The Birmingham age-herald., 1913-06-25
Sends Long Message to At
torney McNab Explaining
Official Attitude
ATTORNEY GENERAL
is EXONERATED
President Wilson EXPLAINS Position in
Lengthy Letter-Federal Grand
Jury Members Make
Protest

san Francisco, June 2t-"Good,
am glad the President has acted
so promptly said District Attor-
nev John McNab when told tonight
that his resignation had been ac-
cepted, the incident is now closed
The President" he continued,
says my criticism of the Attorney
General was unjust, But even
President Wilson can't change
facts If it was right in MAY to tell
me to proceed with the cases in
question. it is wrong in June TO tell
me to stop. it Is wrong now for the
President to say proceed
Washington. June 24-President Wilson
tonight telegraphed United States District
Attorney McNab of San Francisco ac-
eeptance of the latter's resignation, the
form of which the President character
lied as IAN ineScusable intimation Of in
justice and wrong doing on the part OF
Attorney General McReynolds. In let
ter to the Attorney General the Presi-
dent exonerated him from blame and
adopted Mr. MeReynods suggestion that
the Caminetti-Diggs and the Western
Fuel company cases be prosecuted I'M
mediately by special counsel for the gov
ernment.
White House officials announced that
the President would confer with the At
torney General tomorrow about the ap-
pointment of special prosecutors and tina
the President had in mind Francis j
Heney progressive republican, who pros
ecuted the San Francisco graft trials
Matt J. Sullivan, democrat, who assist
ed Mr. Heney in the Ruef trial, ant
Thomas Hayden. democrat, a former as
sistant city attorney in San Francisco
II was said that at least two of thes'
three men and possibly all would be Sc
lected TO take charge not only OF th'
Caminetti- Dggs white slave cases, bu
the Western Fuel company cases
Rapid Developments
Developments were rapid during The
day in the situation which was precipi-
tated by kilograms of Mr.. McNab or
Saturday to the President and the Attor-
ney General. accusing the latter of yield
ing to rich and powerful influences II
ordering postponement of these cases
the father of one of the defendants be
ing Anthony Caminetti, commissioner gen
eral of immigration.
The subject absorbed the cabinet meet
ing today and tonight the President came
to his office to make public the full
correspondence. First, the President tel
egraphed Mr.. McNab as follows:
washington. d. C.. June "A, 1913
"John L. McNab, Esq. San Francisco
Cal.
Il greatly regret that you should have
acted so hastily and under SO complete
mjsapprehension of the actual crcum-
stances, but since you have chosen such
a course and have given your resigna-
ton the form of an inexcusable intima-
tion of injustice and wrong doing on
the part of your superior | release you
without hesitation and accept your resis-
nation to take effect at once.
"WOODROW WILSON"
Attorney General McReynolds state
ment that he ordered a postponement ol
the cases as an ordinary procedure n
criminal trials, without anticipating thai
ANY fair-minded man" would attribute
"a malign motive to him, was acknowl
edged by the President in his letter.
June "a, 1913.
INV Dear Mr. Attorney General: Allow
me to acknowledge with sincere appre
citation your letter of today, giving ms
a full account of the way in which thu
| department of justice has dealt with th'
| Diggs- Caminetti and the Western tue
| company cases, pending in California
i, and transmitting the documents connect
ed with the two cases necessary for thei
elucdation.
81 am entirely satisfied that the cours'
YOU took in both the cases was prompted
by sound and impartial judgment and :
clear insistence for what was fair anC
right.
II approve your course very heartily
and without hesitation. But ! agree witt
you that what we may think of wha
has been done does not relieve us of th'
obligation TO press these cases with th'
utmost diligence and energy
Approves Suggestion
Il approve very heartily of your sug
gestion that in the circumstances. spe
cial counsel be employed, the best tha
we can obtain
Il viii be very glad to confer with yoi
about the selection. / hone that vou vii
do this without delay. | am very gla'
indeed that you are giving your persona
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