Evening star., 1921-03-25

ATLANTA, March 25-EuEene
Debs, socialist leade, reached At
Ianta Mt II ,25 this morning on his
way back to his cell in the federal
penitentiary here after his visit
to. Attorney General DnuEherty
at Washington. Mr.. Debs declined
to discuss anything connected with
his trip to Washington. and nc
compnnied by Warden Zerbst md
his attorney. Samuel CnstietOn.
left the station immediately for
the penitentiary.
Surprise. more than mild. fingered
in the wake today of the unheralded
visit to Washington, unattended, of
Eugene V. Debs, imprisoned socialist
leader, to discuss his case with At
torney General Daugherty. Slipping
into Washington yesterday, Debs had
gone to the Department of Justice,
held three hours conference with the
Attorney General and left to return
to the Atlanta penitentiary before his
visit was announced by Mr.. Daugherty
to 4 group of neWSpapermen, whom the
socialist leader had successfully evad-
ed throughout the day.
Debs left the train at Alexandria md
came here in a taxicab He left WASH
ington at Union station at $3.50 o'clock
yesterday afternoon.
In announcing the visit of Debs.
whose case he recently was directed
to review by President Harding. the
Attorney General said he had called
the socialist leader to Washington
after comforting with the President.
1naSmuch as Debs had defended him
of frio Ia rtyh 1T "
it was decided that he should come
here to answer such inquiries as the
government desired to make.
The Attorney General refused to
comment on Debs' presentment Of his
case or to indicate what recommenda-
tions he might make in tr" matter of
clemency. The socials > leader is
serving a ten-year senter->i for viola
ton of the espionage act.
Mr.. Dnugherty's Statement.
While there was no precedent for
such procedure. Mr.. Daugherty said,
he presumed he had the authority to
call Debs here under the instructions
of the President
I'm connection with the investiga =
ton of the Debs case the Attorney
General said. in formal statement.
land after conference with the Presi-
dent, and with his approval. I had
DeDS come mere LOT the purpose OF
making certain inquiries of him. He
has returned to Atlanta. 1 have asked
him to refrain from saying anything
for publication, or otherwise, regard
ing the subject of the inquiries made.
l am sure no well-meaning person will
urge him to discuss this matter or
anything that took place on his jour
ney 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 1 have
said before. stands alone. 1 could
not. of course, go to him. What took
place and the information / have ac-
quired will be reported in due time
only to the President and that in con-
nection with any recommendation
that may be made when the investi-
cation is concluded Debs came here
without guard and so returned to At
lanta. Col. Guy D. Gof, assistant to
the Attorney General, was present
during the inquiries"
Wore Civilian Clothes.
Mr.. Daugherty said that sDebs ap-
peared ito be in good health, wore
as any other person at liberty.
While he was perfectly courteous.
officials said. Debs was not communi-
cative, nor did he evince any desire to
talk either before or after his con-
ference with Mr.. Daugherty.
The Attorney General, in his talk
with newspaper men. emphasized that
the calling of Debs to washington did
not mean the adoption of a policy of
general amnesty toward political pris-
oners but merely to facilitate the in
yestigation of the Debs case.
DEBS' TRIP WAS SECRET.