New-York tribune., 1921-12-26
Socialist Leader Happy as
Schoolboy as He Quits
Atlanta Penitentiary and
Starts for Washington
Gives Fare Saving
To Russian Relief
Only Plan for Future Is
to Work for Release of
All Political Prisoners
sc.csal Dispatch to The Tr.s.~,

ATLANTA. Dec. 25.-Eugcre " nebs,
Socialist leader, five times candidate
for President, was released from the
Federal penitentisry here at 1890
o'clock this afternoon. He had served
tro and half years OF a ten-year SEN
tence imposed in 1918 for violation Of
the espionage act. Communication of his
sentence by President Harding, to-
gether with the sentences OF twenty
three other prisoners who had violated
wartime laws. did not restore his citi-
scnship, but ii left the sixty-six-yesr-
CID Socialist chief free to return to his
home at Terre Hautc, Ind, and resume
the lecturing and organizing work that
hs was doing before going TO prison.
The only definite plan for the future
announced by Debs as he quit the
prison walls was to seek to obtain free
dom for the hundreds of what he called
"political prisoners"
Debs and group of followers, in
Guiding his brother, Theodore Debs,
vho had waited in Atlanta three days
tor the prisoners release, boarded
cay coach for Washington, where their
train is due Tomorrow morning. The
Socialist veteran explained that the
Pullman fares they saved would be
contributed to Russian famine relief
work. After conference with At
terney General Daugherty Debs will 90
TO 5 home-'to my dear little wife in
.erre Haute as fast as the train will
take me"
Free From Further Restrictions
The meeting with the Attorney Gen
er&l while not obligatory. was agreed
70 several months ago, when Debs was
II " as alngton at the invitation of Mr..
slus herty to discuss the possibil .ty of
"is being released or pardoned. AS
toon IS the Socialist leader has full
.t!ed his promise to meet the Attorney
General once more he will be free from
.urt er restriction or interference bv
the Federal authorities so far as the
Ngr charges against him are concerned
pusands waited outside the prison
'oi hours to-day in expectation of
erecting Debs as he emerged. AS he
walked out. escorted by Warden j. E.
Byche and Deput. Warden l.. J. Fletch-
O. great cheer went UP from the
crowd, and it was answered by cheers
from the 1900 men still behind the bars
f. the peaitentiary. Debs had the
reputation Of being model prisoner.
rs the cheers continued on ali sides
pebs raised his hat IN one hand and
his cane IN the other and waved back
al the fellow prisoners he had left.
!iancd
Dehs talked and acted like school
bog off for q vacation. At the outer
gates he shook hands fervently and
Assed the women and men alike who
Aad gathered to welcome him to lib
eFty. He turned and waved again at
'he walls from which cheers still rose.
he willingly posed for the moving pic
Mse cameras that clicked all around
lini. Mrs H. l.. Flanagan, her husban nd
'rd two children. who live near the
prison, were among the first to reach
hili. He kissed them and then kissed
them again at the request of the
Camera men. Debs and his party then
entered an automobile and drove di-
rectly TO the railroad station.
Greetings to r. l.. Stanton
The newspaper men had been able to
taiS to Deus before he left the prison.
After breakfast in the warden's quar-
ters the prisoner accompanied the war
Nen to the prison Office and there met
tae press representatives. His first
words were request for some one to
carry message to Frank l.. Stanton,
whose writings had been a treat to him.
10 volunteer Debs said:
Carry my Christmas greetings to
stanton. Tell him that have clipped
hundreds of his little poems and sent
them TO my friends. Tell him | hope
ne will live till he's q hundred years
old and hope | will be living to cele~
prate his centenary
When asked for statement on his
'oTn case or his views Debs smilingly
refused to talk. He said he was going
70 Washington for conference which
mad been condition of his release,
eat that he had no desire to discuss
his plans further.
he was smiling and happy, and ap-
parentiy in the best of health. He
iaughingly remarked when some one
ss1ggested he looked we'll kept that
y'Ae warden didn't want my appear
Continued on pags three)