A Distinguished Petition

Fifty-two political prisoners are still held in Federal prisons for violations of the Espionage laws during the World War.

The United States is now the only one of the former belligerent nations which has not granted an amnesty for such offenses, which were principally committed in the name of free speech.

An open letter has been sent to President Harding asking him to pardon the prisoners.

It is signed by five Governors of States:

George W. P. Hunt of Arizona William E. Sweet of Colorado Jonathan M. Davis of Kansas Joseph F. Dixon of Montana J. C. Walton of Oklahoma and by the Presidents of eleven colleges : Vassar, Mount Holyoke, Smith, University of Wyoming, Oberlin, Trinity, Bryn Mawr, Swarthmore, Temple University, St. Stephens, Catholic University of America;

Other signatories: William Allen White, Rabbi Stephen S. Wise, Glenn Frank, editor of Century magazine, Prof. Francis B. Sayre of Harvard Law School, son-in-law of Woodrow Wilson.

The petitioners announced that they wished to associate themselves with the opinions favorable to release, expressed by Senators Borah of Idaho and Pepper of Pennsylvania.