The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1919-01-13
GREGORY RESIGNS
Attorney General of United
States Out on March 4.
Financial Reasons Are Gi.ep
for His Resignation. -

Washington, Jan. 13.-Thomas W..
Gregory, attorney general of n
United States since 1914, has resign
because of "pecuniary responsibilities
and will return to the practice of law.
President Wilson has agreed to his re-
tirement next March 4.
Mr.. Gregory's letter Of resignation,
dated January 8, and the president
reply, cabled from Paris the next day,
We're made public at the White House,
The attorney generals letter disclosed
that he had long considered retiring
from office and discussed the matter
with the president before MIR, Wilson
went abroad.
Polk and Lewis Spoken Of.
FIR. Gregory's successor has not yet
been appointed. and there has been no
official intimation as to whom he will
he. In speculation today the names of
Frank L. Polk, counsellor of the state
department and acting secretary while
Mr.. Lansing is in Europe and Senator
James Hamilton Lewis of Illinois were
mentioned
Mr.. Gregory is the second cabinet
officer to resign recently on account of
personal financial considerations, VIII
liam 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
S12,00 a year. Mr.. Gregory is the
fifth man to leave the cabinet during
the six years of President Wilson's ad-
ministration. Others were Secretary
of state Bryan, Secretary of War Gar
rison, Attorney General McReynolds
CNr. Gregory's predecessor, who was
appointed to The supreme COURT, ana
Mr. McAdoo.
Mr.. Gregory has served as attorney
general since August 20, 1914, and be-
fore then he served as a special assls-
tant of the attorney general in the-ln-
ff-1f1 &
portation system in New England. ana
obtained a dissolution of that system
without resorting to a suit lie was
born in Mississippi. But now bis home
is in Texas, where he gained recoS-
rition as prosecutor of the so-calleA
oil trust.
Turnout the war the attorney gen
erals duties have been .ArduoIs. The
functions of policing the hpuntry. seek
ing out dangerous ent rTy aliens FOL
prosecution or internmeat, coripatlnS
German propa ganda and rounding ~
craft slackers. were lodged mainly In
the Department of justice.
MANY difficult and delicate questions
arose curing the administra ton of war
I overs, and after hOstilities cea Sed 1t
was a source of pride to Mr.. Gregory
expressed in his report for the Eear,
that the department had been Rhle to
Ircak down the German espionage tys-
tom i'll this country and to reduce
sabotage to practically nothing,
Before the war one OF the principal
functiors of the attorney general was
in bringing to argument in the ST.
rreme court q number of drti-trUs-
cases. Most of these are now pend
in-, and it VIII GeVo.ve on the new
attorney general, not only to press
these, but 10 assist in formula i15 new
anti-trj;st legislation which the next
congress probably VIII take up.
Mr.. Gregory has made no definite
plans for the future and has not yet
determined where he Will practice
la
I.umors todav mad it that Secretary
RadCield might leave the commerce
department soon.