St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1890-06-28
REMOVE HAY.

If the department of justice IS earnest
and honest in its purpose to make
thorough investigation of the Mime
apolis census matter, it cannot fail to
recognize the Importance of placing the
prosecution IN the hands OF some one
else than District Attorney HAY. The
assistant attorney general is quoted as
saving that itwould be reflection on
MIR. HAYS ability to name another
prosecutor. 1t occurs to us that 1t lsnt
a question of Mr.. HAYS ability SO much
as it is of his willingness to prosecute;
and yet, if the question of ability is to
be considered, we think Judge IAFT IS
unnecessarily squeamish on this point.
1t has been amply demonstrated that
Mr.. HAY is an incapable prosecutor.
His failure to comprehend the meaning
of the conspiracy law and his lack Oh
knowledge Of the duties pertaining TO
the office of public prosecutor are suffl-
Gent to satisfy the department OF JUS
tice OF his incapacity.
But the strong point against Mr.
Hays official connection with this mat
ter is that he has deliberately made up
his mind not to prosecute his Minneap-
oils friends. If he had the learning OF
a BLACKSTONE and the ability OF
BURKE it would avail nothing i'll this
case. You can take horse to water,
but YOU can't make him drink, MI.
HAY may follow the detailed ipsttue-
tions of his chief, and yet do it in such
a sniritIess and I-don't-care kind of a
wav as to make the investigation a
farce. And farce it will be II he IS
allowed to conduct it.
To man of sensitive nature the en-
barrassments which surround Mr.
HAYS position would be sufficient rea-
son for declining to have Anything TO
do with the case. But, unfortunately,
Mr.. HAY doesn't eviBce any sensitive
ness in the matter. On the contrary,
he stepped to the front with alacrlty
and voluntarily assumed absolute man
agement of the case, but not tor the
purpose of helping the government
along with the prosecution. 1t was not
within the power Of the defense to nave
secured more efficient counsel than MIR.
HAY proved himself to be.
There would have been quality OF
heroism in Mr.. HAYS conduct that
would have greatly compensated for his
lack of legal ability if he had risen
above selfish considerations and have
proclaimed by his acts that he regarded
official duty of higher consequence than
personal friendship or property inter
ests. But he didn't do anything of the
sort. He simply squatted down with
bulldog resolve to keep the wheels of
government locked in order to prevent
an investigation of the alleged Mime
apolis census frauds.
If MIR. HAY had been acting in the
capacity of city attorney for Minneapo-
lis his conduct would have been pardon
able, Or if he had been employed as
counsel for the defense it would have
been justifiable. But as matters stand
| it was damnable.
And vet the department of justice
saws it would be reflection on Mr..
HAYS ability to substitute another
prosecutor in his place.
If it is the deliberate purpose of the
government to make farce of this in
yestigation, then let Mr.. Hay remain
at the helm. But if it is desired to have
a fair. honest and searching investlga-
ton, one that will satisfy everybody of
| the truth or falsity of the charges that
have been made, the government will
compel Mr.. HAY to step down and out,
at least until this investigation is over.