The Birmingham age-herald., 1913-06-24
ASKS M'REYNOLDS
Be REMOVED FROM
PUBLIC OFFICE:
Startling Developments ii
McNab ResignatiOn-Ie
Reynolds Will Max
Full Report

Washington, June 2s.-Attorney Cen
eral McReynolds will make a full report
to President Wilson at the Presidents re-
quest on the causes that moved him to di-
rect postponement of the Diggs-Cami-
netu white slave cases and the trials of
the two directors of the Western Fuel COM
pany, the basis of the resignation of
United States Attorney John j.. McNab
OF San Francisco, and his sensational
partment of justice.
One of the days most remarkable de-
velopments in the unusual episode was
the receipt by the President of a tele-
gram from Clayton Harrington, special
agent of the department of justice, in
charge OF the Federal bureau OF investi-
cation at San Francisco, demanding the
removal from office of Attorney General
McReynolds. Officials tonight declared
that the question of summary action In
Herrington's case probably would be
taken up by the Attorney General
III Ignorance OF fTOIeSt
The department of justice was in ig-
norance of the special agents protest
until its publication this afternoon 1t
was then called to the attention of the
Attorney General. Early in the day be-
fore 1Ierringtons action became known
at the department officials We're some
what mystified and later amused by
the receipt of telegram from another
special agent applying for the vacancy
at San Francisco.
While no action has yet peen taken on
the McNab resignation, white house Of
ficals let it be known that the President
Was looking for a successor, They
stated that the character of the new
district attorney would soon show
whether there could be any manipulation
of the case by the department of justice
though political infusnc IS as charged
by District Attorney McNab.
Steps today preliminary to a final de-
termination of the controversy were
many. The President said his first in
timation of the situation was CLEANED
from the newspapers and declared he
would wait for the Attorney Generals
report before dtermining his course
The episode found an echo IL, the halls
of Congress, where Representative Kahn
republican of California, and Hinebaugh
progressive of Illinois. introduced in the
House resolutions. one calling for Official
papers In the case and the other for an
investigation by the Judiciary commit
tee.
Al, ;.,.,,, cfo ,1,tt
declaring that President Wilson should
supplant Immigration Commissioner
Caminetti on the ground that he had
used both his political and official in
fluence to prevent his son from being
brought to a speedy trial
Interest in Incident
Interest here in the incident centered
largely around the Caminetti-Digg case.
post ponement of which Secretary Wilson,
Of the department of labor, yesterday took
responsibility.
Assistant Attorney General Harr to-
night assumed fun responsibility or the
order to Attorney McNab to postpone the
trial of Robert Bruce and Sidney "
Smith. directors of the Western Fuel
company on charges of customs coal
frauds. This postponement mentioned in
Mr.. McNab's telegram of resignation to
the President was ordered, declared Mr.
Harr, to prevent possible miscarriage
OF justice.
THE trial of, the entire western Fuel
company case was not ordered post
poned," said Mr. Harr, hut only the
trials of Bruce and Smith who were in
dicted With three other directors Of the
company. Bruce and Smith were onfy
directors. while the other three defend
ants were officials as we'll as directors.
Attorney Pringle for the company asked
that the indictments of Bruce and Smitn
be Dismissed on the ground OF no evil
dence to connect them with. the alleged
frauds. I carefully studied the evidence
in the case submitted by United states
Attorney McNab and reached the CON
clusion that Bruce and Smith. who seemed
men of high character, probably were
innocent as apparently they were nm
familiar with the operations OF the COM
pany. In order to prevent q miscarria 60
of Justice, l recommended, and ATTORNEY
General McReynolds acquiesced that Il
would be better to try first the three di-
rectors who were officials because this
trial undoubtedly would develop the ex
tent OF the connection OF Bruce ara smith
with the alleged frauds.
1T seemed unwise to run. the r,s,, -,
convictng two innocent men along viii
three men who might be guilty when the
ends OF justice would be fully satisfied bv
later trials II the government received
evidence which 1t did not then possess ~
the guilt Of Bruce and smith,"