The Washington times., 1921-12-29
WELCOMED.
HOME BY $4,000.
ANDbRASS BAND
Parade and Fireworks Greet
Socialist on Return to
Terre Haute, Ind.

TERRE HAUTE. Dec. 29.-Eugene
v. Debs was welcomed home last night
with red fire and blaring bands. Fully
$1,000 men. women, and children. the
home folks Of Terre Haute and the
workers in mine, shop, and mill from
the surrounding towns, INDUCED In
Demonstration such as probably never
before greeted the return OF man
from Federal prison.
Twenty-six years ago Debs was
greeted by his followers when he re-
turned from prison, but that demon
stration sinks into insignificance be-
side the one accorded Inn last night.
For more. than three blocks people
were wedged together in a solid mass.
Men fought to protect women from
being crushed against the sides OF the
ailway coaches. Photographers set
UP their cameras, but were swept OH
their feet. Police were helpless to hold
back the throng3.
Taken Home on Truck.
On to the truck Debs was lifted, his
raId head cleaning beneath the
torches. He kissed his hand to the
cheering crowds as they streamed
along behind bearing white placards
on which various legends were In
Smiles Now" read one; prison and
President Can't Scare Me- read
another. There was whole sea OF
them-"Study the Constitution, The
Twentieth Century Redeemer, The
Great American" 1.-THE Great Lover"
1.-THE Great Humanitarian, He
Served the Working Class"
A band led by two men carrying
o long streamer with the words, wei
come Home, Comrade Debs," struck
UP Hail, Hail. the Gangs All Here,
and the procession moved through
crowded streets to the Debs home, an
cid frame residence at 451 North
siRhth street. There another throng
had gathered that stretched from
building line to building line OF the
wide thoroughfare.
Mrs, Katherine Debs-Kate Debs,
Terre Hauters call her-stood silently.
,r1mly on the wide veranda. During
her husbands absence she has lived
alone in the old home with her aged
mother, Mrs. Katherine Baur, now
almost blind.
Mrs. Baur's prayer has been that she
might live long enough to see Gene
come home" When told that he had
stopped over in Washington and would
be DELAYED she said. "If Gene has gone
10 washingto he must be right. Gene
ie always right"
Wife In iii Health.
Mrs. Debs has suffered from heart
trouble, and II il feared the shock
OF the Homecoming might prove too
much for her. She expected her hus-
land on Thanksgiving. and then Tor
Christmas dinner. and recently rela-
tives had attempted to keep the news
from her until 1t was definitely as.
sured when Debs would be home. Blu,
c. few days ago she went shopping
and heard from others in the store
that he was coming.
As the torch-lit truck paused In front
OF her home, a band played Home,
Sweet Home" Debs, standing bare
headed, and Mrs. Debs, waiting at the
head of the steps, supported by her
brother, Arthur Baur and Mayor
Charles r. Hunter. AS Debs buffeted
his way to the perch, his hand was
grasped again and again. Finally no
one stood between him and his wife.
He flung his arms around her. kissed
her and bowed his head against her
cheek as she buried hers upon his
shoulder. Thus they stood for a full
moment as tears streamed down their
cheeks.
After a brief speech from his front
porch he withdrew to his home with
only his wife and their near relatives
present.