Albuquerque morning journal. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1903-1926, 1922-03-17
PARDONS ASKED
FOR ESP PIONACE
LAW V|OLATORS
Would Appeal to Harding to
Consider the Propriety of
Granting Amnesty to 113.
Prisoners.
(By The ted Press.)

-
Washingto 8 g fch 16.-In the
i face of apr .S'5S and outspoken
opposition, a. q Jrs and representa-
tives of : < S liberal organiza-
tions pie $ s with the house ju-
dietary ( I ittee today to report
a reso' ~ asking the president
to giI o s. reful consideration" to
the ( 5 ETY. of granting immedi-
ate s. dy to 113 political prison
err ing long terms for viola
tio. the espionage act.
Committeeman indicated that
the resolution would not pass, in
sisting that congress had no right
to direct the president in such mat
ters, especially because of the lack
tof opportunity to review the cases.
Gilbert r. Roe, an attorney of New
York, who advocated the general
principle of amnesty, said when
questioned that he saw no impro-
priety in requesting the president,
the attorney general and the Sec
retary of war to look into the ap-
lpeals because the resolution seems
las harmless as the four-power
treaty"
Speaking for the American Fed
Grafton of Labor Edgar Wallace
declared that war laws were neces-
sary, that they should have been
enforced, but now in peace times
there was no good reason for keep
ing war time offenders in jail.
Many Clashes.
There were many clashes be-
tWnGn 1Ngtrr Of
and witnesses. Representative
Yates, republican. Illinois. charged
that Representative London So
cialist, New York, author of the
resolution, who declared he would
free men convicted of violence IL
they did so because of a deep re-
fligious feeling was advocating vio-
lence. which Mr.. London was quick
to deny.
Another verbal clash centered
around Harry Weinberg, a New
York lawyer, one time counsel for
Grover Cleveland Bergdoll, the
draft dodger who added that he
had nothing whatever to do with
Bergdolls escape In a tilt with
Representative Reavis. republican,
Nebraska, Weinberg said he would
express his opinion on political
and economic questions at any
place, despite the supreme court
of the United States"
Referring to release of some Of
tenders, Weinberg charged that
one obtained his liberty through
the intercession Of the Italian am
baSsador, and some of his COM
ment drew from members the re-
minder that they would NOT sit
mere and hear the president and
Lne attorney general criticized
rms was after the lawyer had
stated that one OF the mon in whose
behalf he had appealed did not oct
out, because he did not bannan to
pc "A trust magnate." WEINBERG
aehled any desire to criticize the
president. Time was called on him
Whlle he was still trying to sneak
MISS Caroline Lowe of Kansas
CITY, counsel for a number of / w
w. members tried at Wichita
charged that men arrested in the
famous oklahoma case" were oil
workers and the animus back Of
their arrest was the determine
ton on the part of the operators
TO crush any attempt on the part
OF the workers to organize"
References to Debs' Pardon.
Frequent references were made
to the pardon of Eugene V. Debs
and on this point some of the wit
.nesses expressed conflicting views.
Many agreed, however, that Presi-
dent Harding's list OF Christmas
pardons contained the names of
persons who should have served
terms, which they insisted were
for offenses more serious than
those charged against "the politi.
cal prisoners" 1t was contended
that no overt acts were committed
by the latter.
Frank p. Walsh of New York,
who had been expected to attend
the hearing, sent a letter in which
he said he was strongly of the
opinion that all political prisoners
should be released"