The Washington times., 1921-03-25
EXPECT DEbS
TO Be FREED
Indications Point to Early Re-
lease Following Honor Visit
To Daugherty.

Eugene v. Debs Is returning today
to his cell in the Federal prison at
Atlanta after his brief taste Of free
dom-the first he has enjoyed since
his conviction under the espionage
act three years ago.
FREEDOM Is EXPECTED.
While Attorney General Dausherty
was cautious today about giving any
indication a. to the results of the
noted prisoners unprecedented trip
to Washington. alone and unguarded,
II can be said authoriativeiy that
Debs has immeasurabiy increased his
chances for executive clemency by
his two hour talk with the Attorney
General.
1t 10 understood that pebs made no
appeal for clemency. With the same
quiet dignity which he maintained
during his many trials and which has
marked his conduct in prison. the
prisoner came to Washington at the
Attorney Generals invitation. replied
to questions, made . quiet and force
ful presentation of his views. and
then made his way as quietly and un-
ostentatiously a. he came. back to
the train that returned him to the
prison that has been his home for
three years. He made no plea, II Is
understood. but merely stated his
case and withdrew. leaving his fate
in the hands Of those new in COM
mand Of official Warrington
One result Of his VISIT. however. was
Dsugkerty win speed up the labor Of
going over the records In the case.
The file Of papers in tho Dcbs' case
II 30 bulky that II ordinarily would
require several weeks to plow through
them. Today It 10 believed that the
Attorney General will be able to COM
municats his recommendations to the
White House within few days. There
10 good cause to believe that these
recommendations will not be unfavor-
able
HAS PRISON PALL0R.
The physical appearance Of the
prisoner made q marked impression
on the Attorney General and those
few others who saw him during his
brief stay here. Naturally thin and
cadaverous, the three years which he
has spent In Atlanta has enhanced
this appearance, and added to II Il
tho pallor that necessarily accom-
panies confinement between four
walls.
Iuo u1ooS ufaxk0u tuIuB aOouS u11
appearance, however. was the tndica-
tion of extreme nervousness. There
are numerous ststements on the At
torny Generals desk from many
sources that Debs cannot live to serve
out his ten allotted years. Whether
or not this IL true, Debs' physical
condition will figure largely In the
nnal consideration OF his case.
The conferences between Debs and
the Attorney General and the ar
rangements that accompanied II es-
tablished Q precedent in Washing
ton So far as 10 known never be-
fore has q Federal prisoner been per-
mitted such = privilege ~ was ae-
corded Debs.
DEPARTED UNREC0GNIZED.
The journey from Atlanta to WASH
ington was planned with the utmost
secrecy. Only the prison officials at
tho Atlanta end were In on the score.
and very few of them, according to
reports. Here In Washington only
President Harding, Attorney General
Daugherty and Chief William ].
Flynn. of the Department OF Justice,
were "in on the know" Flynn was
called in yesterday forenoon. It was
learned today, and acquainted with
the fact OF Debs coming. Flynn was
thus informed not so he could keep
Debs under surveillance. but to pre-
vent q possible chance recognition
and arrest at the station or on the
street by the chief or some of his
men. Debs came and went AWAY un-
recognized. He was on a train and
an hour out of Washington before the
fact Of his visit became known.