New Britain herald., 1921-09-01
SOCIALISTS SCORE
 HARDING AND LEGION
Decline to Accept DebS' Case
 Reason for Action
VETERANS CLUBS RAZZED
Calls \. l.. \. Militarist-Junltcr Clique Representing Abysmal Alive.

| Chicago. Sept. 1.-In statement is sued today commenting on President | Harding's failure to act on an appli- cation for pardon for Eugene Debs until after the peace treaty with Ger many is ratified. the socialist national executive committee which is meeting here, declares we decline to accept the latest reason given for failure to act. It is not in accord with the known facts"
 Speaks of German Spies The statement refers to the release of many convicted German spies. some of whom were convicted of placing bombs on ships sailing for European ports and denounceS the American Legion.
 No Definite Action
 The committee" the statement says learns with profound regret and in- dignation that. after months of wait ing, no definite action has been taken by President Harding. xxx The United States has today the unenviable dis tinction of being the only country where the administration has not granted a full amnesty to all its poli- tical prisoners. Every German agent convicted of overt acts against the government during the war has been pardoned. Some were convicted of placing bombs on ships sailing for European ports.
 Both the light sentences they re- ceived ana the clemency shown these criminals of the old ruling class af Germany are significant. Acts which, if committed, by American citizens. would incur the death penalty for treason. are apparently considered of minor importance when compared with the frank criticisms uttered by citizens in war time"
 Wait Until Peace is Signed.
 ''The analogy is all the more as- tonishing when press reports indicate tho failure of the president to act is due to his desire to wait until peace is signed with Germany. We would understand the reasoning employed to justify this course were it used to justify tho continued incarceration of German agents convicted of criminal acts
 Declines to Accept Reason.
 We decline to accept the latest reason even for failure to act. It is not in accord with the known facts. It is known that one militarist organ ization the American Legion. born un- der mysterious financial auspices, that has indulged in kidnapping of social that mas mOD spirit and has inspired and led mobs; that has usurped the civil and police functions of many communities; that is nursed by chambers of commerce and has attempted to terrorize those not in accord with its ignorant and reactionary views. has insolently at tempted to thwart the efforts of mill lions to restore this country to it's old status as a nation where all are free to speak and to write.
 Budding Militarists-Junl<cr CIique''
 This budding militarist junker clique does not represent the present or the future. It represents the era of abysmal hatreds which it hopes to keep alive. If 1t gained asccndancy in councils of the nation would suppress every civil right with the bayonet as the strutting militarist caste did in the old Germany. It represents dark ness. not light: ignorance, not intel liEence: stupidity, not tolerance; mili- tarist bureaucracy, not enlightened humanity"