The New York herald., 1921-12-27
Continued from First Page.

OF my release by communication, he
said, "it was coupled with the request
OF Acknowledgement Daugherty that l
come to Washington to meet him and
President Harding. The warden fur
rished me with railroad ticket to the
capital city for that purpose"
Debs explained that 1t was customary
upon the release of prisoners for the au-
thorities to give him his transportation
to his home or the place from which he
was sentenced, as he preferred. but that
he was given no choice by the warden
at Atlanta.
In ordinary circumstances. he said,
he would have gone home, as arrange
ments had been made for him to return
to his horne and demonstration OF
welcome was scheduled for him at Terre
Haute, but his plans were set aside
because of the request Of the Attorney
General.
Release Unconditional.
"I was courteously received by the
Attorney-General," he continued, and
expressed to him my interest In and my
devotion to my fellow prisoners who
were no more guilty than I and who
still remain in prison."
BY fellow prisoners, he explained, he
meant DOtn ''po1tlcdl OIeHuero anu
prisoners in general"
"At the White House." he said. Il
was received very cordially by Presl-
dent Harding. with whom exchanged
opinions and points OF view SO that he
might perfectly understand my attitude
in reference to my future sctvities.
During the visit took occasion 20 ex-
press my appreciation Of the considera-
ton.
"At both the offices of the Attorney
General and the President I was as
sured that my release was unconditional
and that, of course. would not be ex-
pected to depart from my principles
convictions and IDEALS"
Replying to question as to his citi-
zenship status. Debs declared his citi-
zenship was mon est He said he was
now not citizen Of the United States,
as the Communication does not restore the
rights OF citizenship, but citizen of
the world.
Where my star was" he exclaimed,
behold my sun. 1t is not strange that
a man should lose his citizenship in a
system where he Is branded as a felon.
There is an admirable consistence about
that. But a convict for his principles
Is always a citizen in good standing.
He is citizen by his own inherent, God
given integrity. The only man who
loses his citizenship Is the man who re-
nounces his principles and abdicates his
| manhood"
Out Of Touch Three Years.
| Asked about his future activities Mr.
Debs declared he would have to adjust
himself before making definite plans and
that he would take his stand later"
At Atlanta, he continued. he was COM
pletely out Of touch with developments
in the Socialist world because he was cut
off by the Government from all CORE.
spondence with 1t. All so-called liberal
papers and magazines, he asserted. were
denied him up until three weeks before
his release, although he was permitted
the orthodox. capitalistic newspapers
Even clippings Of local happenings in his
home town sent him by his wife, he de-
clared. were taken from his letters, tori
into bits and thrown into the trash by
the prison authorities.
Debs expressed himself feelingly of hi.
fellow prisoners a. Atlanta. He was on,
of them. he said, and would accept NJ
favors nor privileges not accorded tn,
others. and when he left, he declared, h
left 1880 prisoners in tears ant
cheers"
His communication. Debs declared. wa.
IAN obligation" to the freedom Of "ever,
political prisoner the Socialist leader