The Bennington evening banner. (Bennington, Vt.) 19??-1961, 1912-07-23
IMP PARCHMENT Of
HANFORD NOW
UNNECESSARY
Federal Judges Resignation Re-
Ceived by President Taft
SAYS HIS HEALTH IS POOR
Chairman Clayton Believes That Pro
ceednas In the Case Should
Now Be Dropped.

Washington, July 23.-Chairman
Henry d. Clayton of the House judi
ciary committee last night announced
at Washington that he considered un-
necessary further impeachment pro
ceedngs against Federal Judge Cor
nelius n. Hanford of Washington,
who yesterday resigned. In long
statement, Chairman Clayton declar-
ed that while Congress has the power
to try a federal official for impeach-
ment even after he has resigned, he
did not believe that course necessary
in this case. Chairman Clayton in
structed. the subcommittee, now in
Seattle taking testimony in the Han
ford case, to discontinue its work.
In his statement Chairman Clayton
cited the precedent of the case OF
Secretary of War Belknap, who was
impeached and tried by the Senate al
ter his resignation had been accept
ed by President Grant The articles
of impeachment against Belknap
failed to receive tlfe necessary two
thirds vote in the Senate.
In conclusion Mr. Clayton said
The main objection of impeachment
being to get rid of an unfaithful OF
iicer having been accomplished in
this case by the resignation of Judge
Hanford, if it is true that he was un-
faithful, there seems to be necessity
for impeaching him in order to dis
qualify him from hereafter holding
any office of honor or profit under the
United States"
Judge Hanford telegraphed his re
signation yesterday to President Taft
giving ill-health as the reason.
Judge HanfOrd has been much in
the public eye since August %, 1911
when, after he had issued an injunc
ton hostile to the position of Seattle
citizens in a five-cent fare fight
against a street car company, he was
denounced at a great mass-meeting
and resolutions demanding his i'm.
parchment were adopted.
one of the speakers at the meeting
said that he had seen Judge Hanford
intoxicated in public place The
speakers at this meeting were arrest.
ed for interfering with an order of
the court. and some of them were
kept in prison for several days
In the spring of this year, during
the industrial workers of the world
demonstration in western Washing
ton, Judge Hanford condemned the
carrying of the red flag through the
streets. On May 10 Judge Hanford
revoked the citizenship papers of
Leonard OLSON of Tacoma, a member
of the socialist labor party and of
the industrial workers of the world.
because OLSON is appearing as a wit
ness for another man seeking citizen.
ship had said in answer to a question
that he was not devotedly attached
TO the constitution.
The convention of the socialist par
~ at Indianapolis took notice of Han
ford's decision and asked Congress-
man Victor Berger to bring impeach-
ment proceedings against Hanford.
Berger introduced the charges on
June lG. accusing Hanford of render
ing corrupt decisions and of being an
habitual drunkard.
Eight supplemental charges against
Honford We're filed directly with the
judiciary committee OF the House by
a Seattle attorney
Dozens of Witnesses testified that
they had seen Judge Hanford apar-
emily intoxicated in the streets and
street cars. and a few swore that
they had seen him apparently intoxi-
Gated in the courtroom. Many of
Judge Hanfords friends testified that
his peculiarities and mannerisms had
been misunderstood.
Judge Hanford has lived on Puget
sound 50 years He was appointed
supreme Justice OF the territory of
Washington in 1883. and on the ad-
mission of Washington to statehood
became district judge. He is SO
years old