Okolona messenger. (Okolona, Miss.) 1900-current, 1920-06-24

Their sympathizers for His Patri-
otto Activities, Minnesota's Grand
Old Viking Put to Rout the RepubIi.
can Partisan Inquisitors by His In
dienant Protests.
Washington Efforts on the part Of
partisan Republicans, pro-Germans and
their sympathizers to assail the excep-
tionally competent record of Attorney
General Mitchell Palmer when he was
alien property custodian have encoun-
tered a pronounced boomerang. These
attempts have been repudiated and
condemned by more fair minded and
honest thinking Republicans, conspicu.
Gus among them being Senator Knute
Nelson of Minnesota, the chairman Of
the Senate Committee On the Judi
ciary.
Senator Nelson's Republieanism is
not to be uestioned by anyone, but he
Is not bigOt, and he believes that
when one has done big job and done
1t efficiently and well, whether he be a
Democrat or a Republican, he is en-
titled to the credit for 1t. or at least
that he should not be assalled for \
partisan advantage.
When Mr.. Palmer was nominated to
be attorney general he was naturally
the target of attacks instigated by Ger
man sympathiZers, who were prompted
in their hatred of him by the fact that
he had taken over $900,000,000 of enc
my property. which was being utilized
to the great detrIment Of this country,
and Americanized it. Senator Freling-
huysen, Republican, Of New Jersey
sought to prevent Mr.. Palmer's con-
frmation by the senate, and long in
vestigation ensued, hut the Committee
on judiciary, of which Senator Nelson
Is chairman and a majority OF whose
members are Republicans, after listen.
ing for two months to these charges
unanimously reported favorably on
Mr.. Palmer's nomination, and he was
then speedily confirmed by the senate.
But the pro-German interests were
not squelched by one signal defeat
They demanded an Investigation into
Mr. Pamer's conduct Of the alien prop
| arty custodian's Office, despite the fact
that the whole matter had been gone
over thoroughly when his nomination
for attorney general was before the
committee. Senator Calder. Republi-
can, Of New York offered the resolu-
ton for an investigation.
Here is what Senator Nelson, the
chairman Of the committee. had to say,
as reported In the Congressional Rec.
ord, in condemnation Of such action:
"What ! want to say to senators in
all seriousness Is that Mr.. Palmer had
a great task to perform, and he had to
work through many instrumentalities
He had to take in the range OF the en-.
| tire country. know from little mat,
tiers that happened in my own state
how some Of the German interests
took pains TO cover M their tracks.
| think he deserves on the whole great
credit for his work in ferreting ont
German interests in this country and
| t1ispOSing Of them and putting then
into the hands Of the federal govern
ment There were instances In which
he took over industries and changed
them from being industries In thu
hands Of GermAns into American IN
duStr'cs engaged in the work Of pro
duction for the necessities Of the war
al nm unwilling Mr.. President. Il
take up The time Of the senate NOR
than to say it IL my opinIon. from til
investigation that took place hefor
the Judiciary Committee. that no cas-
can be made against Mr.. Palmer an
there is no occasion for this investigu
ton.
81 regret to say. and after all Il
not regret II. that am, unable 10 wra
myself up in party political spirit 4
a matter Of this kind. ! look upOn
from the standpoint Of the ordlnar
American citizen. Mr.. Palmer Ind
great task to perform. He performe
it. in my opinion, as carefully and PR
IDENTIFY as a man could under the Gil
cumstances In all instances where h
took possession OF property and had (
sell 1t he was careful, as he was I
those cases that our committee invest
gated. to have a hoard Of lndepender
appraisers appraise the property, an
he would act according TO their judi
ment. What more could man do?
"Mr. President, can see no good I
be accomplished by this proposed Il
vestigation. and were II not for II
fact that l do rot want to hurt II
feelings Of my good friend from Ne
, York (Mr. CALDER. should move
indefinitely postpone the resolution.
Thus again the RepubIIcan-pro-Ge
I man effort to successfully asSail Il
attorney general failed.