The Washington herald., 1919-01-13
GREGORY QUITS
WILSON CABINET
MARCH FOURTH
Attorney General Leaves
Public Office for Pc
cuniary Reasons.
ACCEPTS RESIGNATION
Salary of Cabinet Member
Not Sufficient for Off
cial Expenses.

cial Expenses.
Attorney General Thomas W.
Gregory has rendered his resignation
to take effect March 4.
President Wilson has accepted Mr..
Gregory's resignation and will an
nounce his successor soon after his
return from abroad.
Mr.. Gregory sent his resignation to
the President last THURSDAY, the
Presidents acceptance being sent to
the United States Friday. 1t is un-
derstood that Mr.. Gregory's action
was decided upon in a conference be-
tween himself and the President
shortly before the latter went abroad.
In his letter of resignation. Mr..
Gregory says that for pecuniary rea-
sons, 1t is essential that he leave the
Gregory's health has not been of the
best
Already there is considerable specu-
laltion as to his successor. Many
names are being mentioned, chiefly
among them Samuel j. Graham, of
Pittsburgh, one of the five assistant
attorneys general, who has been in
trusted in large measure with admin
istrative functions in the Department
of Justice.
Salary Insuflf cient.
In some quarters the prediction is
made that other members of the
Cabinet may be tempted to resign
and resume more remunerative ca
reers in civil life. The Cabinet
members receive only $4,000 a year
and when the social duties of a
Cabinet member are met, he finds
il no simple matter to meet the eX-
penses necessary to his position in
Washington. In peace times, the
Cabinet members play no small part
in the entertainment of foreign Wis
itors and officials. No clearer pre-
sentation Of the financial position
in which the Federal public servants
md themselves at this time has
been made than that of former Sec
retary of the Treasury McAdoO. who
the financing of the war.
and the administration of the coun-
try's railway system on salary of
s12. 900 a year.
Other Resig nations.
The resignation of Mr.. Gregory
from the Cabinet is the fifth which
President Wilson has accepted.| the
others being Secretary of War Car
rison and Attorney General Mickey
nolds. Secretary of State Bryan and
McAdoo.
Mr.. Gregory letter reads:
I'm accordance with the purpose
expressed in our conversation just be-
fore you went abroad, 1 tender my
resignation as Attorney General
"It has been not quite six years
since l became connected with your
and more than four
years ago. a few days after war was
declared by the European nations, l
became a member of the Cabinet. 1t
can be fairly said that during no
other six years in the history of OR
country have so many problems been
presented and solved. The reflection
that at such a time 1 have been per-
mitted to stand by your side and as
sist in a modest way in dealing with
these national and international issues
is now, and will always be, my great
est source of pride.
Praise for Wilson.
NO man ever served a leader who
was more uniformly considerate, more
kindly helpful and more generously
No subordinate was
ever more deeply grateful for the
friendly words and acts
of his superior.
"Pecuniary responsibilities of a
substantial nature rest upon me and
my private affairs have long demand
ed attention. During the continuance
of actual warfare l did not feel at
liberty to weigh these personal con-
in the balance against the
public duties with which l was
charged. BY March I of the present
year the Department of Justice will
have substantially brought it's war
activities to a close and be working
under normal conditions. I therefore
ask that this resignation take effect
on that date"
Tribute to Gregory.
The reply of President Wilson,
written in Paris, under date of jan
uary 10, follows:
TT is with profound reluctance
and regret that 1 accept your resig-
nation. l do so only because you
have convinced me that it is neces-
SdT1 III your own IOT you
to retire. There mas been no one
with whom 1 ha1e been associated
in Washington vi fom have learned
more to trust mol to whose counsels
| have attached &mOre value and i'm
portance. You administration Cf
your office has Peen singularly able
and singularlyy conscientious and
watchful of th4 public interest. and
feel that il very serious loss
indeed to the nj tion that you should
find yourself obliged to WITHDRAW W
from public lif&
My best wi ehes not only, but my
affectionate Friendship will follow
you into retire}nent, and 1 hope with
all my heart 7hat in some way and
at some timf 1 shall again have
the privileged and benefit of being
with you"
Mr.. Gregory was born in Craw-
Mifs., November 6, 1861.
After attending the Southwestern
University at Clarks-
Vile, Tenn- and the University
OF virginia. he was graduated
from the University of Texas
law departnbent in 1885 and took
up his resi- fdence in Austin, Tex,
where he WAS regent of the Uni
of Texas for eight years.
He was tT ice a delegate to Demo
cratic National conventions. His
firm becarShe famous in the prosecu-
tions for the State of Texas of the
Waters-Pferce Oil Co.. a part of the
Oil Company. He was an
pointed special assistant to the At
torney GENERAL May 20, 1913, in the
nvestigf ktion of the affairs Of the
New lo94k, New Haven and Hartford
RailrOaH CompanN and WAS nnaAn