The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1913-08-13
FEDERAL JUDGES WATCHED,
SENATOR BORAH CHARGES THAT
SYSTEM OF ESPIONAGE
\ PREVAILS.
Department Of Justice Has Had Spe.
ciai Agents Keeping Tab on Judges
e for the Purpose of Influencing Their
Action I'm Cases I'm Which Govern
ment IL Interestd.

Washington. Aug. Tho fiat
charge that department OF Justice
agents had investigated federal Judges
to influence their action In cases in
which the government was interested
was made In the senate today by Sen
ator Borah and indorsed partially at
least by Senator Norris.
Senator Borah's charge was
brought out by a report from Attorn-
ey Gene ral McReynolds, responding to
senate resolution asking where fed
erai agents were investigating judges.
The resolution reflected some senti-
ment aroused In the case OF Federal
Judge Speer of Georgia, whose court
had been Investigated and who had
attacked the department of justice in
public speech.
The attorney generals reply to the
inquiry was that any report that the
federal department OF justice was a
system OF espoinage over the Judges
was without foundation.
Mr.. Borah responded with his
charge.
Il know this Is very serious
charge" he said. "but am so reliably
informed that / make the statement
that within the last four or five years
special agents have carried on such
investigations with a view 20 infiuenc-
Ing judges"
senator Norris declared he did not
have all the information Senator
Borah had but that he believed his
statements were based on fact.
The attorney generals report de-
ciared that only three judges had been
Investigated. one of those being
Judge Robert w. Archbold.
Senator Works. who introduced the
resolution denounced the attorney
generals report today as "evasive"
and announced he would make a fur
ther demand for information.
-. Senator Borah's charge was char
scterized as startling" by Senator'S
Crawford and Sutherland. The latter
declared II needed investigation" +"
and that if such sinister influences
continued the lend of the republic
was I'm sight"
Senator Hoke Smith asked Senator
Borah for the exact time when federal
agents had been making these efforts
to influence judges i'm behalf of gov
ernment cases.
II think II has been going on more
or less continuously for the last four
or hve years" responded Mr.. Borah.
These judges are practically under
the control OF the department as far
ss promotion and demotion Is con-
cerned." said Senator Borah. They
have been made to know what the
government desires In cases and even
what kind of decision the govern
ment desires handed down. III we are
going to have a judiciary subject To
secret influences. l am I'm favor Of
popular election and recall of Judges. -
Senate Colt OF Rhode Island de-
ciared that In his 81 years as a Judge
no effort had been made by the de-
partment of justice to influence the
judges. lie knew, however, that spe-
cial agents had been sent to New Eng
land.
NO final action was taken on the
attorney generals report.
NO inspectors or other agents are
appointed by the attorney general or
by the department. of justice specif-
caiiy to investigate and report upon
conduct or proceedings OF any of the
courts or judges OF the United States. :"
said the attorney generals report.
IL stated. however. that a force is
employed under authority Of congress
To investigate subjects that IL Is the
duty OF the department to follow.
ITO state with particularly which
nourts and judges have been under in
Nestigation within the last few years
by agents Of this department would.
In my opinion. be incompatible with
the public interest" continued the re-
port.
Inc suggestion that the depart
ment OF Justice Is maintaining "a sys-
tenn OF espionage over the courts and
Judges of the country is entirely with
out foundation"