New Ulm review., 1921-03-30
.DE:BS, :UN!G:U!'ARDED,
VISITS II (; CAPITAL. ) [
SECRET TRIP FROM ATLANTA
MADE WITH APPROVAL
OF PRESIDENT.
CONVICTED SOCIALIST CHIEF
CoNFERs WITH OFFICIAL
IN WASHINGTON.

Unattended and without the. knowl-;.
edge Of the public, Eugene V Debs;
imprisoned Socialist leader, went to.
Washington Thursday from Atlanta
penitentiary and for three hours dis
cussed his case with Attorney General
Daugherty The unprecedented trip
of Mr. Debs was made with the ap-
proval of President Harding, who re-
Gently requested Mr. EDaugherty ito
review the case of the Social st leader
and make recommendation on it.
Daugherty Announces Visit.
The attorney general, in announcing
late Thursday that Debs had visited
Washington and was on his way back
to the Atlanta penitentiary, said that
while there was no precedent for calling
prisoner to Washington, without a
guard, it had been decided in confer
ence with President Harding that mas
much as Debs had defended himself
at his trial, he should go there to
answer in person such inquiries as the
government desired to ask. Mr.
Daugherty added that he believed he
had the authority to place the prisoner
on his honor and he had sssumed full
responsibility.
Arrives Early in Day.
Debs arrived in Washington early in
the day, went to the department of
justice about 9:45 o'clock, conferred
with Mr.. Daugherty and Guy T. Goff,
assistant to the attorney general, from
about 1880 to 1880 o'clock, and left
Washington at $3.50 o'clock on the re-
turn trip to prison. His movements
from the time he left Atlanta Wednes-
day were kept strictly secret, except to
a few officials of the department of
justice. For that reason newspaper
men who gathered late in the day for
the attorney generals weekly confer
ence, gasped and refused for while to
believe their own ears when, they heard
Daugherty say:
No News Except on Debs.
II don't believe I have much news
for you, gentlemen, but regarding
Dabs' visit, I have had statement
prepared" ys4 "a, ,..,...a&
Then with a brief explanation Mr..
Duagherty gave, out the following
statement:
In connection with the investiga-
ton OF the Debs case, and after con-
ference with the President and with
his approval, I had Debs come here
for the purpose Of making certain in,
quiries of him: He has returned to
Atlanta. 'taf
II have asked him to refrain from
saying anything for publication or
otherwise, regarding the subject of the
inquiries made. I am sure no we'll
meaning person will urge him to dis
cuss this matter or anything that took
place on his journey or during hisostay
here"
Refuses to Comment on Case,
Mr.. Daugherty refused to comment
on the presentment made by Debs of
his case and declined to answer any
questions as to what recommendation
he would make to the President, rela-
tive to the Socialist leader, who was
convicted and sentenced in 1918 to o
years Imprisonment for violation of
the espionage act.
Debs, Mr.. Daugherty said, looked
and acted during his visit much as any
other man. He was said to be in fair
ly good physical condition, although
apparently somewhat nervous. The
prisoners physical condition, Mr.
Daugherty added, necessarily would
be taken into considera ton by the gov
ernment in its decision as to his case.
In the penitentiary at Atlanta, Debss
is employed part of the time in the
hospital and part in the library.
Strict Orders for Secrecy.
Strict orders were given by the At
torney General, department. officials
said, that Debs' visit should be kept
secret until Mr.. Daugherty was ready
to announce it and the orders were sue
cessfully carried out.
Debs reached the Department of
Justice Thursday morning about
quarter of an hour before the Attorney
General arrived, it was said. Acting
under instructions, attendants ushered
him into the Office of Frank Gibbs, the
Attorney Generals secretary, who
seated him in small private room ad-
joining Mr.. Daugherty's office. He
wore a brown suit, slouch hat and black
shoes, officials said, and carried an
overcoat and black bag.
Went Into Conference.
About 1880 o'clock, after the Attor-
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