The Washington times., 1920-08-02
FRANCEF|GHTS
T0FREE DEBS
Maryland Senator Believes Es-
pionage Act Utterly Un-
constitutional.

BALTIMORE. AUG. 2.-Unlted States
Senator Joseph j. France OF Mary
land has taken active leadership OF
campaign soon to be launched to
bring about Congressional action in
favor OF a general amnesty for all
prisoners convicted during the war
for violation of the espionage laws.
conspiracy to defeat the selectivc
draft and other activities To defeat
the successful prosecution OF the war.
Among others for whom clemeDcy
will be demanded is Eugene V. Debs,
Socialist candidate for President, who
Is serving ten-year sentence in the
Federal penitentiary at Atlanta for
conspiracy against the draft law.
When communicated with by telo-
phone at his summer home at Port
Deposit last night. Senator France
admitted that he had taken the active
leadership in the campaign. saying
That TT will be a nationwide fight
before we are through with IL and we
VIII win II before we are through
with it,"
BELIEVES ACT ILLEGAL.
when I entered the Senate" Sem
ator France said. 81 took an oath to
defend the Constitution OF the United
States, and the espionage act was an
unconstitutional act. in my judgment.
in that il infringed upon the rights
OF free speech and free press which
are guaranteed by the Constitution.
My resolutions call for amnesty
for those who are imprisoned for
words and opinions only" he con-
tinued, distinguished from overt acts
against the Government"
Senator France said he introduced
the resolutions. upon the request OF
the American Federation of Labor, at
the last session of Congress, but that
they were not reported by the
judiciary Committee during the ses-
sion, and were held over. Some of the
members of the judiciary Committee,
he said, have been convinced of the
need for the resolutions. and he be-
lieved it was possible that this COM
mittee will hold a meeting before the
opening of the next Congress in De-
cember to consider this matter.
THE resolutions have the backing
of the entire American Federation OF
Labor" Senator France said. Many
of the local unions OF the federation
already have indorsed them and be-
fore the convening of Congress every
local union in the United States will
have passed resolutions indorsing my
bills"
1T is possible that the --'7e RS
will be relessri halrry t0e. Isso4uli ons
are passed. 10 said. "as the sentI-
ment over the entire country is sr
strongly in faror of these resolutions
that it is possible pressure viii be
brought to bar upon the President
to take action several prisouc a.
ready have been released who were
sentenced under the espionage act"
Senator France said that the senti-
ment in favor OF the resolutions intro
.luced by him was stronger in the
country than it was in Congress, but
hat by the time Congress is assem-
1led again many Senators and Con-
-ressmen will have been instructed by
heir people to favor amnesty for
prisoners convicted under the espion-
rge act.
Announcement of the part taken
W Senator France was made yester-
'ay by the Central Labor Bodies Con-
'erence in Washington which also
rade public an open letter sent by
)ebs from prison to Mrs. Lucy Robins.
ocretary of the conference, begging
is friends throughout the country
desist from all further attempts to
cure his individual release and con-
nitrate upon an effort to secure free
I'M for all prisoners convicted under
he espionage law.