Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1921-12-24
FREE DEBS
fcontinued from PAGE One)

fC0nItNOSo bsOtU GdS0 SU0l
.sa espionage law and sentenced to
s.ur wears; Giovanni Baldazzi, SEN
weed to ten years after espionage
=, conviction at Chicago: David T.
4 r,odgett, convicted at Des Moines,
Iva. and serving 20 years on charges
II opposing the selective service act,
Tho is now in st. Elizabeth's hos
.;taI for the insane for observation.
others given Communication were ].
H. Cumbia, convicted at Oklahoma
ri,v and sentenced to six years for
collation. of the espionage act;
rbomas Carey. convicted at San
rrancisco for violation Of the espion-
see act serving a two-year sentence:
rsmes NJ. Coldwell, convicted at
providence, r. l., for violating the
espionage act, serving three years:
Woiick Fieron, convicted at Detroit
under the espionage act and SEN
tenced for 20 years, but already
even a Communication Of sentence to
ave years by President Wilson.
Claus Freese, who was sentenced
at Ell Paso, Tex, to five years at
II Teavenworth for departing from the
j limited States unlawfully in time Of
| war in an attempt to sell the German
| consulate In Mexico plans for a new
| Gun similar to those designed for use
l bv the United States Army: Ed.
Hamilton. convicted at Chicago, Au-
gust 20, 1918. and sentenced to ten
Years under the espionage act: Will
liam ]. Head, sentenced at Sioux
\ Falls, n. D., in 1917 for violating the
espionage act.
Gustave H. Jacobsen, convicted at
Chicago and sentenced to three years
for attempting to set on foot a mill
tary enterprise in India against Great
Britain during the war; Mrs. Idell
Kennedy of Los Angeles sentenced to
y ten years for attempting to cause in
subordination and refusing to do
duty among selective service men.
Y Jack Law, convicted at Chicago
I for violation of the espionage act,
and sentenced to ten years; John L.
murphy, sentenced to five years at
Sacramento, Cal, under the espion-
age act; Walter Phillips, convicted
at Oklahoma City for hindering the
selective service law and sentenced
/ 10 ten years, though he was re-
. leased on parole January 10, 1921, by
President Wilson.
Anthony J. Stopa. sentenced to 20
q years after conviction at Detroit on
charges of obstructing enlistments
and H. L. Trelase, convicted at Far
r 90, in 1919 of espionage law VIOLA
ton and sentenced to two years.
Jose Prado, sentenced to two years
II for bringing aliens into the United
States unlawfully in time of war; AL
bert B. Prashner, sentenced to ten
4 years in 1913, after conviction at
Chicago for violation of the espion-
u age act: Wilhelm Schumann, con-
ycted at Fort Dodge, Iowa, under
the espionage act, and sentenced to
n Ave years: Joseph A. Schur and
Maurice L. Snitkin, both serving six
year terms to which they were SEN
fenced at Indianapolis in 1913 for
violating the espionage act.
The action was taken after the de-
y partment of justice had studied sep
arately the cases of 1877 persons
serving sentences for violating war
time laws and after Atty. Gen.
Daugherty had discussed the situa
ton at length with President Hard
J ing, who was said to be DESTROYS, If
possible, of granting some pardons
/ lor Christmas. The combinations,
4 1t was explained, do not operate to
restore citizenship lost by the felony
convictions. but the pardons do.
> Announcement of the action taken
was made personally by President
Harding late today.
= "The list in the MAN," said an ex-
ecutvc statement given out at the
N White House, sis made up of those
II who opposed the war in one way or
another, and it is made up of less
II than a third of the I. w. w. prison.
n ers and these have either expressed
full pentence, or are booked for de-
Y portation. The department of justice
r has given no recommendation in be-
half of the advocates of sabotage or
Y the destruction Of government by
I force and the president let it be
known, he would not consider such
Y cases. In addition to the five soldiers
on the list. many other cases are I'M
der consideration.
y NO comment was made by the
president on the case of Debs. The
president and the attorney general
had given very extended considera-
ton to tn Debs petition, and it is
known that the fact that he had
twice been the presidential nominee
Of a million Of voters had it's influ-
ence in reaching a decision favorable
|. to his release.
The president expressed the wish
that it be stated that the grant Of
clemcncy in the cases acted upon
does not question the justice of any
action Of the courts in UNFOLDING the
law in time Of national peril. but he
feels the ends of justice have been
lairly met in view OF the changed
conditions. The vast majority of CO.
called political prisoners still \ i'm
prsoned are of the I. w. w. group,
are rarely American citizens and
have no good claim to executive
cemency. A number of convicted
| citizens have never been imprisoned,
owing to appeals under bond. There
are also many thousands Of indict-
ments under war legislation stni
bending. These do not come under
executive consideration"
A supplementary White House state
ment on the Debs case further am
nlifed the view taken by the presi-
dent.
There is no question Of his guilt
I and that he actively and purposely