Salt Lake Telegram | 1921-09-04 | Page 21 | Clemency for Debs Probable

CLEMENCY DEBS l Opinion Prevails Harding Will Free Socialist OJ 4 WASHINGTON Sept 3 3 J that President Harding after the for tor mal conclusion of ot peace with German may through extension of ot clemency clemenc open the doers of or tho the Atlan Atlanta I penitentiary to EU Eugene ne V Y Deb Debs Social 1st leader was suggested tOda today b by art a. a a ministration officials Sp Speculation as to disposition of ot caso case has hils been widespread here for or t v oral we weeks Reports were gene gen general 1111 un un- un til a few fo foda's days das ago ngo although without ot of of confirmation that Attorney Gen Gen eral ertl would Daugherty recommend i ho he be pardoned This belief bellet however 1 was as lessened and in somo quarters 5 dig I by the tho stand Gland taken by hy Mt Daugherty In his American lIar Ear tS I elation address of ot last Wednesday a against release of ot what ho he called nn po p 11 of offenders tenders Several officials on having their at at- to the stand taken by th the a attorney general Immediately pointer pointed out that a n. distinction existed a n. pardon and an extension of ot executive executive- clemency A pardon it explained explained- I would operate to lo restore Dobs Debs to th full tull rl rights and und privileges of ot citizenship In addition to freeing him from front prison while th the the- extension of at clemency mere mere- ly h would give lve him freedom These officials were strongly of ot th iha opinion that In view of ot tho the Socialist lenders lender's age and because his offenses havo have been hold to bo be of or words rath rather r. r than deeds tho the question of ot clemency might be bo considered b by the tho attorney general and tho president Assertions also were mal made o b by thet thc's officials that t tho the approximately OO offenders of ot of- of fenders against the war laws now ing prison sentences might be bo treated apart from Debs Dobs on tho the question of ot am flea nesty ty Many lan of ot tho the offenders officials main main- tamed were convicted of or infractions of or of sta statutes tute enacted before the war 1 I that t even waiving provisions of thi th emergency acts nets stud study would havo have to b he be given glyen their cases along tho the lines of ot the usual federal prisoner for tor whom a pardon par par- don Ion Is suggested ted