The Manchester journal. [volume] (Manchester, Vt.) 1861-current, 1919-03-06
PALMER Gets
CABINET POST
President hominates Enemy Alief
Property Custodian for A.
torney General.
WILL SUCCEED GREGORY
Senate Receives Message ss Reso'v'
tiens Calling for investigation ef
psinlsr's Activities IN Once
Are Pending

Washington A. Mitchell Palmer.
enemy alien property custodian, was
appointed attorney general of the Unit
ed States by President Wilson aud bis
name seat 10 ia. senate for confrinn
ton. lie will succeed Thomas W.
Gregory. who recently resigned
The nomination WAS made while n
resolution introduced by Senator Cal
der ~ New York was pending, which
ON adoption would call for "a thorough
investigation OF the Office Of allen prop
erty custodian, a position MIR Palmer
has held since the ertry Of the United
States into The war.
The charge has been made that eS'
traordlnary and Inexcusably fat fees
hay. been dotted out by the Office OF III,
allen property custodian for services
that were more or less trlfiing IN char
acter
Mr. Palmer was accused by both Sen
stor Calder and Senator Frelinghuysel
Of New Jersey of making political ap
polntmenis In the administration 81 The
many rich enemy properties taken
over, bui this charge Mr.. Palmer de
MED.
He asserted that no fabulous fees o'
salaries were paid and that former
Representative ]. j Fitzgerald. who
was supposed to be reaplng great flnan.
elai profit, WIS getting only $500 n
month AZ counsel for the American
Metal Company. The board OF direc'
tors authorized this salary. Mr.. Palmer
said, and lie addcu that there had been
no protest.
Mr.. Palmer served In the Sixty.frsf.
Sixty second and Sixiy.thlrd Con
crosses and WIS appointed by PresI'
dent Wilson In April. 1914, a Judge In
the United States court of claims. He
resigned his place on the bench Sep.
TENDER !. 1919
when the trading with the enemy
act was passed President Wilson mp.
pointed Mr.. Palmer rs allen property
custodian October %. 1917. Mr.. Pal
mer gave bond In the amount Of $780,
600. and the place carried salary OF
5000.
Mr.. Palmer has been prominent
figure In the Democratic party TOT
many years. He has been n member
Of the Democratic National Committee
from PENNSYLVANIA since 1912, having
defeated james NJ. Gufrey in a bitter
hght In Pennsylvania. involving the
election OF delegates TO the Baltimore
convention.
More than the usual interest at
taches 10 the politics OF the Palmer
appointment. Two names have heen
persistently mentioned In connection
with the appolniment--Mr. Palmer and
Sherman WhIpple, the Boston lawyer
now connected with the Shipping
Board. who handled the famous "leak'
investigation. The. name Of Senator
James Hamilton Lewis Of Illinois. who
was defeated for reelection after he
got into the race at the Presidents spe
ciai request. has also been mentioned
and II was known that Mr.. Lewis
would have liked the place. although
he has declined appointments ms am
bassador 10 more than one country
The logic Of the political situation.
Il was nrst thought. would dictate the
appointment Of Whipple. Massachn,
setts r. the only state In which the
Democratic party gained = senatorial
seat a, the last election. II II also he.
lleved by politicians that President
Wilson II particularly anxious to de
yeiop n situation In Massachusetts &C
that II viii be possible 10 carry that
state for the Democratic nominee In
1870. But Senator Elect Walsh. II u,
said by certain senator's. objected tc
the elevation OF Whipple TO the cahl
net.