New-York tribune., 1921-12-29
$4,000 Give
Debs a Noisy
Welcome Home
Terre Haute's Residents,
With Hundreds From the
Nearby Towns, Greet Him
With Bands and Red Fire
Weeps at Sight of Wife
Delivers a Brief Speech
Of Thanks; Mrs. Debs in
Collapse Before Arrival
y,ecia, pispatoh 70 rhc rribune

y-ecia, Dispatch to The Tribu.c
TERRE HAUTE, Ind, Dec. 2S.- Eu-
gene v. Debs was welcomed. hem, to-
night with red fire and blaring bands.
Fully $4,000 men, women and children,
people of Terre Haute and the workers
in mine, shop and mill from the sur
rounding towns, INDUCED in a great
demonstration.
Twentysix years ago Debs was
greeted by his followers when he re-
turned from prison, but that demon
stration sinks into insignificance be-
side the one accorded him tonight.
serving six-ironths' sentence at
Woodstock, Ill., fc~ violating an in
junction in connect on with the Pull
man strike. On tnat occasion car
riage had been prepared for the gala
march to his home, but Debs scorned
TO ride wniie the others walked. To-
night he had no alternative but tc
ride. He was caught up in surge of
humanity as soon as he set his foot
upon the station platform and was
borne along on the crest of it until
ne was lifted into an automobile truck
agleam with red torches.
For more than three blocks people
were wedged together in solid mass.
AS Debs was lifted on to the truck his
bald head cleaned beneath the torches.
He kissed his hand to the cheering
crowds as they streamed along behind,
bearing white placards on which vari-
Gus legends were inscribed in brilliant
red: Everybody smiles now," read
one. "Prison and President can't scare
me-" read another. There was a whole
sea of them.
Wife Collapses at Home
A band, led by two men carrying a
long streamer with the words, "Wel-
come Home, Comrade Debs," struck up
Hail, Hail the Gangs All Here" and
the procession moved through crowded
streets to the Debs home, an old frame
residence at 451 North Eighth Street.
There another great throng had gath
cred.
Mrs. Katherine Debs-Kate Debs,
Terre Haute calls her-stood silently
on the wide veranda. During her hus-
bands absence she has lived alone in
the old home with her aged mother,
Mrs. Katherine Baur, now almost blind.
Mrs. baur's prayer has been that she
might live long enough to "see Gene
come home" When told that he had
stopped over in Washington and would
be delayed she said: 'If Gene has
gone to Washington he must be right.
Gene is always right"
Mrs. Debs has suffered from heart
disease, and it was feared the shock of
The homecoming might prove too much
Tor her. Recently relatives had at
tempted to keep the news from her
until it was definitely assured when
Debs would be home. To-day, as the
hour approached, she collapsed, and
was reported under doctors care.
Tonight, however, she stood before the
cheering throng, her lips quivering, her
white ringlets. of hair peeking from
under black bonnet. ,fs
Weeps as He Reaches Home
AS the torch-lit truck paused in
front of the home band played
Home, Sweet Home" Debs standing
bare-headed and Mrs Debs waiting at
the head of the steps, supported by
her brother, Arthur Baur, and Mayor
Charles r. Hunter As Debs buffeted
mis- way to the porch his hand was
grasped again and again. Finally no
one stood between him and his wife.
He flung his arms around her. kissed
her and bowed his head against her
cheek as she buried hers upon his
shoulder Thus they stood for full
moment as tears streamed down Debs's
cheeks. If any word passed between
mem 1T was not heard even by those
who stood at their elbows. They part
Cd and Debs embraced and kissed the
other members of the family. For the
second time Mayor Hunter stepped for
ward and planted kiss on the Social
ist,s cheek. He already had kissed
OeDs as he stepped from the train.
Celia Rotter, one of the officers of
the Debs Conference for Freedom. who
mad accompanied Debs on the train, an
nounced to the crowd that he would
nave few words to say.
Liberated, but Not Free
Brothers and friends, and neigh
bors and comrades" Debs began. az
am home again"
THANK God, Gene" exclaimed an old
man in the crowd
What wonderful, beautiful demon
stfatlon, what picture to greet the
eye; from the very depths of my heart,
thank you. To every man, woman and
child who has been so kind and helm
ful to my wife during my absence 7
give thanks for your devotion. Ever
since l went away l have felt thas
each one of you was with me in the
spirit. You have secured my liberia
tion, but am not free. Ny JOY was not
completed. because l was compelled TO
others behind the bars who are no more
guilty than was /. And l will not stop
in my work until all of them have
been returned to their loved ones.
There is no bitterness or rancor in
my heart against anyone. was SIM
ply true to my convictions. In the
future we may differ in our opinions,
but there will always be that spirit
OF friendship. How futile, how weak
IS language to express my feelings. It
seems to me that / can hear your
hearts throb and / would like to put
my arms around each one of you.
cannot make speech tonight but /
can love you and do, thank you from
the depths of my heart. And / wish
YOU all good night and godspeed."
cheer arose as he turned and
gathered Mrs. Debs in his arms. The
door was held open and together thew
passed inside. The celebration was
over but down the streets marched the
crowds, turning and counter-marching
through the principal streets with
bands playing, speakers pausing now
and then to harangue group on a