Evening star., 1922-01-07
For and Against Debs.

.Mr. Harding has not followed
nopular course In his performance
toward Debs," declares the Charlotte
IN c., News (democratic). Instead
according to the New York Times
(independent democratic). "a shallow.
howlins. whining minority has had
TIA way." But for every paper wnlch
e.nresses this viewpoint there are
two, irrespective Of polittcai com
nlexion. which feel that IN reieas-
ing the much-discussed convict Pfesi,
dent Harding has USED com,non .ion
sense" as well as mercy S,n Ny findenend- M
snt democratic) believes. will meet
With general commendation, Tor. tne
1ano Gazette (republican) says. II
was exactly what all good Americans
expected" tho oh
,oat ~ a clamorous campaign" in be-
b@a1f @ OF Eugene v. Debs, and the
Richmond Rdtl 40 Times dispatch demo
crstic1 finds "his supiness' before this
.rroun cIamor as surprising as II IS
Disappointing" In fact. as tne noa. a.
r. *Mr. Harding fell for the touch
ing little story Of a sick old man who
was no longer capable Of doing any
harm il freed" although now that
he is out the "sick old man. Is rails
ing mighty big rnmpus'|, |,na.n.na-
ont republican) regrets that the par
don of Eugene Debs does not meet the
apnroval Of the American Legion"
hut it feels that "the majority Of the
American people will commend the
course" 1t is understandable. the Bos>
Ion Post independent democratic)
saws, that the young and enthusiast
tic body Of the legion. still fresh
from the terrible experience OF war.
did not favor the release of one of
the men whom they regard as next to
"a traitor in war time. They are not
to be blamed for their feeling in the
matter" But on the other hand Older
and perhaps more deliberate-minded
men realize that as the war is over
no harm can come Of freeing one who
was in one sense a political prisoner.
especially since the communication of
sentence does not restore him to his
rights of citizenship" That is the
crumb of comfort which the Indian
apolis News Independently finds in
this unpalatable Christmas offering,
it is thankful that at least the Presi-
dent did not pardon Debs," and that,
as the Wichita Beacon independently
puts it. he is "a man without coun-
try. still under the cloud Of disloyalty,
even though he Is Free"
The leniency which the President
has shown might be justified now
because the draft prevailed and the
war was won" but the wilkes-Barre
such leninecy "in the event that
America is again forced into another
dreadful experience Of the kind" 'Is it
the intention" the Milwaukee Jour-
nal independently asks, that at any
future time the government of the
| Uni nd hHy
who are willing to take the risk Of
a period Of internment?" But to this
the st. Louis Post-Dispatch Gnde-
pendent) replies that it should mot
be imagined that, should another
crisis come. the cemmutation of Mr..
Debs sentence will encourage. a fu-
judgment as written into law" The
release of the socialist leader "is q
the man himself. not for the ideas
Of government he has SO long ex-
Post -pispatch contends. which "re-
mercy" and which called for the
exercise Of common sense. illumined
cohio) Beacon. Journal trepubiican9
ident Harding. on handling the situ-
alton in just that light, even ain the
face Of the opposition Of all the
Thousand per cent Americans"
The Fort Wayne journal Gazette
(democratic) finds that "the Presi-
dent and Mr.. Daugherty have placed
unnecessarily BY the Injection Of the
personal element into the release.
The Attorney Generals 'littie sermon
calling upon, the socialist leader to
repent OF his heresies" was given