Hellraisers Journal: Release of Eugene Debs, Who Will Continue to Wage War on War, Perplexes Harding Administration

Quote EVD if Crime to oppose bloodshed, AtR p1, Oct 23, 1920 —————

Hellraisers Journal – Saturday December 31, 1921
Comrade Eugene V. Debs Will Continue to Wage War on War

From The Atlanta Tri-Weekly Journal of December 29, 1921:

SCENES AT THE FEDERAL PRISON ON CHRISTMAS DAY

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RELEASE OF DEBS IS NOW PERPLEXING TO ADMINISTRATION

Harding and Daugherty Are Not Sure It Was Wise
to Free Unconverted Radical
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BY DAVID LAWRENCE
(Leased Wire Service to The Journal._
(Copyright, 1921.)

WASHINGTON, Dec. 28.-Eugene V. Debs has left behind him here a trail of mingled emotions. The administration which set him free is somewhat sadder and wiser this morrow morn.

For both President Harding and Attorney General Daugherty, who have tried their gospel of “understanding” in trying to convert Debs to a life of peace instead of agitation are not so sure that they have succeeded. Their disposition is to say no more about the case and hope that Debs will not abuse the liberty that has been given him by becoming a center for more agitation, a rallying device for radicalism and professional exploitation of the working classes.

The Harding administration tried a unique experiment-one that has been clouded somewhat in mystery because of the very delicacy of the undertaking. It is a fact that Debs could have had a pardon long ago if he would have agreed to withdraw the views he expressed against this country’s entrance into the war…..

DEBS SAYS HE WILL WAGE WAR ON WAR

Washington, Dec. 27.-War against war is to occupy a great part of the future activities of Eugene V. Debs, freed from Atlanta penitentiary by executive clemency on Christmas day, according to his own announcement here today. The Socialist leader said he could make no concrete plans for the future until he reached his home in Terre Haute, Ind., for which he will leave Washington at 6:20 o’clock tonight.

Debs announced his determination to obtain if possible a vow from every man, woman and child in this country and every other country which he might visit, that they refuse to take up arms and go to war. But until world relations undergo a reformation, he asserted, wars would continue.

[He said:]

There will be war, in some form, and war growing progressively more and more destructive until a competitive world has been transformed into a co-operative world. Every war for trade sooner or later and inevitably becomes a war of blood.

Mr. Debs expressed the opinion that President Harding, at heart, was against all war, but described the president as the representative of a system that made war possible.

The arms conference, he contended, was significant only in that it was a recognition of the cost of warfare and an effort to reduce expense instead of eliminating the cause.

Action in behalf of the other political prisoners still confined, Debs declared, would be undertaken as soon as he reached his home and readjusted himself to circumstances. As for himself, he said, he harbored no resentment because of his imprisonment.

The Socialist leader began today a series of conferences with friends and co-workers which was expected to last until he left the capital tonight. Among the first of his callers was Peer J. MacSwiney, brother of the late lord mayor of Cork.

Mr. Debs still wore his prison-issued clothes, and declared his intention of returning home in them and of wearing them for some time.

[He said:]

Like the wrinkles on my face, they have cost me something.

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SOCIALISTS GATHER TO WELCOME DEBS

TERRE HAUTE, Ind., Dec. 27-Terre Haute is aswarm with Socialists today, leaders of the organization from all parts of the country assembling here as the advance guard of thousands expected to welcome Eugene V. Debs on his arrival from Washington about 4 o’clock Wednesday afternoon.

Inquiries are coming in from all labor centers in the state asking about the demonstration. Phil K. Reinhold, chairman of the local committee in charge of the plans, said today there would be 25,000 men and women in the parade Wednesday afternoon….

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[Emphasis added.]