The San Francisco call., 1913-07-30
Democratic Leader, Defend
ing Attorney General, De-
clares That Malefactors Of
Wealth Are Behind At
tacks in Diggs-Carninetti
Row and Seek to Discredit
Fearless Federal Official
BUT KAHN SEES AN
"INSIDIOUS PULL
Shows Message Ordering
McNab to Halt Trial Was
Sent Month Before Secre-
tary Wilson Asked Delay
House Airs California
Scandal in Long Debate
STATEMENT OF CLAYTON

WASHINGTON. July 2e-vigorous
criticism and determined defense OF the
attitude of Attorney General Mercy
nolds and the administration in the
Diggs-Caminetti white slave cases
marked hours OF political debate in the
house todsy.
Representative Eahn Of California
deeIered that ~iHsidiou~ roHtica, inau-
ence1 had something to do with the
pcstponement of the cases in Califor-
MA. End cha airman Clayton OF the house
judiciary committee. in a spirited de-
fenSe of the attorney general. said
That the attacks growing out OF the
case were a part OF a general con
splracv of the special interests 10 dis
credit an honest public offcial.
Chairman Clayton declared that the
special interests were instigat ting the
attacks on the attorney general be-
cause of his fearless prosecution OF all
offenders. Ugh and low. AS an instance
OF these attacks. he put into the rec
ord a newsps per article which set
forth that the attorney general had
issued Instructions II Uuitsd states st-.
torneys not to proceed under the Mann
white slave act except IN cases where
the offenders prohted commercially
from the transactions.
READS NcEEYNOLDs' DENIAL
orous denial of this article in an Of
fetal statemen from the attorney gen-
eral.
The gentleman from California"
said Mf Clayton, shaking his finger al
Representative Kahn, is an innocent
a public official of unimpeachable in
tegrity and undoubted honesty
Republicans. progressives and demo-
Gratis generally Joined in the debate,
the democrats defending the admins
tration and decrying the attempts of
.'nuckrakers" to discredit public Of
fcials.
The depste. forced by the republican
flibuster which tied up business in the
house all last week. followed the pre-
sentation of a report from the judiciary
committee recommending that a res
olution of Representative Kahn, call
ing on the attorney general for a tele-
gram relating to the cases to be laid
upon the table. as the data asked for
had been furnished.
When the house adjourned tonight
the Eve hours debate on the resolution
had not exhausted and the discussion
viii be renewed when the house meets
Friday
TELEGRAM TO McNAB
The committee report sets forth that
the attorney general had supplied
telegram. which reads as follows:
= 'MeNab United States district at
torney San Francisco. Cal:
please write me fully concerning
charges against Caminetti and Diggs
and take no Affirmative action in re-
spect of same until you receive advices
from me. Answer.
..McREYNOI.DS. Attorney General"
Accompanying the telegram was
memorandum showing it was sent by
the attorney general personally on the
evening of May 16.
Representative Kahn pointed out that
the telegram holding up the trials was
sent more than a month before Secre-
tary Wilson asked the attorney general
for delay.
why was this telegram sent from
his hotel? he demanded. did some
one call on the attorney general at his
hotel and try to exert insidious polit-
ical pull in having the cases post
poned?'
1T was evidently necessary to white
wash the action of the attorney gen.
eral," said Kahn. discussing President
Wilson'S action in the cases. why the
president saw fit to seold and censure
McNab and a the same time adopt his
policy cf proceeding promptly with the
cases passes all comprehension.
.INsIDIOUs- POLITICAL PULL
IF McNab did right in insisting on
the early trial of these cases-and both
the president and the attorney general
now adopt his views and insist that the
cases must be tried promptly and at an
earlv date-why should McNab have
been censured?s II insidious political
nuu was being successfully used to
Rrsuse the attorney general TO order
postponement of the cases. why should
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