The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1921-03-11
FRIENDS
URGED TO WAIT
Hapgood Warns Against Plan
to Harass Harding, "Who'II
Do the Right Thing"
BY NORMAN HAPGOOD.

BY NORMAN HAPGOOD.
The Socialists are planning to hold
a demonstration here in favor of the
release from prison Of Eugene Debs
and other political prisoners. can
give them a piece OF sound advice.
Don't do it.
GIVE HARDING A CHANCE.
| President Harding's attitude toward
the Debs case is so right that he de-
serves a reasonable time in which to
carry 1t out in action. He thinks 1t
ought to come up to him through the
Attorney Generals office and in that
he Is undoubtedly correct.
Mr.. Daugherty knows, however,
that President Harding wants the
case hurried, and also that one of the
principles most firmly fixed in the
Presidents mind is that we ought to
get rid Of old antipathies and the Bit
terness left over from the war just
as fast as we possibly can.
d. Mr.. Harding spoke severely Of Debs
at the time OF his conviction, and
do not pretend that he has any SYM
pathy whatever with Socialism. OPP
position to anything that can be
called -confiscation is OF the very
essence of his thought. He believes
thoroughly in private property as the
necessary and right impulse toward
activity.
HOW PRESIDENT STANDS.
Nevertheless, IL must not be for
gotten that he was the first public
man, in position to lose anything by
such a step. who came out in con-
demnation of the action of the New
York legislature in throwing out be-
cause of their Socialist doctrines mem
bers legally elected.
1t is my prophecy that IL the friends
of Eugene Debs and other political
prisoners will behave in a considerate
and courteous manner, Debs and prob
ably the other men now in jail Will
be at liberty before the present month
has run its course. Nobody can ac-
cuse me OF being lukewarm in tlye
pebs case, as l have given more work
to 1t in the last half year than to any
other one subject.
1t is because l feel so strongly the
advantages that Will result IL Mr..
Harding acts according to his prese 1t
feelings that l should deplore incon-
siderate action which might irrita:e
him or might make il more difficult
for him to follow his instinct.
The plan Is to picket the White
House, carrying banners, and using
other devices for attracting constant
attention, and for causing annoyance
to Mr.. Hafdig and his family. II he
President has not acted in couple
of months from now, such a course
will be perfectly fair and reasonable.
POOR JUDGMENT NOW.
Sprung on him in the first week of
the Administration. when he means
to do the right thing in this case. as
fast as he properly can, such a course
would show the worst judgment.
Not that IL is q light thing to be
kept in Jail when there is no decent
reason for you being there. Some
times ! wish all judges. all COVER
nors, all Presidents. and a large part
of the rich might spend a week or 80
in Jail, Just TO see what IL is like.
Every day that Eugene Debs is in
prison Is a dark blot on our history.
But President Harding Is not to
blame, and he has a right to go
through an orderly procedure. When
ask the Socialists to wait two
months, l do not actually believe 1t
will take a month.
Let me explain to these Socialist
friends a thing or two about the
Presidents general point OF view. He
is not a person of fixed principles
that he tends to drive through regard
less OF circufnst ances and details.
On the contrary, he believes that IL
Is impossible to see far ahead, and
he tends. therefore, to rely on de-
cisions made from time to time in the
light OF what develops. He feels that
he is misjudged when he Is charged
with fear of the bosses or with vacil-
lation, for to his own mind the prin-
ciple OF his conduct Is not fear, but
caution and respect for experience and
public opinion.
IN PHYSICAL PAIN.
To that type of mind the surround
ing circumstances. when the Debs
case and the other similar cases reach
him for decision, are likely to have
a good deal to do with the outcome.
Ispeak with confidence about what
his attitude is at the present time.
but l do not pretend to predict what
the results would be IL the case
should come up to him at a time when
a lot of people were picketing the
White House and giving the idea of
compulsion to anything that might be
done.
Some Of those interested in these
cases are really concerned about the
needless sufferings of the victims.
Others are more interested in using
the cases as mere starting points for
the kind of agitation that they apply
to every question:
1t Is to the former group that
address this statement about the
practical certainty OF his acting
promptly and kindly IL he Is let alone.
Mr.. Harding said recently that his
hobby Is doing kind things He will
scarcely forget that Eugene Debs,
who was forcibly prevented from
speaking to the. American people as
a candidate for their highest office,
is now in physical pain. sometimes