Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1921-12-27
DEbS Says He
INVITED TO
WASHINGTON v
Asserts Attorney General
Daugherty Ordered
Him to Report
CALLS ON PRESIDENT
Personally Thanks Executive for Re-
lease From Prison-Goes Home To-
day.

Washington, Dec. 27.-Outside OF
the White House yesterday stood L
thin, baldheaded, unobstrusive little
MAJ. He wore d gray overcoat and
suit that did not fit any too well.
Ii was a "Pcnitentiary outfit"
He looked over the wonderful ex-
panse of the White House grounds.
The trees were stripped in tribute to
winter. There were fountains in
which no water played because Of the
season. Pet squirrels pecked from
their little hooks of refuge. A land
scapc coldly kissed by the breath OF
another Christmas and winds that
swept on to somewhere else m
vigoratcd him.
The little man was Eugene '.
Debs, released only few hours from
the federal penitentiary at Atlanta.
President Harding has committed his
sentence Of ten years on charges OF
obstructing the draft for the conduct
of Americas part in the world war.
1--WE started for here four or five
times" said Dcbs, but this is the
first time ] ever landed
The former convict was referring
to the times he had campaigned for
the presidency of the United States
on the Socialist ticket.
A few minutes later Debs went m
side, met his liberator and thanked
him for his release. They were to-
pether half an hour. 4 little more
than year ago the two men. PrcsI-
dent Harding and Debs, were rival
candidates for office now held by
the former. At that time the can
didacy of Debs was conducted from
the federal prison.
Unless his citizenship is restored
because Debs had received only
communication and not Il pardon--he
may not run again.
Dcbs spent busy day in Washing
ton. Besides seeing the president,
he called on Attorney General
Daugherty, who later issued the fol-
lowing statement:
II have received call from Mr..
Debs. 7 volunteered no advice to
him, and he asked none. There were
no unusual conditions attached to his
commutation His call upon me was
of his own volition. Twill shortly give
out for publication. with the presi-
dents consent, my recommendation in
the Debs case. My object in doing
this will be to refresh the memory
of the American people of Debs' vio-
lations of the law and to inform them
of the reasons for his communication.
| hope it will be educational to some
extent
~ have nothing further to say
regarding Debs' call or regarding his
c@se except that | hope he, may direct
his talents to a useful purpose. And
! trust that the notoricty he has re-
ccived may not be commercialized. l
say this because observe gathering
about him and undertaking to pro-
mote him persons who have not the
best interests Of the country or So
| ciety at heart. His lifc's effort, pur-
suing as he has until now, when he is
again free man, a theory erroneous
in principle. should not be COM
mcrcialiZed.'
When the statement was shown to
Dcbs he said:
81 am here at the invitation of the
department of Justice said Mr.. Debs.
"The invitation was so strong that 4
ticket for Washington was bought for
me and handed to me by the warden
of the penitentiary as ! was leaving.
| was not consulted as to my destina-
ton"
/ Friends of Dcbs resent MIR. Daugh-
erty's statement. They say that Debs
! is not commercial. that he had never
turned to profit his devotion to such
principles as he processes.