The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1921-12-26

SOCIALIST
CHIEF SEES
PRESIDENT
Continued from First Page.)


Into Secretary Christians office,
where he remained seated a moment.
Christian came out of President
Debs, introduced himself. and q few
moments later, at 1855 to be exact,
Eugene ". Debs was ushered into
the presence of Warren G. Harding.
The man to whom he owes his free
dom.
Debs was closeted with the Presi-
dent for half an hour. He then
returned to his hotel.
Debs arrived in Washington at $50
o'clock this morning.
Feels Like Young Panther.
II feel like young panther" said
the Socialist leader on his arrival in
Washington.
Debs has come out Of the prison
where he was sentenced three years
ago little aged, physically worn, but
full Of his old fighting spirit.
II he rests after his return to his
home in Terre Haute. it will be only
for short time. his friends say. They
predict he will tour the country,
agitating for the release Of the l. w.
WIS and other political prisoners con-
victed during the war who are still
incarcerated, and expounding his
views in the same militant manner as
Of yore.
The Soviet government Of Russia
has invited the Socialist leader to be
its guest, 1t was learned today. Debs
is considering the invitation, 1t was
stated, and may later visit the Boil
shevist country to study it's form OK
government and the results schievel
by the Communists.
Held to FOrestall Demonstrations.
According to Debs' friends, the de-
lay that marked his release from
prison and his summons to Washing
ton were to .forestall demonstrations
planned In towns on route to his home
and the welcome arranged Tor him
in Terre Haute.
Had he gone direct to Terre Haute
from Atlanta, as planned before 1t be-
came known that he had been sum.
-oned to the White House, he would
have reached his home town today.
Debs walked this morning from the
Harrington Hotel, where he Is stop
ping, to the Department Of Justice.
4e was accompanied by his brother.
Theodore, and Miss Robbins. of the
American Federation of Labor am
nesty committee. Attorney General
Daugherty was waiting for the noted
Socialist, and received him alone in
his office at IL o'clock.
In Conference Thirty Minutes.
Debs was In conference with the
Attorney General for half an hour. A;
the end of their conversation, Dets
eft the Department of Justice fer the
White House. He was accompanied
by his brother.
The Socialist leader was accom-
panied to Washington by his brother,
Theodore Debs; Miss Lucy Robbins.
secretary of the American Federation
of Labor amnesty committee; Miss
Coils Trotter, representative OF the
Debs Freedom League, and David
Karsner, his biographer.
Gets Tributes on Train.
On the train en- route passengers
and railroad employees WED with one
another in paying tribute to the man
sentenced to ten years Imprisonment
for denouncing and opposing the war.
He left prison with only enough
money to pay his railroad fare. He
insisted upon riding in the day coach.
giving the money that would have
gone for a Pullman berth to Miss
Robbins for the Russian famine relief
fund. The excitement Of the day told
on him, and when night came he was
on the point Of exhaustion. He stub
bornly refused to go into the Pullman
to sleep for the night and gave in
only after members of his party In
formed him that they would stand by
his side all night II he did not consent
to accept the berth arranged for him.
Brakeman Brings Greetings.
The news that Debs was aboard
spread through the train soon after
his entrance. Passengers in the day
coach rushed to shake hands with
him.
When no entered the dining car for
lunch q negro waiter almost dropped
tho tray of food he was carrying as
he exclaimed: "Gawd, it's Debs!'' and
forgot his hungry patrons to welcome
the famous prisoner to freedom.
As the train drew into the station
ut Washington, q brakeman came
aboard.
"Comrade Debs. all tho boys in
Washington send greetings" he said
$500 Prisoners Cheer Him.
When the prison doors closed be-
hind him at Atlanta yesterday, the
Socialist leader wept-deeply touched
by the scene he had just left. most
remarkable demonstration had at
tended his departure from prison. All
rules in the institution had been sus-
pended In his honor. and the $500 in
mates were permitted to give him a
rousing "send-off." As he walked to
the warden's office to receive his final
release, cheers from $500 threats
echoed through the great stone build
ing.
They stood at the window and
pheered as he entered the warden's
and rode out of the
prison into freedom.
Ii BEST Beloved Prisoner"
Early in the morning he had said
farewell to most Of them individually.
They embraced the best beloved
prisoner" as Debs was known in the
Atlanta institution, and wept as he
parted from them. One youth
swooned in his arms.
The last farewell was said to Sam
Moore, = negro who has been an
inmate Of the prison for thirty years,
sent there from Washington FOR q
murder committed while he was .
boy.