Americus times-recorder. [volume] (Americus, Ga.) 1891-current, 1921-12-24
PRISONERS ROAR
GOODBYE TO DEBS.

ATLANTA, Dec. 26.-Eugene v.
Debs, Socialist leader and several
times candidate for the presidency
on the Socialist ticket, walked out of
the federal penitentiary here at
1880 Sunday morning a free man,
the balance of his ten-year sentence
for violation of the espionage act
having been commuted by President
Harding last week. He left Atlanta
an hour later for Washington,
AS Debs left the prison steps and
walked down the driveway in com
pany with Warden j. S. Dysche and
Deputy Warden Fletcher a great roar
came from within 'the prison as the
1900 other inmates voiced their
good bye. The Socialist leader turn
ed toward the banks of windows and
bowed and waved his hat time and
again in response his face wreathed
in smiles.
Again at the gates as Debs posed
for half dozen camera men before
being whisked away to the railroad
station the roar from within the
prison greeted him and as he passed
through the gate he waved a final
adieu.
Debs left Atlanta for Washington
in accordance with instructions given
him by the warden as he was handed
his commutation papers. He declin-
ed to issue a statement of any kind
but in response to questions declared
his visit to Washington was one. OF
the conditions of his release. He
would call upon Attorney Genera
Daugherty he said, but was unable
Ito state how long he would remain
/ in the national capital or what was
to be discussed in his interview witt
the attorney general.
| 1t is his intention, Mr.. Debs stat
ed, to hurry to his home at TerrC
| Haute, Ind, as soon as possible
where he expected to take complete
rest, re-arrange his personal affairs
/ and lay plans for the future. Deb
was accompanied to Washington b.
his brother, Theodore who has beer
/ in Atlanta for several days making
arrangements for the trip home; Mis-
Lucy Robbins, of the American Fed
Grafton of Labor; Miss Celia Rotter
a member of the Debs Freedom con
ference, and number of newspaper
4 men.
For the last forty-eight hour
friends of Debs had kept ceaseles
watch over the prison, expecting hi
release at any moment, despite re
ports from Washington that his com
mutation of sentence did not becom
effective until after midnight Satur
day. Sunday morning furry of ex
citement swept the watchers wheI
Warden Dyche and Debs emerge'
from the prison and walked over t.
the warden's residence. 1t develop
ed, however that the Socialis
leader was only being entertained a
breakfast and short time later h
returned to the institution.
Just before Debs was released tn
warden issued orders permitting al
newspaper men to enter the prison
where they were shown the grea
dining room and kitchens and tn
Christmas dinner being spread fo
the inmates. They then entered tn
warden's private office and greete
Debs before he left the institution.
At the railroad station the Social
list leader declared the party woul
! ride in the day coach to Washingto
and donate the Pullman fare to tn
Russian Relief fund. When aske
! his views on the subject of the re
: lease of all political prisoners, Deb
declared he did not care to talk, bu
added: 81 left $500 men back ther
, and they all should be given thei
!. liberty. They are all my friends.
: He added that he would work for tn
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