The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1913-06-25
ATTORNEY GENERALS FULL
REPORT TO THE president

The letter of Attorney General Mercy
nolds, also under date of yesterday, ex-
plains that he was unable sooner to col
lect all the facts in the two cases from
the department files. The letter contains
the complete i!es on the Diggs-Caminetti
white slave case and the Western Fuel
Company case.
Following a preliminary report from a
department agent on the Diggs-Caminetti
case, the letter continues:
Asked McNab for Facts.
"On May 16, 1 wired Mr.. McNab. d.
recting him to forward me a full report
and take no further affirmative action in
the case until further advised. In re-
Spouse. he wrote such report. under
date of May q, and this reached me on
the 9th. In this. which covers more than
a dozen typewriter pages, he details a
version of the facts, with his differences
therefrom, and expresses the opinion that
the case was aggravated and should be
vigorously prosecuted: also. that there
might be attempts to interfere with the
due course of justice by improper in
fiuences.
"on the same date May 20 replied
by wire. saying:
81 think the proper course is for you to
set the case and proceed with them as
you have planned. and you are so d.
rected'
II had no occasion to give the matter
any further special consideration for
some three weeks-June 1s-when Secre-
tary Wilson telephoned to me and told
me of the embarrassment in which he
was placed by the request from the elder
Caminetti. father of one of the defend
ants, for leave of absence in order to at
tend the trial of his son. The elder
Caminetti, as you know, is the newly ap-
pointed Commissioner of immigration.
The Secretary explained the exigencies OF
his department. which. he thought. inn
reratively required the presence here of
the commissioner. He has written me a
letter stating his recollection OF the cir
cumstances, and I herewith inclose it.
Imprcssed by Embnrrn ssment.
Impressed by Secretary Wilson's state
ment of his embarrassment, and desiring,
of course. IL possible to relieve him, with
out stopping to go through the files. and
SO refresh my recollection concerning any
particular circumstances of the case. i
sent the United States Attorney the fol-
lowing telegram:
The Secretary of Labor advises II
is a matter of public importance that
Commissioner of immigration Caminetti
remain at his post here. I do not now
wish government to be in position Of in
sisting upon trial of young Caminetti and
Diggs. charged with violating white slave
law during enforced absence Of the IA
Iher. who is performing necessary public
duties. In view Of all facts. you are in
structed to postpone trial of these cases
until the autumh.'
The postponement of a criminal case
so recently instituted as this was, is moi
an unusual proceeding; and It did MOI
occur to me that any malign motive
would be attributed to me. II 1 hac
anticipated that any fair-minded man
knowing the facts, would place such g
construction upon this ordinary act,
would have been scrupulously careful te
avoid it. 1t is essential. not only thai
the administration of justice shall b.
free from Partially or improper influence
but that even the appearance of sucf
things should be avoided. / do not ever
hope to escape mistakes, but l am pro
foundry conscious that my actions arr
free from unworthy motives.
Position Demanded Loyalty.
Mr. McNab, as United States Attor
| ney, held a position of peculiar trus
and confidence, demanding the utmos
loyalty to the department. If, as such
an officer should do, he had avaiIec
himself of the opportunity to send 8
QiSpdtCH TeCdlllnB dtlcHliOH 10 tHs
peculiar conditions which he though
| rendered the proposed actIon InaovIsapIe
as l had always heretofore done,
should have given earnest consideration
to his suggestions, and with them before
me. could have acted with the local con
! ditions fresh in my mind. Instead o.
pursuing this manifestiy proper course
he waited until June 20 and then pub.
iished the sensational telegram wherein
he imputed base motives to me. His con.
duct, has, OF course. made II Impossible
for him to continue in the prosecutor
OF this case, however desirable thai
! otherwise might have been. Under IN,
circumstances, the only course open /.
to accept his resignation.
Il therefore suggest an immediate con
ference between us for the purpose Of
selecting some counsel whose ability
character and reputation are so high a.
to insure the proper conduit of the case
and that he be put in immediate charge
with instructions promptly and vigor
ously to prosecute 1t to conclusion
Reviews Fuel Company Case.
After reviewing the charges in tn,
Western ,Fue. Company case. the letter
gays:
$50 far as I can recall, there was nc
occasion for me to give this case any
personal consideration until April 30 last
when received letter from Secretary