The Washington times., 1921-10-30
bEBS, SOCIALIST
HOPESFOR
fARLY FREEDOM
Expresses to Newspaper Man
His Ardent Desire to Leave
Atlanta Penitentiary.
OPRovES MODEL PRISONER
Greeted With Affection by Sam
= usI Compers During Latter's
% Visit to South.

81 WISH TO SCUM.
ace
Aes By WILLIAM Il. HAYES.
International News Service Staff Core
sfo0p'risAt i'hi s.ls,o.1 SS i''rnA'i0na' News
Esses ATLANTA Ca, Oct. 29.-Eu-
gene v. Debs, five times candidate
Of the Socialist party for President
of the United States, and for more
sfhan q score Of years recognized
Header Of his party in this country,
Vbut now serving term In the
United States penitentiary here for
alleged violation Of the espionage
act, hopes to be out In the open world
a again soon.
0sI Hope For Freedom.
aS For the first time since his incar-
ceration Debs today expressed to a
newspaper man his hopes for free
dom. when he met and talked with
an International News Service rep
6resentative.
cteDebs has talked with other news
a pa permen since he entered the prison
= In 1918, but never before has he
oglven any intimation that he hoped
Dkds term behind bars would be cut
sshort.
,sIThe genial Debs smile obliterated
the marks Of prison life as the kindly
old man met the reporter. His face
rs lined from the close contact with
q tlife that he has known, but his blue
ceyes twinkled and his hand clasp
4 2Nas that of the former Debs, hearty.
6warm and firm.
j. E. Dyches, warden Of the prison,
standing close by, permitted little
Questioning Of the prisoner beyond
aaphrely personal subjects.
os,Debs denied the persistent reports
sSthat his health is feeble.
60 ''At this time" he stated. Il am
weather set in, 1 have no COM
plaints"
: Silent On Politics.
Debs has been keeping vital In
terest in the affairs of the day. fol-
flowing in the closest possible detail
through the newspapers the progress
of the threatened railway strike and
ftthe disarmament conference at
washington. His opinions on these
matters and other similar things
~ however, could not be obtained.
"rPersons close to prison life here
have been chary of comments on the
probable release of the prominent
'-p@1s6ner, mainly because they believe
continued comment would only serve
TO stir up some factions to antago-
n,sm. 1t also Is stated In some circles
that there exists a belief that his re-
/ lease might be taken as an indication
( of his being upheld an certain princi-
Piles he has advocater.
Warden Dyches feels very kindly
toward his prisoner. He character
izes Debs as one OF the very best
prisoners in the institution, and says
IF the high mentality
of the man, he is able to exert a very
! fine influence on others.
"Debs has always been model
prisoner" said the warden. He has
| been given freedom of the grounds
4 He is allowed no privileges not ac-
corded other prisoners, and realizes
his position, which he accepts
chilosophically."
Debs has quarters in the hospital
/ building. He does not occupy cell,
4 but q has a private room. The sun
streams through the bars at his win
/ dow at times during the day, and the
! little apartment has solemn air. On
I his table by the window books and
I papers are arranged in orderly fash
| ion. = He spends much of his time
reading and writing, although what
\ he writes does not become known.
Receives Many Letters.
4 Debs is permitted to receive many
I letters, but is allowed only the usual
! privilege of writing twice a week
| Most of his correspondence, 1t is un-
, oerstood, is carried on through a sis
4 ter in Terre Haute, Ind.
Samuel Gompers, veteran president
Z OF the American Federation of La
I Dor, called on Debs recently.
Gompers waited in the warden's Of
\ flee while Debs was summoned.
!. When the two came face to face
: they paused dramatically, according
4 TO witnesses of the meeting. They
! gazed steadily at each other for a
moment and then steppe dforward
to grasp hands.
Tears came to the eyes of Debs as
fGowDcrs said:
"Mr. Debs, 1 am glad to see you.
"A long time ago a good many years
iago, | used to call Gene and you
called me Sam. I'd like to do that
tsam5 thing now"
Debs nodded assent.
( The interview the correspondent
shnd was FASTENED and short. At it's
lend Drbs said, significantly and with
"a bright smile:
( 81 hope to see you soon-very soon
i--on the outside. Goodbye"