The Dillon herald. [volume] (Dillon, S.C.) 1894-????, 1921-03-31
DEBS TRAVELS WITHOUT GUARD
FROM ATLANTA TO CAPITAL
Summoned at Presidents Direction to
Present His Case for Clemency.

freSenC MS case 1Or Ciemency.
Washington, March 25-Unattend
ed and without the knowledge of the
public, Eugene v. Debs, imprisoned
socialist leader, came to Washington
tiary, and for three hours discussed
his case with Attorney General
Daughtery.
The unprecedented trip of Mr.
Debs was made with the approval OF
President Harding, who recently re-
Quested Mr.. Daugherty to review the
case of the socialist leader and make
a recommendation on it.
The attorney general in announce
ing late yesterday that Debs had visi-
ted Washington and was on his way
back to the Atlanta prison, said that
while there was no precedent for call
ing prisoner to Washington without
a guard, it had been decided in con-
ference with President Harding that
inasmuch as Debs had defended HIM
self at his trial, he should come here
to answer in person such inquiries
as the government desired to ask.
Mr.. Daugherty said he believed he
had the authority to place the prison
er on his honor, and that he had as
SumeO 1ull responsibility.
Debs arrived in Washington early
went to the Department of Justice
and about $3.50 conferred with Mr..
Daugherty an dCol. Guy Goff, assist
ant to the attorney general from
about 1890 to 11:1O o'clock and left
Washington at $3.50 o'clock on the re-
turn trip to his prison. His move
ments from the time he left Atlanta
Wednesday were kept strictly secret
except to a few officials of the De-
partment of Justice. For that reason
newspaper men who gathered late in
the day for the attorney-gener-
ais Ieekly interview, gasped and re-
fused for a few minutes 10 believe
their own ears, when they heard Mr..
Daugherty say:
81 don't believe l have much news
for you, gentlemen, but regarding
Debs' visit 1 have had a statement
prepared" Then with brief expla-
nation Mr.. Daugherty gave out the
following statement:
"In connection with the investiga-
tion of the Debs case and other con-
ferences with the President and with
his approval, 1 had Debs come here
for the purpose of making certain in
Quiries of him. He has returned to
Atlanta. 1 have asked him to refrain
from saying anything for publication
or otherwise regarding the subject of
the inquiries made. I am sure no
well-meaning person will urge him to
discuss this matter or anything that
took place on the journey or during
his stay here. Debs presented his
own case to the trial court and jury.
He was permitted to do so here. The
Debs case, as I have said before,
stands alone, 1 could not, Of course,
go to him. What took place and the
information I have acquired will be
reported in due time only to the
President, and that in connection with
any recommendation that may be
made when the investigation is con-
cluded. Debs came here without
guard and so returned to Atlanta.
Col. Guy Goff, assistant to the attor-
ney general was present.
Mr.. Daugherty refused to comment
Oh the presentment made by Debs OF
his case and declined to answer any
questions as to what recommends
ton he would make to the President
relative to the socialist leader who
was convicted and sentenced in 1918
to 10 years Imprisonment for viola
ton of the espionage act.
Debs, Mr.. Daugherty said, looked
and acted during his visit much as
any other man. He was said to be in
fairly good physical condition, al
though apparently somewhat ner-
vious. The prisoners physical condi-
tion, Mr.. Daugherty added, necessar-
lily would be taken into consideration
by the government in it's decision in
his case.
In the Atlanta prison Debs is en-
ployed part of the time In the hos
pital and part in the library.
The encouragement in his talk
with newspaper men, emphasized
that the calling of Debs to Wash
irgton did not mean the adoption of
a policy Of general amnesty toward
political prisoners, but was merely to
facilitate the investigation of the
Debs' case.