New-York tribune., 1919-01-13
Gregory Quits
As Member of
Wilson Cabinet
Continued from page /

always be, my greatest source of
pride.
"No man ever served 8 leader who
was more uniformly considerate,
more kindly helpful and more gra-
ciously appreciative. No subordinate
was ever more deeply grateful for
the numberless friendly words and
acts of his superior.
"Pecuniary responsibilities of
substantial nature rest upon me and
my private affairs have long demand
ed attention. During the continu-
ance of actual warfare I did not feel
at liberty to weigh these personal
considerations in the balance against
the public duties with which I was
charged. BY March 4 of the present
year the Department of Justice will
have substantially brought its war
activities to a close and be working
under normal conditions. | there
fore ask that this resignation take
effect on that date. Faithfully yours,
at. W. GREGORY"
Wilson Compliments Gregory
The Presidents reply said:
"My Dear Mr. Attorney General:
"It is with profound reluctance and
regret that | accept your resignation.
l do so only because you have con-
vinced me thta it is necessary IN
your own interest for you to retire.
There has been no one with whom
have been associated in Washington
whom | have learned more to trust
nor to whose counsels / have at
tachedmore value and Importance.
Your administration Of your office
has been singularly able and slngu-
larly Conscientious and watchful OF
the public interest, and feel that 1t
is very serious loss indeed to the
nation that you should find yourself
obliged to withdraw from public
life.
"My best wishes not only, but my
affectionate friendship will follow
you into retirement, and | hope with
all my heart that in some way and at
some time | shall again have the
privilege and benefit Of being asso-
ciated with you.
"Cordially and faithfully yours,
"WOODROW WILSON,"
Mr.. Gregory is the second Cabinet
Office to resign recently or account OF
personal financial considerations, Will
lam G. McAdoo having retired last
month as Secretary Of the Treasury be-
cause he could not support his family
on the Cabinet members salary of
$4,000 a year. Mr.. Gregory is the fifth
man to leave the Cabinet during the
six years of President Wilson's Admin
istration. Others were Secretary of
State Bryan, Secretary of War Garri-
son, Attorney General McReynolds, Mr..
Gregory's predecessor, who was ap-
pointed to the Supreme Court, and Mr.
McAdoo.
Was Prosecutor Of Oil Trust
Mr., Gregory has served as Attorney
General since AUGUST 20, 1914, and be-
fore the nhe served as a special as
sistant of the Attorney General in the
investigation of the New Haven trans
portation system in New England and
obtained dissolution of that system
without resorting to suit. His home is
in Texas, where he gained recognition
as prosecutor of the so-callcd oil trust
Throughout the war the Attorney
The functions of policing the country
seeking out dangerous enemy aliens fol
prosecution or internment, combating
German propaganda and rounding uy
draft slackers were lodged mainly il
the Department of Justice. Mr.
Gregory expressed in his report fol
the year that the department had beer
able to break down the German espion
age system in this country, and to re
0uce sabotage to practically nothing.
Before the war one of the principa
functions of the Attorney General wa
IN bringing to argument in the Suprem,
Court 3 number of antitrust cases
Most of these are now pending, and i
will devolvc on the new Attorney Gen