Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial., 1921-12-24
|DEBS AND OTHER WAR
OFFENDERS FREED
Harding Libsrates Socialist
Leader and Other Radical
Reds From Prison.

Washington Dec. 2i.-Presldent
Harding yesterday extended executive
clemency TO Eugene V. Debs and
twenty three other so-called political
prisoners. His action was in conson-
anca with long standing Christmas
custom, and all twcnty-three will be
Immediately released from prison,
though some are to be deported.
Debss sentence was commuted 10
expire Mt, once, as We're those of the
others. His citizenship is not restored
by the Presidents action. At the same
time the President pardoned five
! American soldiers of the Rhine forces
convicted of killing Q former British
officer. They were in the Rhine army
and were sentenced To life imprison-
ment. They are Carl |. Bryan, James
A. . Dell. Roy Youngblood, George
Van Glider and j. B. Richardson.
Action by the PRESIDENT in all cases
was taken on recommendation of At
torney- General Daughorty. All the 1877
cases of so-called political prisoners.
war offenders and many J. w, w. were
considered.
In making known the soldier par
dons and the combinations " sentence
at the Executive offices yesterday the
statement was n.ade that the list in
the main Is mado up OF those who op-
posed the war in one way or another
and Is made up of loss than one-th'rd
OF /. w. w. prisoners. and these have
either expressed full penitence or are
booked for deportation. The Depart
ment of Justice has given no recon-
mendation in behalf or the advocates
OF sabotage or the destruction of the
Government by force, and the Prcsi-
dent let IT, be known that he would
consider no such cases.
In addition 10 the five soldiers on
the list many other cases are under
consideration.
No comment by the President was
made on the case of Debs. II is known
that the fact that he had twice been
Presidential nominee OF n million vo-
ters had its influence i'll reaching a
decision favorable to his release.
The President expressed tho wish
that 1t be stated the grant of clemency
in the cases acted upon docs not ques-
ton the justice Of any action of the
courts in enforcing the law in time
OF national peril, but he feels the ends
of Justice have been fairly met in
view of changed conditions.
The vast majority OF the so-callcd
political prisoners still imprisoned are
'of the l, w. W. group, are rarely
American citizens and have no good
claim to Executive clemency. A num-
Der OF convicted citizens have never
been imprisoned, owing to appeals un-
der bond. There also are many thous-
and indictments under war legislation
still pending. These do not now come
under Executive consideration.
Dehs was convicted at Cleveland Of
violating the espionage act, and SEN
fenced September Il. 1918, to ten years
in the State penitcntary at Mounds
vile. W. Va. An appeal was taken
/ TO the supreme Court Of the United
States, where the judgment was
/ affirmed March 10. 1919. and Debs be-
gan his sentence April u, 1919. in the
/ West Virginia penitentiary but was
later transferred 10 the United States
Penitentiary in Atlanta, where he is
now confirmed. He would have been
eligible for parole August II. 1922.
His term, with allowances for good
conduct, would have expired December
26 1925.
Those freed by the President in
nclude: Eugene V. Dehs. Carl J Bryan,
James A o'Dell, Roy Youngblood
George Van Glider, ]. B. Richardson,
Charles Ashleigh, OrviIle Anderson.
Giovanna Baldazz, David r. Blodgett,
j. T. Cunbie, Thomas Carey, Joseph
NJ. Caldwell, Mojick Fieron, Claus
III Use. Ed. Hamilton. William J.
Head, Gustave Jacobsen, Mrs. Idell
Kennedy. Jack Law. John l.. Murphy
Walter Phillips. Jose Pradd. Albert Is
Prashner, Wilhelm Schumann. Joseph
A. Schur, Maurice l.. Snitkin, Anthony
J. Stopa, II. L. Trelease