Evening star., 1921-12-24

StrOctlOm OF government Dy 1OrCe, ana
the President let it be known he
dition to the five soldiers on the list.
many other cases are under consid-
Grafton.
mo comment was made by the
President on the case of Debs. The
President and the Attorney General
to the Dsbs petition. and it is known
that the fact that he had twice been
the presidential nominee Of a million
Of voters had it's influence in reaching
a decision favorable to his release.
THE President expressed the wish
clemency in the cases acted upon does
not question the justice of any action
of the courts in enforcing the law in
a time of national peril. but he feels
the ends of justice have been fairly
met in view of the changed condi-
political prisoners still imprisoned
are of the l. w. ". group, are rarely
American citizens and have no good
claim to executive clemency. A num-
Der of convicted citizens have never
been imprisoned. owing to appeals
under bond. There are also many
thousands of indictments under war
legislation still pending. These do
not come under executive considera-
tion."
Issues Statement ON Debs.
A supplementary White House
statement on the Debs case further
amplified the view taken by the
President.
There is no question of his guilt
and that he actively and purposely
obstructed the draft" this statement
said. I'm fact, he admitted it at the
trial, but sought to justify his ac-
tion. He was by no means, how
ever, as rabid and outspoken in his
expressions as many others, and but
for his prominence and the resultant
far-reaching effect Of his words, very
probably might not have received the
sentence he did. He is an old man.
not strong physically. He is a man
of much personal charm and impress
sive personality. which qualifications
make him a dangerous man, calcu-
lated to mislead the unthinking, and
inal intent"
Ctterances which resulted in Debs
conviction were contained in a speech
at Canton. Ohio, June 16, 1918. Mr.
Debs offered no evidence in his de-
fense and made his own address to
the Jury at the trial in Cleveland in
September, 1918. When Federal Judge
Westenhaver pronounced sentence
Debs' only statement was that "all
will work out well in Gods own good
time"
Friends Of Debs began immediately
q fight to save him from prison. His
case was carried to the Supreme Court
one count affirmed. March 10, 1919. A
few weeks later another effort was
made and a rehearihg Of the case ask
cd of the highest courts. 1t failed
and on April IS. 1919, he was taken
to Moundsville. w. Va, prison, there
to begin his sentence. Two months
later. however. he was transferred to
the federal prison at Atlanta.
Debs' friends did not despair the
final legal action. Appeal after ap-
peal was made to President Wilson
but he turned deaf ear to the peti-
tions, saying as he did SO that to re-
lease Debs would be to impair seri-
ously the morale of the people. At
torney General Palmer sent to the
President a recommendation for the
pardon of Debs, but Mr.. Wilson again
declined
Ordered Case Reviewed.
With the incoming of the Harding
administration. renewed efforts were
made to obtain clemency for the So
cialist party head. Mr.. Harding gave
no definite answer, but there were in
dications that the administration was
giving serious consideration to the
appeal, and then a ray Of hope broke
for the followers Of Debs, for about
April Mr.. Harding ordered a review
of the case by the Department OF
Justice.
Then it was that Debs came from
Atlanta prison to Washington unan-
nounced and unattended for con.
ference with Attorney General
Daugherty. He slipped into this city
quietly. held a three-hour conference
with Mr. Daugherty and was aboard
q train travelling southwark again
before his presence was announced by
Mr.. Daugherty to q group of dunn
founded newspaper correspondents.
Debs was described as q model pris.
oner at Atlanta In fact, Warden
Verst and Father Byrne. prison chap.
lain, united in declaring him to be
IAN influence for good" While serv.
| ing his sentence he was the choice OF
nearly a million voters for President
He was sixty-six years of age last
month.