The Washington herald., 1921-12-24


Ohio, OF violating the espionage act
and sentenced September I. :s1s.
70 ten years in the State penIten-
uary at Moundsville, w. Va An
appeal was taken to the Supreme
Court of the United States, where
the Judgment was affirmed March 10,
1918, and Debs began his sentence
april IL. 1919, in the West Virginia
penitentiary. but was later trans
ferred TO the United States peniten-
uary at Atlanta, Ca, where he has
since been confined. He will be
eligible for parole August IL, 1929
His term. with allowances for good
1925.
Reasons for Release.
1t is impossible" said a state
ment from the Justice Department,
In a limited compass. to review
All the facts in this case or the
representations that have been
made both in behalf of and against
the release OF this prisoner. There
IS however, no question of his
guilt, and that he actively and pur-
posely obstructed the draft In
fact, he admitted 1t at the trial, but
sought to justify his action He
was by no means, however, as rabid
and outspoken in his expressions as
many others. and but for his prom
tnence and the resultant far-reacn-
ing effect of his words, very prob
ably might not have received the
sentence he did. He is an old man,
not strong physically. He is man
OF much personal charm and i'm
pressive personality. which qualif-
cations make him a dangerous man
calculated to mislead the unthink
Ing and afording excuse for those
with criminal intent.
"Debs has now been in prison
over two years and eight months
and will be eligible for parole next
August. Very few. probably,
would regard a Communication to six
years or even five, as unwarranted.
Under such a sentence he could be
paroled at once. Under all the cir
cumstances IL was believed that the
ends of Justice would be sum-
GENTLY met, and il would be a gra-
cious act of mercy to relieve this
prisoner from further confinement.
Accordingly. the sentence was COM
muted to expire at once"
Ends War Course.
The long list of other prisoners
whose sentences were committed by
ing chapter in this governments
firm course toward those who were
held to have obstructed war activ-
ity.
Charles Ashleigh was convicted at
Chicago of conspiracy to violate the
espionage act. and was sentenced
August 80. 1918. to Imprisonment for
ten years in the United States peni-
Tertiary at Leavenworth, kans., and
to pay a fine of $4,000. His term,
with the allowances for good con-
duet. will expire April 10. 1926.
Ashleigh is an Englishman who
came TO this country in 1912, later
associated himself with Big Bill"
Haywood in connection with the
i. w. W. He was writer and
speaker of some note, and while |
there is no proof of overt act on
his part, he co-operated with lead
ing l. W. WIS up to and Immediately |
following the declaration of war by
this country. 1t is earnestly claimed
in his behalf that the government
failed to Introduce any evidence con-
Meeting him with wrongdoing. Very
little is shown concerning his activi-
ties after the war began. and he
asked to be released and deported to
England. He has been confined in
all approximately two years, and
the sentence is accordingly COM
muted to expire at once upon con-
dition that he be deported
Case of Anderson.
Orville Anderson was convicted at
Deadwood, S. OAK. of violation of
the espionage act and sentenced Oc-
tober 5, 1918, to four years in the
enworth. Rans., and a fine of $1,000.
Anderson was not an /. w w,
but was guilty of making public
statements calculated to prevent
enlistment into the army. 1t was
testified that he criticized the Presi-
dent as a murderer and denounced
the war as unconstitutional He,
however. denied the statements at
tributed to him, and claims that he
never wilfully attempted to cause
disloyalty. characterization or re-
fussl of duty.
Giovanni Baldazzi was convicted at
Chicago Of conspiracy and violation
of the espionage act and was sem
fenced August 30. 1918. to ten years
Imprisonment in the United States
Penitentiary at Leavenworth, Kas.,
and a fine of $4,000. His term,
with allowances for good conduct,
expires September s, 1925.
Agent for Reds.
Baldazzi was a paid organizer for
the J. W. w. and manager and sub
scription agent for the "Ilproleta-
RIO" an italian /. W. W. newspaper
He wrote articles for this publica-
ton. A warrant for his deportation
has been issued and the Department
of Labor advises that IL would be
desirable to deport him. The SEN
tence. accordingly, has been COM
muted to expire at once on condi-
tfon that he is Immediately deported
to Italy.
David T. Blodgett was convicted
At Des Moines of causing insubor-
dination. mutiny and disloyalty. etc,
and interfering with enlistment and
recruiting. in violation of the espi-
oneage act and sentenced January 5,
1918. a. twenty years at Leaven-
worth He began his sentence in the
Leavenworth Penitentiary, but was
afterwards transferred to st. Ella
beth's Hospital for the Insane. this
city, and from there transferred to
the Atlanta Penitentiary. where he
Is now confined.
Opposed to War.
Blodgett wrote pamphlets oppos-
ing the war with Germany and AL |
leging that the selectiye service act |
was unconstitutional. There was no |
force advocated in the pamphlet.