The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1913-06-25
President and Attorney Gen.
eral Still in Bad Way.
Not Able to Clear Up Attitude in
California Cases.
DIRECT CHANGE OF FRONT
After Exposure" Prosecutions
Are Ordered Rushed.
District Attorney McNab Issues
Singing Statement.

Washington, June 25.-President Will
son and Attorney General McReynolds
had an early conference today to Sc
lect a special prosecutor for the Cami-
netta-D -Diggs white slave cases, and
the Western Fuel company indictments
in the federal courts in San Francisco.
1t was said that an announcement
would be made before the end of the
day. With the wheels of the DEPART
ment of justice grinding again on the
celebrated cases, administration officials
made no effort to conceal their relief.
Official Washington reflected that feel
ing.
Probably no issue with which Presi-
dent Wilson has had to deal since his
Inauguration has attracted such wide
spread attention. The attitude of the
White House officials today in declin-
ing to comment on the latest declara-
tionS of the federal grand jury in San
francisco and the attacks of former
United States Attorney McNab upon
Attorney General McReynolds for his
postponement of the prosecutions, was
that the action of the president and
the attorney general in ordering the
cases to trial speaks for itself. 1t was
the official view that however mistaken
Mr.. McReynold's cursory view of the
situation upon which he ordered post
unworthy motives and it was pointed
out that the correspondence made pub
lie at the White House last night shows
that the attorney general himself had
reversed his position and was approved
by the president. President Wilson's
attitude now was said at the White
House to be that the selection of capa-
Bile counsel to carry the cases to trial
was sufficient demonstration of the
sincere wish of the administration to
have vigorous prosecution. 1t is
President wilson's intention to secure
Francis ]. Heney, if possible. to take
the case. He is regarded as being
specially desirable because he has no
political interests with the admins
tration. Matt J. Sullivan and Thomas
Hayden are also under consideration.
Representatives, Kent and Raker have
been mentioned as possible selections
for prosecutors. Secretary Lane, a per-
sonal friend of Heney's, has been asked
to use his Influence to get the lawyer
to undertake the work. With the Sc
resignation the White House will con-
slider the noted cases a closed incident
San Francisco, June 25.-The San
Francisco church federation sent the
following telegram to President Will
son last night:
I'VE urgently recommend speedy
trials of the Diggs- -Caminetti and
w eSteTn Fuel cases nere- II Lne IN
dicted men are innocent they should
have thier innocence speedily deter
mined by the courts. If guilty, let
punishment follow. We believe all
should stand up before the law re-
gardless of wealth, social position or
political prominence-San Francisco
Church Federation, John Stephens,
president"
Grand Jurors Want Trial.
San Francisco, June 25.-Twenty-
three members of the federal grand
jury which returned the original in
dictments against the Western Fuel
company directors, including Robert
Bruce and Sidney V. Smith, the post
ponement of whose cases ordered by
Attorney General James McReynolds,
was among the causes of District At
torney John McNab's resignation. met
here and drafted a telegram to Presi-
dent Wilson protesting against "usur-
patton of power by the attorney gen.
eraI of the United States" The tele-
gram, which was signed by the former
grand jurors, says in part:
LAS the grand jury which returned
the original indictment against the
fuel directors we most respectfully
but strongly and vigorously protest
against the usurpation of power by the
attorney general of the United States
in giving ear to the private appeals