Evening star., 1921-04-13
amnesty DEBS
AND OTHERS WAITS
! ON STATE OF PEACE
President Announces Policy
in Regard to Espionage
Cases.
ANSWERS DELEGATION
REQUESTING ACTION
Mr. Harding Said to Have Voiced
Desire for Frankness and At
mosphere of Good Will in U. S.

President Harding told delegation
which called on him today to urge the
release of Eugene V. Debs and all
other prisoners convicted under the
wartime espionage act that he con-
templated no action looking to gen.
eral amnesty for such prisoners until
a state of peace had been declared.
The delegation issued formal
statement after leaving the White
House in which it said the President
had received it most courteously.
asking questions to bring out certain
points
He spoke of his entire sympathy
with the desire of the committee to
see an era of frank discussion in an
atmosphere of good will established
in America, and intimated that the
cases of these prisoners for whom
the committee spoke had already be-
gun to receive attention from the De-
partner of Justice
Court Decisions Cited.
In presenting their arguments the
committee cited various court decisions
which they said established that the
prisoners referred to were not guilty
of overt acts. but merely of holding
opinions which were construed as
harmful.
The visit of the delegation to the
White House was a part of general
amnesty program carried out today by
delegates representing labor. political
and civic organizations in the leading
Industrial centers as far west as St.
Louis.
Pleas similar to that presented to
the President were made to Vice
President Coolidge, Speaker Gillett of
the House of Representatives and At
torney General Daugherty. while petit
tions bearing thousands of signatures
were presented to individual members
Of Congress.
Petition Taken to Capitol.
The delegates. numbering about 200.
marched to the Capitol accompanied
petition to Congress signed by citi-
Gems of forty-one states. At the Capt.
toI the petition was separated into
lots. representing signers in the vari-
were presented to the respective
members Of Congress separately.
The delegates represented labor or
ganizations. the socialist party. the
farmer-labor party. the American
Civic Liberties Union and other civic
groups. and their days activities be-
gan with a meeting at the old Masonic
Temple. 9th and streets The dele
cation at the White House included
Norman Thomas, editor of Tomorrow.
New York. Jackson Ralston. Wash
ington. attorney for the American
Federation of Labor: Helen Todd of
the farmer-labor party and Abraham
Barof. secretary and treasurer Of the
Ladies' Garment Workers.
Swinburne Hale and Francis Fisher
Kane were among the delegates who
called on Mr.. Daugherty at the De-
partment of Justice. while the dele
cation calling on-Air. Coolidge includ-
ed William II. Johnston. president of
the International Machinists' Union
Union. Algernon Lee. and John Hayes
Holmes. Representative London of
New York. and James H. Maurer.
president of the Pennsylvania FEEDER
alton of Labor were among those
calling on Speaker GilIett.
The parade. headed by a police es-
cort. of a lieutenant andSsix bicycle
men. left 8th and F. streets north
west. at l O'CLOCK. and proceeded to
f. street. east to 9Th street, south to
Pennsylvania avenue and into the
Capitol grounds. There were per
mitted to travel only in threes and
fours. and only on the pavements
without banners or music The DO
lice were sent to handle the process
sion and traffic at street crossings.