The Washington herald., 1921-03-25
Comes From Atlanta for
Conference With At
torney General.
GOES BACK ALONE
9 AFTER HEARING
Daugherty to Give Hard
ing Opinion on Par
don Shortly.
=, ARrHuR SEARS HENNINd.

BY ARTHUR SEARS HENNING.
Unaeconpanied and unrecognized,
Eugene v. Debs. Socialist candidate
for Presiden. hast fail. who is serv-
ing a ten years sentence in the
Atlanta penitentiary for oestruet-
ing the draft during the war. called
at the Department of Justice yes
terdzy and conferred for more than
two hours with Attorney General
Dzugherty.
With the approval of President
Harding. Mr.. Daugherty sent for
Debs and permitted him to come
to washington and return to prison
alone. The Attorney General ques-
toned the prisoner as to the ex-
pressed views Of opposition to the
war, which led to his conviction;
as to whether he has changed MS
attitude in any respect; as to his
physical condition and other mat
ters pertaining to the question OF
releasing the aged radical from fur
ther confinement
Da.sherty Declines Infernatien.
Mr.. Daugherty declined to reveal
what information he obtained from
Debs or to indicate any conclusions
therefrom, stating he would advise
the President shortly whether in
his opinion clemenoy should or
should not be granted.
Debs, furnished with a round trip
ticket to Washington, left the At
lznta penitentiary, boarded a train
and mingled with the passengers
absolutely unrecognized so far as
is KNOWN. There was no one at
the station to meet him when he
arrived in Washington at noon yes
terday, when he hailed taxi and
was driven to the Department OF
Justice. =
Unrecognfxed at the department.
he inquired his way to the office OF
the Attorney General. sent in his
card and soon was closeted with Mr..
Daagherty and Col. Guy ID. Goff, as
sistant to the Attorney General.
Deb. starts Back Alone.
After the conclusion of the con-
ference, Debs left the department
still unrecognized and started back
to prison, where he is due to arrive
this afternoon.
The fact that Debs had been at
the department did not become pub
lie until Mr.. Daugherty received the
newspaper correspondents an hour
after the prisoner had departed.
There Is not much in the way OF
news" began Mr.. Daugherty, "ex-
cept that / wanted to tell you about
Debs coming to Washington today.
i have a prepared statement ready
for you"
Thereupon the Attorney General
handed around this statement:
Tn connection with the investiga-
tion of the Debs case, and after con-
ference with the President and with
his approval, had Debs come here
for the purpose of making certain
inquiries of him. He has returned
to Atlanta have asked him to
refrain from saying anything for
publication
Debs Presented Own Case.
Z am sure no well-meaning per-
son will urge him to discuss this
matter or anything that took place
on his journey. or during his stay
here. Debs presented his own case
to the trial court and jury. He was
permitted to do so here. The Debs
case. as I have said before, stands
alone
Il could not of course, go to him.
What took place and the informa-
tion I have acquired will be re-
ported in due time only to the
President. and that in connection
may be made when the investiga-
tion is concluded. Debs came here
without guard and so returns to
Atlanta. Col. Con. assistant 20 IN.
Attorney General, was present dur
ing the inquiry"
Taft interested Listener.
Former President William II.
Taft called upon Attorney General
Daugherty just before the news
pspermen were ushered in and re-
mained during their conference. He
appeared extremely interested in
the -Debs case and the questions
asked about It.
One of the very first Inquiries
put to Mr.. Daugherty was where
the authority lay for allowing a
Federal prisoner to make the trip
to Washington and return un-
guarded
Il am satisfied there is fun AN.
thorify." said the Attorney General.
II have not looked it up, but / am
satisfied II exists"
What precedent Is there tor it7"
he was asked
Daaeherty Takes Responsihflfty.
We'll, there is a precedent now"
he replied. II discussed the matter
with the Presiden. and L am will.
ing to take the full responsibility
for my action
There IL not the slightest dam
added the Attorney General.
As to the health of the prisoner
Mr.. Daugherty said:
He looked very well. although he
appeared to be a little nervous"
There has been. much pressure
lately to force a general amnesty
for political prisoners. comprising
those who violated the espionage
Law. and who obstructed the draft
law through speeches and action.
Mr.. Daugherty, asked II the Debs
case would be the basis of q general
roiicy m this matter, said:
NO. this Is an individual case; ii
stands alone"
did Debs display, any change of
mind7" asked correspondent. al
CONTINUED on PAGE THREE.