The Idaho Republican. [volume] (Blackfoot, Idaho) 1904-1932, 1921-12-29
THE PARDONING OF EUGENE
v. DEBS

| 1t was he who directed the strikes
in July, 1894, that resulted in fore
! IDLY stopping the delivery of the
United States mail for that he was
given a six months jail sentence
Perhaps it was longer sentence
than that, but If so it was commuted
at the end of six months. However
upon being released he made the
statement that he would never again
advise laboring men to do anything
that was in violation of the law and
indicated that he was somewhat dis
couraged about trying to do anything
to better the conditions of the labor
ing men. His statement sounded
very much like he had formed a reso-
luton to obey the laws as they exist,
or to have laws amended that he
did not approve of. In after years
he has been the leader of the Social
lists in America as Samuel Gompers
was the leader of the Federation of
Labor. and as Bill Haywood was the
leader of the Industrial Workers of
the World, usually spoken of as the
I. w. w.
When federal prisoners are re-
leased, the rule is that they shall be
furnished with transportation home
or to the place where they were
sentenced, and 1t seems that when
President Harding issued the pardon
for Mr.. Debs, he instructed the war
den of the prison to furnish him
transportation to Washington, d. c.,
with the request or suggestion that
he call on the president on his ar
rival there, which he did. He spent
half an hour with President Harding
on Christmas day and half an hour
with Attorney General Dougherty
These officials have indicated that
they will issue a statement in a day
or two or in the near future setting
forth the reasons why Mr.. Debs was
pardoned, together with statement
of the offense he had committed for
which he was in prison.
Mr.. Debs received a delegation of
newspaper men at his hotel and gave
! them statement that during his
imprisonment he had gotten very
much out Of touch with the Socialist
activities of the present time, but
he could make no statement as to
his future until he had looked about
and learned what was going on. He
said that during his Imprisonment,
he was not allowed to read any of
the Socialist literature, but that he
was permitted to read what he called
the capitalistic press of the country.
He said that when his wife wrote
letters to him and inclosed clippings
from the liberal papers, the prison
officials took them out of the letters
so that they would not reach him.
In reading his. statement one
seems to read between the lines that
he feels himself very much abused
man and that all other political per-
sons now serving time are also
abused and unjustly deprived of
their liberty. There is no word or |
note of penitence in all his express
sions, but he expresses himself as
feeling bitterly against all prisons.
He does not suggest any means by
which violators of the law should be
dealt with when they insist on doing
things that remove the protection
which society has set up for its
citizens.
When Mr.. Debs was convicted of
q felony it Cancelled his citizenship.
The order of pardon does not restore
him to citizenship, he is simply
man living in America and might be-
come citizen of any country In the
world If such country would accept
him on application. He makes one
remark that indicates his intention
Of continuing his Socialistic activities
Or at least that indicates his loyalty
10 Socialism. 1t is expressed in these
words, Where my star was. behold
my sun" We interpret that to mean
hat he feels that the cause for which
ne worked before his imprisonment
has become larger and brighter and
more easily recognized by the world
nan 1t was before. In other words
lis hatred for the present govern
nent has been intensified by his i'm
orisonment.
1t might be right to pardon
Eugene Debs; it might be best to
how every mercy to a great Of
ender; 1t might be the best thing
or a big generous government to
'xtend hand of mercy to an old
nan who had large following and
vas doing much to destroy the gov
and to destroy peoples 7
esteem for their government. It
night be best to release him; to let {
linn go out and preach his doctrine t
II hate or do whatever he is going 8
0 do or may decide to do hereafter, I
tut we do not feel any strong con- G
fiction that President Harding has I
lone the best thing in releasing him. t
After the Civil War there was 8
cry pronounced demand for the '
lead of Jefferson Davis, the presi- t
lent Of he Southern Confederacy. s
he almost universal demand thru ?
ut the northern states was that he s
hould be hanged. When he was d
aptured he was placed in a federal
Military prison and kept there for a
ONE months and was then liberated | o
n bond. Horace Greedy and other o
orthern men went on his bond to D
i've him his liberty and he was '
ever brought to trial for treason. Lis
his course outraged the feelings Of v
large percentage Of people Of the t,