The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1921-02-02
PRESIDENT NOT TO ACT
IN SENTENCE OF DEBS
Woodrow Wilson Refuses to Com.
mute Ten Year Term-Conduct
During -: War Barrier
To Action.

Washington, Feb.1-Recommenda-
ton by the department of justice
that the ten year sentence of Eu-
gene V. Debs, long prominent So
cialist leader and now serving SEN
tence at Atlanta for violation of the
war time espionage laws, be COM
muted effective February IL next,
Lincoln's birthday, was rejected to-
day by President Wilson and commu-
tation refused.
The decision of the president came
!! as no surprise because of his previous
refusals to intervene in the case on
the grounds that Debs sought to
handicap the government through op-
position to the selective service act
during the war, and that the grant
ing of clemency in this case might
induce similar tactics on the part OF
others in the event of another war.
The case was reviewed by special
board now taking up all convictions
under the espionage act and their
findings were indorsed by Attorney
General Palmer. The findings are un
derstood to have put Debs eligible for
parole on August 9.
The recommendation is understood
to have suggested that Debs had been
adequately punished.
Petitions were presented several
months ago by union labor and So
cialist leaders asking for the release
of the man now &c years old who
four times has been candidate for
president of the United States. The
case has been consistently and bit
terly fought both in and out of the
courts ever since Debs was indicted
and then convicted by a federal jury
at Cleveland Ohio. September IL,
1918, for violation of the espionage
act. Specifically the charges against
him included attempting to incite in
subordination in the military forces
and obstructing recruiting. The case
was appealed to the supreme court
of the United States, which sustain
ed the lower court on March 10, 1919
Chicago, Feb. 1.-The Socialist
party, through its national organiza-
tions in Chicago, issued a statement
today on the refusal of President Will
son to pardon Eugenve V. Debs and
the supreme court decision in the
Berger case.
"The supreme court in ordering
new trial for Victor Berger, j. Lewis
Engdahl, William F. Kruse, Adolph
German and Erwin St. John Tucker
confirmed what the Socialist party
the five Socialist officials were tried
the five ocialist officials We're tried
and convicted in an atmosphere of
hysteria and prejudice that made a
fair trial impossible.
"The Socialists asserted three years
ago, when the men were indicted and
repeated two years ago, at the time
of the trial, that the men were being
punished not for specific acts, but
solely and only for their work as
members and officials of the Socialist
party.
'In other words, the Socialists de-
clare that the prosecution of the five
men, together with the prosecution
of Eugene V. Debs and other espion-
age cases, were political trials, and
that the men are being punished for
political opposition to the dominant
political party and for no other Of
fense."
The statement applauded the su-
preme court decision as far as it re-
lated to Judge Landis and attacked
the motives of that jurist. 1t then
turned to the Debs case, asserting
that President Wilson had refused
to recognize the fact that the hyste-
ria of the war period is over and
that savage punishment for political
heresy is out of date"
political trials, political prisoners
and punishment for political heresy
have always been out of place in
America, and this country will be a
better place to live in when that
chapter is closed" said the conclud-
IL