New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1913-06-23
Secretary of Labor Assumes
Full Responsibility for Post
ponement of "White
Slave" Cases.
he ASKED FOR THE DELAY
Trial, He Says, Would Have
Called Mr.. Caminetti to San
Francisco Just When
He Was Needed in
Washington.

Washington, June 22.-Secretary
Wilson Of the Department of Labor
took full responsibility tonight for the
nostponemcnt Of the trial of the Diggs-
Caminetti case, the basis of sensa-
tonal charges telegraphed TO the Presi-
dent yesterday by United States At
torney John l.. McNab. of San Fran
cisco. with a request that his resigna-
lion be accepted at once. In a signed
statement. Secretary Wilson said:
The Attorney General postponed
trial in the Diggs- -Caminetti case solely
upon nv request. ! am, therefore, re-
sponsible for the postponement.
Mr. a. Caminetti has but recently
assumed the duties of Commissioner
General Of immigration. He has not
vet fully familiarized himself with the
duties Of the office. He asked me for
leave Of absence in order that he might
return to California TO be present at
the trial Of his son. / insisted that he
remain here until he was sufficiently
acquainted with the duties OF the po-
sition Of Commissioner General TO be
able to properly inspect the immigra-
ton stations at Pacific ports when hc
returned to California.
Il therefore suggested that would
ask the Attorney General to postpone
the trial Of the case until the next term
Of court II is nothing unusual for
the District Attorney Of that or any
other district, or the Attorney General
10 grant a postponement of trial in
such cases. when an immediate trial
would seriously Inconvenience either
party. The suggestion and the request
came from me purely in the interest
Of the public service
Says MeNab Was Willing.
As a reply to the statement Of Nc
Nab, triticising the Attorney General
for delaying the Diggs-Camine-ti
white slavery" cases, Charles c. Boyn-
ton a San Francisco attorney, who ar
rived in Washington this evening. IS
sued a statement that McNab told Il.
7. Deylin, ono OF the counsel in the
cases, that he was perfectly agreea-
BE to a postponement." but did not. N
view Of the public feeling that had been
aroused, desire to assume personal re-
sponsibility OF requesting or publicly
acceding 70 the continuance.
Mr.. Boynton, who is associated with
Mr.. Deylin in important land cases
which are set for hearing on July !, as
serts that the reason for the postpone
ment was the necessity for Mr.. Dew
Inns presence in Washington when the
land cases came up. He declares that
Mr. Devlin told him that he appealed
TO the Attorney General for a contin-
uance "to save McNab's face" rhe
statement by Mr.. Boynton is as fol-
lows
In view Of the resignation Of United
States Attorney McNab, the press ac-
cunts Of which were called to my at
ention as l was leaving Harrisburg
this afternoon en- route from San Fran
cisco to Washington. and the alleged
reason given therefor by Mr.. McNab.
being the enforced postponement Of the
Diggs- -Caminetu cases, and being ac-
quainted with the facts and the injus-
iice that is being done to the Depart
ment Of Justice by Mr.. McNab's pub
iished telegram ] feel it my duty to
make public the following statement.
"R. 7. Devlin, former United States
Attorney for the Northern District cf
California, and Mr.. McNab's immedi-
ate predecessor in office, is the attorney
in charge Of the defence Of Digs and
Caminetti. Mr.. Devln Informed me
as much as four weeks ago that Dis
trict Attorney McNab had agreed with
him that the Diggs- -Caminetti cases
Continued on fourth page, fourth column.