The Bismarck tribune., 1921-12-27
GOES TO CAPITAL

Atlanta. Ca, Dec. 27-Eugene V.
Debs. several times Socialist candl-
date for president, was released from
Atlanta penitentiary at 1880 Christ
mas morning, the balance OF MS ten
wear sentence for violation OF the es-
pionage act having been commllted 10y
President Harding.
Debs left an hour later for Wash
ington, his release having been con-
ditioned, he said, upon his reporting
to Attorney General Daugherty. ne
refused to issue statement or 70
comment in any way on, his case -
Greeted by Ovation. N,
An. ovation was given the socialist
eader as he emerged from the great
iron gates of thu prison. The roar
from the crowd which had gathered
outside the walls was echoed plainly
from within as the many friends he
had made during the past two years
shouted goodbye. Debs paused in
the gateway and waved his hat to a
group within the prison before enter
ing an automobile in which ne was
taken to the station.
Friends of Debs said he planned to
20 to his home in Terre Haute, Ind,
as soon as the business which neces-
stated his visit to Washington was
concluded. There was no informa-
ton e.s to how long this would re-
quire.
Debs was accompanied to Wash
ington by his brother Theodore who
had been in Atlanta for several days
making arrangements for the trip
home: Miss Lucy Robbins Of the
American Federation of Labor; Miss
Celia Rotter, a member Of the Debs
Freedom conference, and a. number Of
newspapermen. &-..-..
For the past forty-eight hours,
friends OF Debs had kept ceaseless
watch over the prison expecting his
release at any moment, despite re-
ports from Washington that his
communication Of sentence did not, be-
come effective until after midnight of
Saturday. Warden Dyche and Debs
had breakfast together at the war
len's residence, and Debs later re-
turned to the institution.
Just before Debs was- released, for
mally, the warden issued orders per-
mitting newspapermen to enter the
prison.
At the railroad station the socialist
leader decided the party would ride
in a day coach to Washington and
would donate the Pullman fare to the
Russian relief fund. When asked his
views regarding the release of po-
litical prisoners, Debs declared he
did not care to discuss the subject at
length but added, II left 1890 men
back there and they all should be
giveh their liberty. They are all my
friends"
Debs was convicted in September,
1918, for obstructing the draft, and
was sentenced to serve ten years in
the Federal penitentiary.
Called "lnfluemce for Goods
| He made no effort to prevent the
imposition Of the penalty but his
; fliends carried the fight to the United
States Supreme court, which, in
March. 1919 upheld Debs' conviction,
and the socialist leader was taken to
The Moundsville, W. Va, penitentiary
4 few months later he was transferred
70 the Atlanta prison. Last spring he
| made trip to Washington without es.
cort for a conference with Attorney
fGere:al Daugherty, in connection with
efforts to obtain his pardon.
Debs frequently was praised as q
| model prisoner at the Atlanta insti.
! tuition.
! Warden Dyche and former Warden
| Ierbst both, however, referred to hin
as an influence for good,' in tht
| prison.