Amarillo daily news. [volume] (Amarillo, Tex.) 19??-current, 1921-03-25
EUGENE DEbS, At
REQUEST HARDING,
VISITS CAPITOL
MADE JOURNEY FROM ATLANTA
PRISON TO WASHINGTON.
UNATTENDED.
DISCUSSES OWN CASE
Action Does Not Mean Adoption oi n
Policy of General Amnesty To-
ward Political Prisoners. says
naugherty.
bY Aaaoclalsl l,Iaan.


WASHINGTON. March 2i.-unat.
tended and without the knowledge of
the public Eugene V. Dcbs. imprisoned
socialist leader, came to Washington
today from Atlanta pcnitcntiary aud
i0r three hours discussed his case with
Attorney General Daugherty. The un.
pIecedented uip of MFR. Debs WIS made
with the approval of Prcsldcn, Hard.
Ink, who recently requested Mr..
Daugh,crty to review the case u the
socialist leader and make rccommcn.
d,tion ON II,
The attorney general In ANNOUNCING
tonight that Dcbs had visited Washing
ton and was on his way back to The
Atlanta prison. said that while there
was no precedent Tor calling a prisoner
10 Washington without guard. II haa
been decided IN conference with prcai.
d,nt Harding that In ~ much as Dcbs
lad defended himself at his trial. he
should come here To- answer ln person
such inquiries ~ the government de.
siies To ask Air. Daughcrty added
that he believed he had authority to
place the prisoner ON his honor and
, that he had assumed full responsibility.
Dcbs arrived IN Washington early In
The das. went 10 the department 9,
Justice about a:is o'clock. conferrcd
with Mr. Daugherty and Guy d. Goff.
assistant to The attorney general from,
about lO:3O tO $50 o'clock and left
Washington at $50 o'clock On the re
turn trip 10 prison. His movements
IRON the time he left Atlanta yesterday
were kept strict secret. except 10 "A few
Uflcials Of the department of justice.
For that reason newspaper men wht
gathered late In the day Tor the attOr
hey generals weekly conference, gasp
ed and refused for a minute or two Ia
believe their own ears when they heard
Mr.. Daughcrty say. II don't believe
have much news for you. gentlemen,
hut regarding D,0s' visit. | have had
h statement prepared"
SIR. Daughcrty refused to comment
on the presen,ment made by psha oi
his case and declined 10 answer any
question M TO what recommendation
w Nuhtu nnhkt tn Tue lltHlhcHt ltls
tive to the socialist leader. who wac
convicted and sentenced In 1918 e.
ten years Imprisonment Tor violation
uf the espionag. act.
uels. Mr. Daugherty said looked and
acted during his visit much as any
other man. lie was yaid to be in fairly
good physical condition. although ap
parrntly somewhat nervous. The pris
uncr's physical condition. Mr.. Daugh
-rty said. necessarily would he taken
inio consideration by the government
IN its decision as to his ease. In the
icnitentlnry Gt Atlanta Dehs is employ
I'd part Of the time IN the hospital
hhd part IN the library.
strict orders were Ilvcn by the attor
ney generals department, Officers
Siid, taht Dcbs' visit should he KEEP
secret until AIR. Daughcrty was ready
TO announc. II nnd the orders were ~,
crctly carried ont.
The attorney general In his talk viii
newspaper men emphasized that thu
calling nf Dcbs Ia Washington did moi
mean adoption of policy nj genera
amnesty toward political prisoners, bu
wns merely to facilitate the invcstga
tIon Of hls case.