The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1896-10-03
Us. ATTORNEY LASSITER
NE RESIGNS MS POSITION WIN
THE JUDICIIRY DEP1RTMENT.
Complaints to the Attorney-General OF
His Activity In Poiitics-Ruling
in the Case.


Oh Virginia. has created great interest
in political circles OF all shades Of be-
lief as 1t thoroughly d~lssipatcs any doubt
that may have existed as TO the course
OF the Administration with reference 10
the enforcement OF the rule against OIL
oers Of the Government. especially those
In anyway connected with the Judicial
branch. actively engaging in political cam
Iaigns.
COMPLAINTS MADE.
Complaints had reached the Department
OF Justice that MI. Lassiter was acuhs
as chairman OF a campaign ana
otherwise taking "a prominent ana active
part in the practical politics OF his dis
trict. In d letter 70 Mr.. Lassiter, Of Sep
tember 18th, AttOrney-General Harmon
calls bis attention 10 these complaints.
and says:
While, OF course. tlere Is nothing In
the holding OF any Office which can or
should Interfere wiz "a mans freedom
Of private opinion or personal political
action. he cannot, wiell either a canG.-
date for another Office or actively en-
gagged IN managing a campaign Ior otnerS
who are suon candidates. avoid embar-
IASoultiAlS dlL 'iAtii-A~AHN"'
cessarily interfere. or at least may be
thought TO interfere with the proper uls-
charge Of his Official duties
In reply. Mir. Lassitcr explains his posi-
ton, stating that he had previously held
the oince Of committeeman tor lbs as
trict and that he was known as an active
working Democrat at the tine or ms
anDOintment as United states District
Attorney. He dissents from the sug-
gesti0n that such conduct rs inco. sistent
within his Obligations to the AcmlnistId-
ton. or 10 the public service.
ATTORNEY GENERALS LETTER.
on the 18th of September the Attorney
General Snt. hun q letter which called
forth his resignation which has been &C
ceptod. In his letter ne said in part:
"As for some reason You have thought
best to add your letter OF to-day 10 me
very Gull conversation we had upon your
response in person to-day 10 IN ylettsr or
the 18TH instant. J reply 10 your letter
because you do not seem 10 have under
stood clearly eitAer my leuer or my
SIDE q our conversation.
"Whatcvcr rule nay prevail in other
denarfmcnts il is well settled in this, as
stated i'm my letter. tnat there Is an I'M
propri-ty In officers like you acting as
t0lAlIlAlffl I'n w AfNAAt@t F'
political campaigns. The reasons are 50
manifest that they should not require
more than a mere suggestion.
''The same reasons which are uniVer-
sally held 10 preclude judges from ac-
tive participation in political campaigns
apply. though perhaps I'm somewhat less
degree. TO al officers concerned IN the
administration OF justice. As United
states Attorney you determine who 10
prosecute and whom not 20 prosecute.
YOU conduct or recommend the discon-
nnuance OF prosecutions already com
Inenced. You have admission 10 the grand
iury-room. and indictments are found OF
refused largely upon your advice
THE NfpPOPRTETY OF TT.
"If 7 concede that you are. as you TO-
dav claimed 10 be. one OF those rare
men who are beyond the reach of the un-
conscious operation Of feeling Of personal
favor or disfavor, as | am sure you are
tovond the reach Of The conscious opera
tion OF such feelings. still the general
confidence of the community IN your con-
Duct as a public officer OF Justice Is NJ
feast at risk. II while holding that ONCE
ION 50 engaged IN the exciting ana orc"
,fttor political campaigns in which the en-
.,r. community is ranged on one side or
the other. -
"your n%oIifical work necessarily brings
~o, ,n direct contact with people or
III ciosses whose assistance you seek
70 gain or whose opposition you seeN ~
overcome. j. Is Impossible for you 70
have done the work which deVolNes q"
members OF a campaign committee g
necially in times of high feeling anu
Great excitement. without gathering q
orop Of friendly and u~nfriendly feeinss
which. as common experience 80"
very often have unconscious ihn""00
on thought and action.
"Tbe question 10 which your letter re-
,ors Of inconsistency, OF improperly IN
an omoor srpnorting. in n way, polti-
cal movements which expressly condemn
che Administration Of which he IS Il
,or, &c one with which ] do not care 10
dcai II appears 10 me 20 be, at least
"a long as such support IS confined 70 the
,oere expression Of views or 10 voting
wa+.er IN be left 10 the ofhcers IN
dividual sense OF propriety.
MIR. LASSITER'S RESIGNATION.
IN replv to the above, Mr.. Lassiter wrote
the attorney general a letter when was
I'm effect his resignation. ms ie''el
was in part as follows;
As you say that you DO not no" ~
to discuss whatever question OF proprle-
Nv fU1N ~ HNOAft 80 ny
mort Of the Democratic party, In view Oh
differences which may exist between that
organzation and the Administration, there
remains only to be considered the question
If nv continuing to act on the party COM
mittee 10 which / was elected by the peo-
nile OF this district as a representative
OF the views supposed TO be entertained
by the minority OF the party and by the
administration. Before the Chicago con-
vention had determined the future polcy
OF the party, l did ! could with
those who differed with me In opinion 10
urge the preservation Of party unity. l
must accent the result. and cannot with
draw even the slight assistance. which,
with due regard for my other engage
ments. | find IL possible to render. Re
tirement now would be betrayal. As l
had the honor TO say to you, II is for
you TO determine my future relations
with the department.
A HIGH STANDARD.
! sincerely agree with the views so hand
somely expressed by you as TO the neces-
sity Of maintaining the high standard OF
the tribunals Of justice. but must respect
fully dissent from their applicability 10
the present state Of facts. II Is doubtless
true. as you say. that a prosecuting officer
should be- in act fair and impartial, but
the very complaints referred 10 in your
letter. which you inform me were COM
plants not OF specific acts Of Partially.
but Of liability 10 favoritism inferred
from nv political relations are evidence