New Britain herald., 1926-10-21

department of justice and a recom- mendation to the president by At torney General Palmer that Debs be , released on February 12, 1921, Lin- coln's birthday. The president again however, declined to grant the par don.
 Debs' followers then pinned their hope on the Harding administration. Their leader finally was released from the pententiary Christmas Day, 1921, has sentence having been con- muted by President Harding along with those of 23 others convicted on various charges of having hindered the government during the war. The presidents action did not restore Debs' citizenship.
 During his confinement in the fed eral prison Debs never whmpered over his sentence, never asked for favors nor for his release. Proof that the government trusted him was evidenced when, several months be- fore his pardon was granted, at the request of Attorney General Daugh- erty he made & trip alone to Wash ington for conference and his only comment on his return was: q have nothing to take back; did not ask them to release me-"
 Cheered By Prisoners
 Debs' love for his feIlowmen was strengthened while In the peniten- tiary and his kindness to fellow prisoners were rewarded by the man. ner in which they greeted his depar- ture. There was no greeting from Atlanta for Debs, the man, as the gates of the penitentiary rolled open, giving him his freedom, but for Debs, the prisoner, laundering roar of cheers arose from prison cells as he road away. To those in- side 1t was not just the release of another "old timer" but the depart ure of a friend.
 He had been friend of every friendless convict. He found the most unlovable wrecks he could and help ed them in their misery. He never broke prison rule. He transform ed a dangerous, refractory Negro "lifer" into an exemplary prisoner There were other instances of his power to better his fellow-inmates and these were the men who cheered Eugene Debs as he left the prison.
 American friends were not alone in their work for their leaders re- lease. Debs repeatedly declared him. self in favor of Bolsheuk principles of government and said that he was heart and soul for the Russian revolution.'
 Shortly after he was sent to prison, the Soviet government of ! Russia endeavored to obtain his re- lease in exchange for an American citizen named Dolomatiano, who was | in custody in Moscow. The com nunist congress of Moscow in March, 1919, announced that Debs vas slated to become "the future Soviet president of the United States" The American Federation of Labor, after a heated debate, voted down resolution favoring clemency for him. Late in 1920 he denounced Samuel Gompers and de- clared the Soviet government was the hope of the race"
 On being released from prison pebs left immediately for his home in Terrc Haute, with brief stop over in Washington where he again conferred with former Attorney General Daugherty On his arrival at Terre Haute he was given a pub lie reception.
 Debs had announced on leaving prison that he expected to rest be- fore making plans for the future and he went into seclusion, taking TO part in public politics, except an occasional statement of his views up to the time he went to a Chicago hospital suffering from a nervous breakdown This climax was not surprising to his friends as they had said when he left prison that he looked a broken and much older man than when he had entered.
 His determination to espouse the cause of labor, however, was un- daunted by his incarceration or by illness. When the strike of railroad shopmen threatened to paralyze transportation in the summer of 1922, Debs was one of the first to
 issue a proclamation to the men, urging them to stand fast and stand together. as the future of their fed eration was at stake.