton, O., in which he
urged that wage-earners refrain
: from giving any aid TO the American
nation in the war, asserting that the
war was brought on and conducted
| solely in the interest of capitalists.
told his audience that they needed to
4 know that they were tit for some
thing better than slavery and can
non fodder held up TO admiration
as martyrs TO the cause of labor a
number % persons who had been
/ convicted sor violating the draft act
and urged wage earners to stand to-
gether as a class to prevent the sue
I cess of our country in the war.
Debs' Plea to Jury.
I'm his address to the jury Debs
said:
- have been accused Of OBJ
structing the war. admit ii.
Gentlemen, I abhor war. I would
oppose the war if I stood alone
"He was given a fair trial by jury.
The charge OF the trial Judge was
eminently fair. and on appeal to the
supreme court of the United States,
that court by a unanimous decision,
affirmed the judgment Of conviction.
Both prior and subsequent TO the
delivery of the speech mentioned.
/ Debs had on numerous occasions
! publicly urged wage earners to ad-
/ here to the so-called st. Louis pro-
/ gram Of the anti-war faction Of the
/ socialist party adopted in April,
] 1917. This document asserted that
/ participation OF the United States I'm
I the war against Germany could not
/ be justified. branded the declaration
of war by the American government
as a crime against the people of the
/ United States; declared that in all
modern history there haS beet no
war more unjustifiable, and urged
/ continuous. active and public oppo-
s.,ion TO the war
Following the action OF the SUI
preme court, the defendant has In
dulgei i'm violent public criticism OF
the American courts of justice and
practically defed the power OF the
government TO administer the law
( against him.
openly Dcfies Laws.
'Tn a public speech made IN
| Cleveland March 70, he said: With
every drop in my veins I despise
their law and ! defy them few
/ days ago he declared that if an at
tempt is made TO imprison him he
will have a general strike called I'm
support of his attitude
I'm this situation my duty is clear
Respect for the law and our insti-
tutions is the basis upon which
every application for executive elem
\ ency must rest Open defiance OF
the law and threat of force to OBJ
struct its orderly ADM stratiOn
I calls for only one answer. The law
must be respected and obeyed. To
! make sure Of that. il must be en-
forced. would be doing a grievouS
wrong TO the country and striking a
blow at law enforcement If I adopt
oG any course which would inter
fere with the normal administration
OF Justice in this case"
Warmers Seed store. 226 :. Mich