The Brunswick news. [volume] (Brunswick, Ga.) 1906-2016, 1913-06-28

self has recognized, though the recog
milton did not come until the presi-
dent took the matter in hand and en-
forced a speedy decision that the pro
eeedings that had been halted should
20 forward Immediately. The presi-
dent exonerated the attorney general
from all blame for unworthy motives
in delaying the prosecution, and re-
buked the district attorney for Cali
fornia. who protested against the
course taken by his superior. and
opened occasion for the protest by
the submission of his resignation.
The president had either to accept
inc resignation OF District ATTORNEY
McNab or call for that of Attorney
General McReynolds. and he, natural
~ and properly enough, took the
course of accepting the subordinate
resignation District Attorney McNab
nad rendered his tenure of office i'm
possible when he censured his supc-
iior, and this he recognized and com
pensated for by his resignation. lie
alay take the satisfaction of having
sacrificed himself for the advance
nent of the processes of justice, and
re comes out OF the whole affair with
a coed deal of credit The righteous
ness of his protest against the attor-
ney generals conduct is practically
upheld by the president and is empha-
sized by the determination to appoint
special prosecutors for the case, so as
lot to even wait for the induction
INTO Office of regular successor TO
Mr.. McNab. If, in the presidents
Judgment, the case requires such
prompt attention and disposal, it is
easy to conclude what he must think
of the attorney generals willingness
to postpone it from ordinary course
Il is difficult to understand how At
toiney General McReyolds could have .
countenanced and approved a post
ponement of the trial Of this case or
how Secretary of Labor Wilson
should have requested its postpone
ment on the plea that the father of
one of the defendants, a high official
Of his department, could not be spared
at this time from his official duties to
attend the trial of his son, but should
have the opportunity Of such attend
ance. The halting of the wheels Of
justice to serve the convenience Of
a public official for purely private
consideration is very dangerous
business, and it Is more than strange
that such should not have occurred to
the two cabinet officers, the one who
requested and the other who ordered
the postponement.
On the whole, the attorney general
comes out Of this affair rather badly,
and scarcely less so does the secrc-
tary of labor emerge. The rather flip
pant remark of the attorney general
on receipt OF The district attorneys
resignation, that this merely meant
one more Republican out of Office, did
not improve his standing and the m
cident has served to reveal a very I'M
fortunate state of mind on the part
of the head of the legal department
OF the administration 1t is not the
first time that Attorney General Me
Reynolds, in the four months of his
holding office, has brought embar-
rassment and disturbance to the adj
ministlatiion, and there is certain to
be an extension of the rumors that he
may retire from the service The pre- il
dent cannot but feel measure of un-
certainty in the entrustment of ar
fairs, requiring the incest Judgment
to an official who could make such Il
grave mistake as Attorney Mercy /
nolds was guilty of in this case.