The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1921-12-24
ORDERS ON WAY
Executive COmmutes Sem
tence of Aged Social
list Leader.
JAIL DOORS OPENED
FOR FIVE SOLDIERS
Clemency List Made Up
Of Prisoners Held for
War Offenses.

be free citizen, though still. with
out full citizenship rights.
Exercising his Executive prerog-
atives. President Harding has COM
mutcd the sentence II the famous
Socialist leader. effective Christmas
Day.
At the same time the President
has commuted the sentence of
twenty-three other political prison
ers and has partoned fve men
serving military sentences.
While announcement OF the COM
mutation grants was made at the
White House late yesterday, IL was
stated by James A. Finch, Depart
ment of Justice attorney in charge
Of pardons. that the orders for re-
lease of Debs probably would not
reach the Atlanta penitentiary war
Den before this morning.
Lays Down Policy.
With the announcement Of the
Christmas clemency action, the ad-
nfnistration laid down the general
policy which has guided it in hand
ling the subject of political prison
ers
The cases Of strictly political
prisoners and those Sc wing SEN
tences for attempted or effected
sabotage have been separately de-
hned-. In the case OF the political
prisoners. combinations of sentence
were ordered because the President
believed justice had been fairly met.
The clemency list, in the main, Is
made up Of those who opposed the
war in one way or another, and
". prisoners. The l. w. wt's, in
cluded. II was stated. have either
expressed full penitence or are
booked for deportation. The De-
partment OF Justice has given no
recommendation in behalf of the
advocates OF sabotage or the de-
struction of the government by
force, and the President let II be
known Sat he would consider no
such cases.
Five Soldier on List.
In addition to the hve soldiers IN
the list. many other cases are under
consideration.
In the case of Debs. the President
and the Attorney General had given
very extended consideration, and It
is known that the fact that he had
twice been the presidential nominee
of a million OF voters had its infiu-
ence in reaching a decision favor
able to his release.
The President expressed the wish
that il be stated that the grant of
clemency in the cases acted upon
does not question the justice of any
the law in a time OF national peril
hut he feels the ends of justice have
been fairly met in view of changed
conditions.
Reds Not Freed.
The vast majority of the so-called
political prisoners still imprisoned
are of the ]. W. w group. are rarely
American citizens and are held to
have no good claim to executive
clemency. A number OF convicted
citizens have never been imprisoned.
owing TO appeals under bond. There
are also many thousand indictments
under war legislation still pend
ing. These do not now come under
executive consideration.
For many years the Presidents
action in the case OF Debs is ex-
tremely interesting. In the first
place the revelation that Debs' can
didacy for the presidency played an
important part in consideration of
hi. case is a new development in
executive consideration of pardons
and combinations
In the second place. since the
Socialist leader was sent to Atlanta.
there has been a constant campaign,
in which Socialists. labor parties
and numerous other organization.
have played a part. The admlnistra-
tion was torn between the campaign
Of these on the one hand. seeking
Debs' release. and the demand of the
American Legion and others that
those who sought to interfere with
war activity should be compelled
to pay the full penalty provided by
the law.
Wilson Refused Pardon.
When the Debs case was insist
entlv brought before former Presi-
dent Wilson, he stated firmly and
finally that so long as he was in
ONCE Debs would remain in jail.
Were I to release him" Wilson
was quoted as saying at the time
of his final action. Il would not be
able to look In the race any OF the
thousands of mothers who sacrificed
their sops in the great war"
When President Harding took Of
flee the efforts to have Debs par
doned were renewed On one occa-
sion Attorney Genral Daugherty had
Debs -ome to Washington for per-
sonal interview. It was stated then,
as II had been stated many times
before by Debs' friends, that Debs
did not wish personal clemency ac-
tIon. but freedom for all political
prisoners He was, IL was stated.
not desirous of a communication OF
sentence or parole. but demanded
a full pardon
Net Fuli Parton.
= In committing Debs' sentence,
Harding has not met the wishes OF
Debs for a pardon. As a result
Debs. while free. will not have his
full citizenship rights until ,hey are 4