New-York tribune., 1921-12-27
Arch Enemy of Prisons
He Declares ON Arrivalin
Washington, Where He
Confers With President
Declares Release
Is Unconditional
Citizenship Non Esi,' He
Says s;DaughertyOpposed
to SSelling' Notoriety

WASHINGTON Dec.s 26. Eugene V
Debs, tic times candidate for the
Presidency, arrived in Washington to.
day free man, after serving two and
halt years of his tcn-year term in
Atlanta FcIeral prison for Obstructive
America S war efforts, and after calling
upon President Harding and Attorney
General Daugherty announced that he
would devote his time henccforth to
the freeing of all prisoners.
VII. Debs said he had talked over his
principles thoroughly with both Mr.
Harding and Mr.. Daugherty and that
they had assured him that his releasc
was unconditional and did not impose
on him any obligation to depart from
his ideals.
AT the White House." he said, ~
was received very cordially by Presi.
dent Harding, with whom / exchanged
opinions and points Of view so that he
might perfectly understand my atti-
tude in reference to my future actiyi
ties. During the visit | took occasion
to express my appreciation of the con-
sideration.
AT both the Offices of'thc Attorney
and the President | was as
surcd that my release was uncondi
tional and that, Of course, would not
be expected to depart from my prin-
p1NIos 4
His Citizenship "Non EST
Il was courteously received by the
Attorney General" he continued. "and
expressed to hlm my interest in and
my devotion to my fellow prisoners
who were no more guilty than | and
who still remain in prison.
BY fellow prisoners, he explained, he
meant both political offenders and
prisoners in general"
Replying to question as to his
citizenship status, Mr.. pebs declared
his citizenship was mon est He
SAID he was now not a 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
man should lose his citizenship in a
system where he is branded as a fclon
There IS an admirable consistency
about that. But convict for his
principles is always a citizen in good
standing. He is a citizen by his own
inherent, God-givcn integrity. The
only man who loses bis citizenship is
the man who rcnounces his prnci Piles
and abdicates his manhood"
Will Define Stand Later
Asked about his future activities. Mr.
Debs declared he would have to adjust
himself before making definite plans
and that he would take lis stand
later"
At Atlanta, he continued, he was
completely out Of touch with develop
ments in the Socialist world, because
he was cut off by the government from
all spondencc with it. All So
called liberal papers and magazines, he
asserted, were denied him up until
he was permitted the "orthodox, capi-
taistic newspapers Even clippings OF
local happenings in his home town sent
him by his wife, he declared, were taker
from his letters, torn into bits and
thrown into the trash by tho prison
authorities
Mr. Debs expressed himself feelingly
Of his fellow prisoners at Atlanta. He
was one of them, he said, and would
accept no favors nor privileges not &C
corded the others, and when he left
he declared, he left "2,300 prisoners
in tears and cheers"
His communication, Debs declared, was
"an Obligation to the freedom OF
"evcry political prisoner the Socialist
leader describing himself as The "arch
enemy of prisons"
Mr. Debs said it was his intention to
leave Washington for his home in
Terre Haute as soon as possible. He
had some personal engagements here
he said, which included visit from
Samuel Gompers, president of the
American Federation Of Labor.
the Socialist leader was accom-
panied to Washington by his brother
Theodore, and Socialist and labor o.
ficals
When he got off the Atlanta train
at Union Station he was met by :
CONTINUED next psss)