The Washington herald., 1908-03-03

Attorney General Bonaparte, Charles w.
Russell, and Mrs. Mary Grace Quacken-
hos, employees Of the Attorney General
or Of the Department OF Justice, were
yesterday led across the burning sands
OF speech by Representative Clark, Of
Florida. who badly Scorched every one of
the three with sarcasm. innuendo. and
other verbal weapons.
Mr.. Clark did not mince words. al
though from what ne said ne might have
done had he not been in the House, it is
likely that he would have left few ad
jectives in the English language unused
had he been in the free and open air of
Florida
Mr.. Clark spoke during the debate on
the resolution offered some days ago
whereby the immigration Commission is
directed 10 investigate the alleged state
Of .pecnage said to be existing IN some
Southern States.
Although the resolution passed. with the
word southern" stricken out. by n good
majority. the words of Mr.. Clark, who
opposed it, were not forgotten after it
was all over.
Mr.. Clark vigorously resented the action
Of the officials of the Department Of
Justice. lie said that while the Depart
aent Of Justice had never been noted for
the excellence Of the legal attachments
Of the men it housed. the Attorney Gen
eral has usually been a man who knew
something of the law.
Evil Times, He Fears.
But I fear. Mr.. Speaker" he added
that we have fallen on evil times in this
respect. Whatever may be his legal ability
he has been unfortunate in the selection
OF some of his subordinates. 1t seems
that when the present head Of the law de-
partment OF the government. and which
ought to be the very fountain-head Of jus
tice, got well into the saddle, instead
OF looking after the law business OF the
United States government. he began a
crusade in certain States to regulate
sociological conditions.
It seems that IN the course of his IN
dertaking this transplanted bud OF al
legged French nobility became acquainted
with lady bearing the euphonius cogro-
men Of Mrs. Mary Grace Quackenbos,
whose field of labor previous 10 her ac-
quaintance with the great Baltimore law
yer. was in the slums OF the East Side
OF dear old Manhattan Isle.
II presume that the learned Mr.. Bona
parte, the highest law officer Of the SOW
eminent. was of the opinion that this
slum worker from New York was a
proper and fit person to send into the
state Of Florida and other benighted
regions of our country to regulate con-
ditions. local and otherwise.
AT eny rate We find that one Charles
W Russell, who styles himself Southern
man and a Democrat was selected by
this great lawyer and given complete
charge OF the investigation Of alleged
peonage conditions in the Southern
States
"Ihis Southern man and a Democrat
quickly called to his aid from the slums
of the East Side of dear old Manhattan
Isle Mrs. Mary Grace Quackenbos
Cannot Speak of IL.
The time viii not come when I can
discuss their conduct and particularly
that OF Mr. Russell. in this presence.
as it ought to be discussed and exposed.
This presence forbids my eharacterizlng
him as he ought to be characterized. as
he deserves to be designated. and as I
would designate him if 1 could do so
without offending the prophecies Of this
presence.
Mr.. Clark said that in the course Of
his conduct Of the prosecution OF the
Florida cases. Assistant Attorney Rus
sell had made a report to his chief that
had never been made public, and OF
which the Florida delegation in Congress
had never heard until it was presented to
the Committee on Rules in connection
with the investigation resolution. That
report, he continued. made charges
against the people Of Florida which were
totally and maliciously false. as also
were the criticisms Of himself and his
motives contained in the report.
Mr. Russell had insinuated in the re-
port. Mr.. Clark said. that District At
torney CLANCY had shirked his duty while
the investigation by himself and Mrs.
Quackenbos was being carried on. which
was wholly unjustifed Mr.. Clark as
serted these two had had entire charge of
the prosecution had indicted one Mr.
O'Hara. 1.-THE latchet or whose shoes the
special assistant attorney was unworthy
70 loose and tried him twice
Had Been indicated.
He had been triumphantly vindicated by
two juries OF his peers. who found him not
guilty. But the cost OF defending the un-
founded charges had financially ruined
him. Mr.. Clark said he believed his. hear
ers would agree with him that II was a
startling condition OF affairs which per-
mitted such things to be done.
Mr. Olmstead supported the resolution.
lie said that while he knew nothing about
labor conditions in the South, ne did not
believe that any case OF peonage or other
form Of involuntary seTvitude existed. But
he did know that some interest was en-
gagged in spreading reports Of conditions.
especially IN Louisiana and Mississippi
with the result that immigration into
them had been almost stopped.
In justice 10 those States, said MT
olmstead, an investigation should be
made by some competent authority that
the truth might be discovered and known.
When put TO vote the resolution was
adopted.
Pay for Commissioners.
L.