The Rock Island Argus and daily union. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1920-1923, 1921-12-23
SOCIALIST
LEADER is
RELEASED
Leaves Atlanta at Once to
Spend Christmas at
Home.
BULLETIN.

Washington, Dec. 23-(By
the Associated Press.)
sentence of ten years impris-
Onment imposed upon Eugene
V. Debs, Socialist leader, fol-
lowing his conviction OF ViOlat-
ing the espionage act. WAS
cOmmuted today by President
Harding.
Debs, who several times was
a candidate for president, was
convicted on three counts
growing out of his alleged OBJ
StructiOniSt activities during
the war, but when his appeal
reached the supreme court that
tribunal acted only on one,
that dealing with the inter
ference with recruiting, which,
the government charged. re-
suited from the speeches Of the
Socialist leader.
The president also granted par
dons to five former soldiers, ef-
fective Christmas day.
Debs was ordered released from
Atlanta penitentiary by President
Harding along with % other per-
SONS convicted OF similar offenses-
Washington. Dec. 23.-(United
Press )-Eugene V. Debs, veteran
Socialist, is expected to receive his
freedom as a Christmas present
from President Harding today.
Within a few hours Debs prob
ably will pass out through the
gates of Atlanta Federal prison, an
citizen once more, after
having spent two and a half years
a convict behind the bars because
Of utterances against the war with
Germany. Many of the other 1917
political prisoners probably will
be freed.
President Harding will make his
ong delayed announcement regard
ng release of socalled political
prisoners at the White house late
oday. Although it has not been
stated officially that Debs will be
n this list, every indication in Of
icial circles points to it
Many PardOns Expected.
The president completed his
tudy of the 1877 cases under con-
liberation during q long confer
nee with Attorney General Daugh-
rty at the White house last night.
t could not be learned just how
many of these political pris9eT5
ire to be released before Christ
mas, but the best information is
hat one third Of the cases will be
Lcted upon favorab1y at this time.
No general political amnesty gill
Ie granted, it is stated officially.
each case will be disposed of on
is own merits Those of the so
called political prisoners VINO
we're avowed |. W. WIS or anarch-
sts, will be reserved for review at
/ later date it is understood. There
S no disposition in administration
circles to exercise the same Ieni-
,ncy with them as with men who
are imprisoned simply because
hey did not approve of the war
with Germany or the method OF
it.
Citizen Again.
President Harding will either
grant an outright pardon or
0I sentence II re
easing the prisoners. The pardon
,aTries full restoration of citizen
ship while the Communication sim
ply releases the prisoners without
granting him citizenship privileges.
There may be some exceptions but
Jebs does not come in this class
IS he has served one third of his
en- wear sentence.
In order for Debs TO be at home
omorrow night he must leave At
anita tonight 1t was intimated
hat preliminary orders already had
gone to Atlanta prison to make
fer Debs' release. so
.hac his trip will not be delayed
ana he VIII be sure OF his first
Christmas at home since 1919.
sIrs. Debs ILL.,
Terre Haute, Ind. Dec. 23-
United Press. Mrs. Eugene V.
Oebs Is in bed and il q serious cor
Iition because OF heart trouble.
Sudden notification OF her hus-
yard's release is impossible Tor tbs
'eason.