The Washington times., 1912-06-07
BERGER DEMANDS
THE IMPEACHMENT
OF JUDGE HANF FORD
Socialist Accuses Jurist of
Drunkenness and Cor
=.
ruption.

Impeachment Of Federal Judge Cor
nelius p. Hantord, OF Seattle, for an
nulling the naturalization papers OF
Leonard Oleson, a Seattle Socialist for
alleged "habitual drunkenness" moral
and temperameptal unfitness, and un-
lawful and corrupt decisions, was
formally demanded in the House today
by Congressman Victor Berger, the Wis
consin Socialist
A resolution directing the Judiciary
Committee to investigate Judge Han
ford and irnpeach him IL the charges are
proven was introduced by Berger 1t
was referred to the committee, after a
brief statement by Berger.
Il charge him with being an haoitual
drunkard," said Berger, in rising TO
question of highest privilege.
II charge him with having annulled
on May lS, in violation Of the Coasti-
tuition and on frivolous charge
Leonard ,oleson," Berger added. II
charge him with having issued in a
collusive suit Of Augustus Peabody
against the Seattle, Reton and Southern
in the interests Of the company and
against the interests of the citizens of
seattle, fagranty In violation Of justice
and law.
NdllS n1m UuuI.
IT charge him with being morally and
temperamentally unfit to hold a judicial
position.
II charge him with having been
guilty of a long series Of unlawful and
corrupt decisions
In his resolution, Berger directs the
Judiciary Committee to report II Han
ford has been repeatedly in a drunken
condition while presiding in court;
whether he has been guilty of corrupt
conduct in office; whether his admins
tration has resulted in injury and
whether he has been guilty of any mis-
behavior for which he should be i'm
peached.'
Four detailed charges, designated
resolution. Berger will appear soon
at q formal hearing before the COM
.mlttee to attempt substantiation Of the
charges. He claims to have scores of
atnoaV1ts to support the indictments.
The Procedure.
After a preliminary investigation, the
procedure Of the committee will be to
submit a favorable or unfavorable re-
port upon the question of recommend
ing Hanford's impeachment.
Berger attacked Hanford as a high
privilege" of a member of the House,
one of the official functions seldom ex-
erciesd by a Representative. His ac-
tion Is the elimination of Hanford's
cancellation OF Oleson's citizenship pa
pers because oleson, 1t Is alleged. ad.
mitted he is a Socialist - 49,
In his four specifications" Berger,
charges: .--" ~. y. p
1. That the annulment of Oleson's
nnrftfn fnata ,Iarr ,f,,I
tion of power. On trial the defendant
denied he was an anarchist and no
testimony to the contrary was intro
iduced. He admitted he was Socialist
On the ground of these admissions, and
wholly without warrant of law, Han
ford arbitrarily. Cancelled Oleson's GER
tificate.
e. That Hanford's reputation far rcn-
dering corrupt decisions Is matter OF
common and long-standing notoriety.
His record has been published and fur
ther proclaimed in mass meeting OF
5000 citizens of Seattle. Sworn testi-
mony regarding his numerous acts will
be placed at the disposal Of the COM
mittee.
g. That the Injunction issued in the
Peabody suit was fraudulent and dc"
tion aroused public sentiment to de-
gree which forced TTanford to dissolve
the Injunction shortly afterward.
The charges OF hanituai oIn drunken Ken
peramental unfitness to hold judicial
position win be sustained by sworn tes-
timony covering his record on the
bench for many years.
The impeachment demand follows re-
pudiation by President Taft and At
torney General Wickersham Of Han
ford's decision In the Oleson case Ber-
ger says the President has directed
wickersham to, reopen Oleson's case.
obtain a new trial, If possible, and also
give the judiciary Committee all docu-
ments bearing upon Hanford's alleged
misconduct.