New-York tribune., 1896-10-18
Mr.. CLEVELAND'S AXE FALLS

Nv.
AND D1srR1cr-ATToRNEY CLAYToNs
OFFICIAL HEAD DROPS
,,v w.s prSy1Ne FOR CONGRESS ON THE PoPo-
CRATIC TICKET IN ALABAMA AND REFUSED
TO HEED ATTORNEY GENERAL HAIR
MONS wARNING-soME LIVELY
CORRESPONDENCE.
vosb,reton. Oct. 17-Henry D.. Clayton.
United States Attorney for the Middle District
of Alabama. was summarily removed from ONCE
+odav nv the President. Mr.. Clayton was d
| delegate TO the Chicago Convention, Is now
candidate for Congress from the lid District
NJ Alabama. and is a son-in-law or senator
pupb or that State. Assistant District-Attor-
nov G.. F. Moore has been placed In charge oi
the Office
Some interesting correspondence led up 10
| to-day's action by the President. Ear'y y"
October Attorney General Harmon wrote ie'-
| ter to Mr.. Clayton, stating that newspaper mp
| pings and letters showed that ne WAS oanN
date for Congress. and his duties as District-
| Attorney made the two positions INCONSISTENT
with each other. To this letter no reply was
received. On October Attorney-Geherai h"i
mon wrote another letter to MIR. Clayton IA
which he assumed that his first letter had NOT
been received. He repeated much Oh Ills "'"'
| letter in substance, and concluded:
pIeose advise me upon receipt Of this wnat you
propose do In view Of the rule WHICH Nth the
candidacy for another office inconsistent VIII" ''e
holding Of your present position
Mr. Clayton on October II replied from Nloht-
| gomery, Ala, to this last letter OF Attorney
| General Harmon. He said that he was the regu-
lar nominee Of the Democratic party lro''i '"o
Montgomery District FOR Congress- and was en-
gagged in the discharge Of his duties as Distric'-
Attorney: that he had heard Of no complaints
| os to bis noplecting his work. but that he was
making speeches in behalf of his candidacy nc
closed as follows:
am not aware that any of the duties Of my office
have been neglected / have thought that man, pan.
though an oice-holde had the rism. resent on the
people do not believe that my retention Of fro tme
Office Of District sh09d sre enioyed by
my Therefore respeetruS ppnaress is in
consistent incompatible with my present posi'''''
Attorney-General Harmon laid the corre-
| spondence before the President, and at z O'CLOCK
| this afternoon this telegram was sent;
Department OF Justice,
Washington, ID. c., October IL.
Henry D. Clayton Office of United states Attorney
Sir For appearing in our corresponden1Ss 1
SSe SaS Of You Hnfa W govern accorns
S"eF TO yGUurp yJUpsoS s5tS' HARMoS. % Attorney General
| The letteI hereir referred to reads as follows;
Department of Justice.
Washington. d. C.. October u;
Henry D. Clayton Office Of United States Attorney
Sir: Your letter OF the l4th inst was received to.
dny ana o ater ramova WAS made Of which you
have Just been advised by wire. and OF which now
1t hardly SEEM necessary to say that this step step
rendered imperative by your wilfmi ana per
OF the Department. to which expressly called your
my & fns% e 3 s rSs hn ras ha
been acquiesced in. with respect to nom!nations
ior r Gy no be Ts n yee namely An
drew Fss SSr.hSSn Pis'rst q M,ssi:sPpi S0,S ani;
nominations for cengress and William Ch,lde1s bs
| come a candidate for office because Of the rule.
You seem. from your letter. either not to know or
which this rule is founded. | attempted briefly to
n oms a%a% Of sfr os nse e bs }sns os
whC had ID W Fo1 among wo oher
hns Ss Ensased as he N the
lion OF Offenders against the Government. and in
Would naaS Rf i sf%S darss as q Wien
would be soliciting the votes OF eS ann nrSh
man like Mr. Fox the public interests would not no,
sqss sqa as way doing
| 10 vex the Department hereafter My observation
| il that the dangerous precedents would hardly Dc
| made in bad cases Moreover. there Is always room
for tho charge that the repeated and prolonged ap-
| sences and the demand bodily and mental vigor
| which the making OF a campaign imposes. especiany
| I'm n Presidential year, would anord ground ior
criticism based upon alleged neglect Of official duties
| While I am sure Mr. Fox would not in fact negiect
| any duty fer the sake OF his canvass. II is some
times necessary for officers connected with tne De,
partmen, OF Justice to avoid appearances as wei as
/ realities. v,-,...
Attorney for the Eastern District or virginia wnlcn
| was widely published had occasion TO treat OF me
same subject in connection with United states Al
| torneys acting az members OF campaign committees
| which letter has doubtless reached your eye, 1ou
| must have been aware, when you wrote your letter
| OF the instances which nave named aoove III
! which this wholesome rule was recognized ana ac-
1ucsced In by others. II must have been quite app
parent 10 you. therefore that your letter. IN wnicn
YOU say II therefore respectfully decline 70 adit
that my candidacy for Congress Is inconslsen, OF IL
! compatible with my present position would MAKE
vour nrompt removal necessary. not only TO preserve
| Inc discipline OF the Department. but also 10 Keep
| faith with the other officers have named
The references your letter to the right or rree
| snench efc are so manifestly irrelevant that no
| reply seems necessary. Very Respectfully, z,
| II