Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1921-12-26
Debs Given
at
ssp,u As"Siss,,es VQlC
"a 80 "rs ~S'l'
from Crowd OH Outside
Echoed by Cheers From In.
mates as Socialist Leader
Is Released.
Goes Direct to Capital
Goes Direct to Capital

Atlanta, Dec. 25.-Eugenc V.
Debs, several times socialist candi-
date for president, was released from
Atlanta penitentiary at ll:30 this
morning, the balance oil his l0-year
sentence for violation of the espion-
age act having been commuted by
President Harding.
Debs left an hour later for Wash
ington. his release having been con-
ditioncd, he said. on his reporting
10 Attorney General Daugherty. He
refused TO issue statement or to
comment on any way on his case.
He expects to reach Washington
about 7:j0 d. III. Monday.
An ovation was given Debs as he
emerged from the prison. The roar
from the crowd was echoed plainly
IRON within the walls as the many
friends he had made shouted a
goodbye. Debs paused and waved
his hat to a group within the prison
before entering an automobile to go
to the station.
Friends Of Debs said he planned
to go to his home in Terre Haute,
Ind, when bis business at Washing
ton was concluded.
Accompanied by Brother.
Dcbs was accompanied to WASH
ington by his brother, Theodore,
who had been in Atlanta for several
days; Miss Lucy Robbins of the
American Federation of Labor; Miss
Celia Rotter, member OF the Debs
freedom conference, and newspaper
men.
For 4S hours, friends of Debs had
kept a watch over the prison, ex-
pecting his release despite reports
from Washington that his commuta-
tion of sentence did not become eff
fective until after midnight Satur-
day. Warden Dyche and Debs had
breakfast at the wardens residence
and Debs later returned to the in
stitution.
Just before Debs was formally re-
leased the warden issued orders per-
hitting newspaper men to enter the
prison, where they were shown the
dining room and kitchens and the
Christmas dinner being spread for
the $500 inmates. They entered the
warden's private office and greeted
Debs before he LETT.
Ride in Day Coaches.
At the railroad station Debs de-
cided that the party would ride i'll
day coach and would donate the
Pullman fare to the Russian relief
fund Il left $500 men back there
and they all should be given their
liberty" he said "They we're all my
friends" He also declared he would
work for the release for what he
characterized as political prisoners.
Debs was convicted in September,
1918, for obstructing the draft, and
was sentenced to 10 years. His
friends carried the fight to the
United States supreme court, which,
in March, 1919, upheld his convic-
ton, and he was taken to the
Moundsville (W Va) penitentiary.
A few months later he was trans
ferred to the Atlanta prison. Last
spring he went to Washington with
out escort for a conference with At
torney General Daugherty, in con-
nection with efforts to obtain his
pardon.
Debs was frequently praised as a
model prisoner.
Warden Dyche and former War
den Zerbst beth referred to him "as
All influence for good" in the prison.
Daugherty Expecting Debs.
Washington, Dec. rs. - Attorney
General Daugherty said tonight he
expected Eugene V. Debs to call at
he Department of Justice to discuss
he communication of his sentence by
President Harding. When Debs was
here recently it was decided, Mr..
Daugherty said, that in the event he
was released or his sentence COM
nuted, it might be we'll for him to
come here for a final conference.
There was no reason, however, the
attorney general added, that Debs
should be formally obliged to come
here, as was indicated by the re-
eased socialist leader when he left
The prison.