New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1921-04-14
Amnesty Must
w ait for Peace,
Says Harding
No Blanket Action Can Be
Expected Until u. s. Ends
State of War,He Tells Del
egation at White House
Debs's Case Mentioned
Lawyer Representing the Po-
litical Prisoners Pre-
sena Plea to Da,,gllerty
From The Tribune's Washington Bureou

From The Tribune's Washington Bureou
WASHINGTON, April 13.-The
President the Attorney General, the
Speaker OF the House and other promi-
ncnt figures in the Administration
were subjected TO flood Of amnesty
propaganda to-day. The President in
dicated to the members Of delegation
that called on him urging clemency
for persons now in prison that he con-
templated no action in regard to a
general amnesty for such prisoners
until peace negotiations had been con-
cludcd. Two hundred delegates
ton, which was separated into sections
and presented to Representatives from
certain districts.
Morris Hillquit. Of New York, head
ed the delegation which called on the
, President. Norman Thomas, maya
i zine editor Of New York; Jackson Rails
! ton, Washington attorney for the
| American Federation OF Labor; Helen
Todd, Of the. Farmer-Labor party, and
Abraham Bayoff. secretary of the
Ladies' Garment Workers. Union, com
posed the other members of the COM
nittee. They presented to the Presi-
dent all aspects Of the question Of
general nesty--humanitarian mora,
and legal.
1t was emphasized that the members
pleaded for men whose honest express
sions Of opinion were interpreted under
the stress of war time as tending TO
have hurtful effect on the war-mak-
ing powers Of the country.
Case of Debs Mentioned
The President asked number of
questions. He spoke OF his sympathy
with the wish OF the committee to see
an era of frank discussion and an at
mospherc of good will established in
America
The committee specifically men
toned the case Of Eugene Debs, the
Socialist leader, and was informed that
his case and similar cases where indi-
vlduals were mentioned were already
receiving attention from the Depart
ment of Justice. The President made
1T clear, however, that no action in re-
gard to blanket amnesty could be ex-
pected until the United States has ter
minated the state of war.
Attorney General Daugherty was
called upon by a special delegation of
lawyers representing the Political Am
nesty Committee. They included for
mer United States District Attorney
. 4 AdiiCiS - NdIIS, OClO christensen. at
torney for the !. w. w; Morris Hill
quit and Samuel 3. Castleton, counse!
for Debs.
Former Prosecutor Asks Leniency
Kane said that as a government Of
fetal he had sought to do his duty in
enforcing tho espionage act, which he
considered q necessary wartime meas
ure. lie thought, however, that the
sentences we're too severe, and that a
general amnesty would eliminate the
strife and dissension part Of the eco
ncmic consequences OF war. The At
torney General questioned Christensen
ut length on T. w. W. activities.
The Attorney General said that the
department. was inclined to be lenient,
although he was certain that ali those
being punished were utterly wrong in
their stand. Nevertheless, the depart
:ncnt would review the individual cases
and be more lenient as time passed.