Evening star., 1921-12-31
DEBS FAILS TO GET
ANYPARDON RIGHTS
Gratitude for Communication
Will Be Measured by His
Future Conduct.

The offense of Eugene V. Debs
against the government for opposing
and encouraging opposition to the Sc
lrctive service act. for which he was
sentenced to serve ten years i'm
prisonment in the federal penitentlary
at Atlanta. Ga. has not been forgiven
by the government. although he mas
been released from prison
Emphasizing the fact that the So
cialist leaders, sentence was commute
ed and that he did not receive par
don. which would have restored fuii
citizenship. Attorney General Daugh-
erty. in making public his recommen-
dations to President Harding lor the
former prisoners release, said DebS
was relieved solely as an act or
grace The gratitude of Debs, he
asserted. will be measured by MS
conduct in the future.
a pardon. Mr.. Daugherty said.
could not he recommended. as II
would doubtless be misunderstood 70
he a justification or condonatlon OF
his acts" but on the other hand. ne
added, to require DebS to serve MS
full sentence would present TO many
only an example of extreme and un-
justifiable severity" Too great
lcniency would be resented by those
who have stood loyalty to the support
of the government IN ltSk ..our VI
greatest need" he added.
Points to Future Policy.
The action by the government in
the case of Debs. in computing the
sentence, which does not restore full
civil rights to the prisoners may be
regarded, according to MIR. Diugherty.
as the future policy of the govern
ment in dealing with others lmprls-
oned for violation of the war laws.
-;t1. ,rIn fNa
continued. the object to be accom-
plished by Imprisonment. the protec-
tion of society must be taken into ac-
count-vengeance should not enter
into caSe-and where reasonable
punishment necessary for an example
to others is accomplished. there is no
justification for further Imprisonment
In the particular case of Debs, Mr.
Daugherty added, there was danger
that his prolonged Imprisonment
would have an injurious erect on q
large number of people who would
regard it as unjustifiable. and rather
than being beneficial to society, IT
might operate as an example OF
harshness.
Referring to the class of so-called
political prisoners. as they are are
termed. "by those who are demanding
their release" Mr.. Daugherty said.
"there is no real reason why they
should be treated any dinerently tnan
any other persons VINO Violate tne
law aside from the fact that many OF
them, as we'll as their friends and as
sociates on the outside. actually pc
lieye, and are sincere in their be!lef,
that they have violated no just law
and were strictly within their constl-
;utional rights in their pubic utter
ances which have been found TO De IN
violation OF the espionage act.
Some Consciously DislOyai.
"Of course. there are others among
them who were and are actively. con-
sciously disloyal to our government,
and who contemplate, and intend, TO
disrupt and overthrow our present
form of government whenever oppor-
tunity presents itself. and are work
ing to that end AS for them. nothing
need be said. They are past reason
and the only argument they can un-
derstand in the heavy arm or the law.
They have been justly and wisely
convicted and must suffer the penalty
of their misdeeds."
Mr. paugherty maintained that a
great lesson has been taught the
country the world and future genera
tions by the Supreme Courts decision,
which interpreted the law Alright Tor
the protection of the nation, when
assailed by foes within as well as
without"
Mr.. Daugherty advised the commu-
tation of Debs' sentence to expire De-
cember 81, but President Harding
made the action effective Christmas
day.