Norwich bulletin., 1921-12-28
LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

Mr.. Editor: l would like to say few
words in regard to the political prison
ers released from prison by order of
President Harding.
In statement given out at the
White House, speaking of Debs. it saws :
There Is no question of his guilt and
that he actively and purposely obstruct-
ed the drift. In fact he admitted it at
the trial, but sought to justify his ac-
ton. A careful study of Debs' Can
ton speech fails to show a single state
ment Fhich might be construed as
'obstructing the draft" After reading
Deos. statement made in court it is i'm
possible to find that he admitted it."
Debs in his speech at Canton, Ohio,
on June Is, 1918. said: L realize that
in speaking to You this afternoon that
there are certain limitations placed upon
the right of free speech, I must be ex-
ceed1ngly careful, prudent, as to what 1
say, and even more careful and more
prudent as to now I say it. l may not
be able to say all I think but I am not
going to say anything that 1 do not
think" A little farther on he asks:
Are we opposed to Prussian militar-
ism?' Debs then proceeds to fay the
militarists and junkers of Germany in
no uncertain manner. Later he calls
attention TO the cause of wars in gem
eral: Wars have been waged for con-
quest, for plumber. In the middle ages
the feudal lords, who inhabited the cas-
ties whose towers may still be seen
along the Rhine-whenever one of these
! feudal lords wished to enrich himself,
then he made war on the other Why?
They wanted to enlarge their domains.
! They wanted to increase their power.
nd
upon each other" One year later in a
speech at st. Louis President Wilson
said: Why, my fellow-citizens is there
any man here, or woman who does not
know that the seed of war in the mod
( ern world is industrial and commercial
| rivalry? This war was a commercial
and industrial war. 1t was not a DO
| litcal war"
Eugene V. Debs was sent to prison
| for telling the truth, and for NOTHING
| else. Woodrow Wilson confirms the
truth Of Debs' statement as to the cause
| Of war, For telling the truth Debs
is called a criminal while Wilson is z
| respected member Of society. The mos
despicable part of this executive elem
| ency, lies in the fact that by commutfne
the sentence of the politicals. they ar,
deprived of their citizenship rights. TIL,
hVe soldiers who were convicted of muir
Ger and given life sentence, are par.
doned, which means they are restored
to full citizenship. No\ comment is nee
essary.
Agitation for a general amnesty will
not cease because a handful of men how,
been released. There are 1913 men stiI
= prison for exactly the same reason
that Debs was. Apparently the peopI
are at last awake to the fact that no1i
teal prisoners are not criminals ia,
by day petitions and letters from organ
izations and prominent people in al
walks of life pour into the White House
IN letter signed by the Rev. Holm A
Ryan of the Social Action Depa rtnen
of the National Catholic Welfare Conn
Gil, Basil NJ. Manly, former joint chair
man Of the National War Labor RoarC
the status of members of the I. w. "
who were convicted under the esponag
act is summed up as follows: Not
: single l. W. W. is in prison on A cor
: Viction of sabotage or violence. All {
them are now serving sentences sole1
} on that portion of their indictment
which charged them with consulting +
: violate the espionage act by expressin
their opinions against the war
, We speak from a careful examination {
= the court records in these cases. The
make clear beyond dispute that no
w. W. is now in prison in these wa
/ cases except for expressions of opinic
e on war. How can thew legal
e or morally be denied precisely the san
= consideration as is accorded Eugene
t Debs and other classes by the govern
q ment as political offenders
GEORGE F. CAMPBELL.
S Norwich, Dec. IS, 1921.