Twin city review. [volume] (Champaign, Ill.) 19??-1929, 1921-12-30
EUGENE V. DEBS
SECURES FREEDOM

institutions.
+ Ed Hamilton. I. W. ". organizer
convicted at Chicago, wrote an art
Gle entitled After the War What -
The department thinks there was no
serious overt act committed By this
defendant, and while the speeches aud
writings attributed TO him were ser
icus at that time and justified the
F sentence" of 40 years and $4,000
T fine
/ Jack Law. who drew 10 years and
+ $4,000 fine prior To 1915 was a dan
gerous leader and agitator for the |.
+ W. ". and cooperated with Haywood
+ st. John and others. Very little, how
ever, is shown concerning any like
activities after this country enterded
the war" He Is claimed TO have Civ
+ en- assurances of future abstention
/ from any "disloyal act toward this
country
/ Albert Phashner admits that he
+ was an organizer, etc, and held many
of the ideas advocated by the |. ".
W. but denied any anti-war activi-
i ties; indeed, he waived exemption in
/ the draft. "He states that he has
] denounced in all sincerity his former
! |. ". W. associates and all radical
affiliations and no longer holds the
ideas which led him to join the asso-
ciation." He has been taught n
lesson which will last him as long as
he lives and further punishment Is
! unnecessary"
/ The case Of Hamilton, Law and
/ Prashner were set forth i'm special
annex to the others, and appear to be
an afterthought of the President, fol-
/ lowing the protest against his origin
I al refusal to grant amnesty to any
|. W. w. not subject TO deportation.
Eugene V. Debs goes back into
the working class movement citizen
of the world, eager to serve all man
| kind and ready to forget the petit
ness and blindness of politicians who
have held prison keys against his
liberty during these three years past.
That was his message to his COM
rades, spoken, conveyed through the
warm clasp of his hand, the radiant
kindliness of his eye, the free poise
of his splendid head and the earth-em-
| bracing gesture of his sensitive hands,
as the spokesman of Americas eN-
plotted went about his errands in the
national capital, his last day of re-
straint before meeting his wife and
his old neighbors at home. Here un-
der virtual cOmpulsion-sent- there by
the warden at Atlanta to report to
Attorney General Daugherty and
President Harding, Gene Debs could
not be denied the renewal of his
pledge of loving service to tn. men
and women and children VINO ucar the
burdens of-ihAustrial society.
In vain did Daugherty issue a
statement attempting to impugn
Debs' cleanness of purpose--a state
ment suggesting that the great lead
er's "notoriety" would be conner
cialized." From the Terre Haute girl
employed in Daugherty's office, who
rushed with shining eyes to wiring his
| hand, to the ex-service men on the
sidewalk and the policemen at the
White House offices, the magic of
Debs' presence melted the discipline
and prejudice which reaction had nur-
tured. And the glow of the spirit OF
| this man shone over the places where
he walked or stayed. Old friends
] rushed to get smile from him and
pat upon the shoulder. Old critics
came forward to congratulate him
upon his freedom. Henry W. Nevin-
son. correspondent at the arms con-
/ ference for the Manchester Guardian,
sought an interview and joined in the
exultation of the group at the fact
that the beloved Debs was free.
When Debs had made his compul-
sorv visit to the office of Daugherty,
and had then walked to the White
/ House. and finally was back in his
hotel room surrounded by his friends
of the press, he told them of what
had transpired. He had appealed to
/ Daugherty for the release of all poll
/ tical prisoners, since none was more
guilty than myself" He had asked
pardon also for two of the "230O
/ friends" in the Atlanta prison-a ne
gro who had served 80 years for mur-
/ der, and man of notably high char
acter who is secretary to the warden.
He said he had been cordially re-
ceived by President Harding, and had
exchanged opinions and points of view
/ with him. $50 that he might under
stand my attitude in reference to my
/ future activities" He expressed TO
/ Harding his appreciation for the con-
1 sideratiCn shown the men thus far re-
/ leased. At both offices he was as
sured that his release was uncon-
/ ditionaI-that the administration
would not expect me to depart from
my principles, convictions and ideals;
He was asked what he would do
after his return home.
Il cannot answer specifically" said
4 Debs. with a thoughtful smile, be
cause, for one thing, l do not kno"
how long | may be out. That Is to
say. do not know what are the con-
ditions in my own little world-so
small and brief a part Of the vast
historical movement of the submerged
and exploited masses toward liberia
tion from their burdens. For nearly
three years l have been shut behind
bars and have been unable to keep IN
touch with the movement. You know
all human institutions are in process
of reaction, of breakdown and re-
birth i'm new forms. Our information
a movement is undergoing that
change. | must learn all ! can OF Its
situation. Then, when from all posS5l-
bic sources l have gained what lgnt
! | may, l shall set my course and ioi-
/ a .lana y