The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1920-06-03

Observation-Disclosures on Cne part OF
partisan Republicans, pro-Germans and
their sympathizers to assail the excep-
ticnally competent record Of Attorney
General Mitchell Palmer when he was
allen property custodian have encoun-
tered 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 Republication IL
not to be uestiOned by anyone, but he
is not bigol, 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 it. or at least
that he should not be assailed for a
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 $500, 100000 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-
flrmation by the senate, and long In
vestigation ensued, hut the Committee
on Judiciary, of which Senator Nelson
is chairman and 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.. Palmer's conduct Of the alien prop
erty custodian's office. despite the fact
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 senator's In
all seriousness is that Mr.. Palmer had
a great task to perform, and he had to
work through many instrumentalitles.
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 up their tracks. I
| think he deserves on the whole great
credit for his work In ferreting out
German interests in this country and
disposing of them and putting them
into the hands Of the federal govern
ment. There were instances in which
he took over industries and changed
them from being industries In the
hands of Germans into American In.
dustries engaged in the work OF pro
duction for the necessities of the war
81 am unwilling, Mr.. President, to
take up the time Of the senate more
than to say II Is my opinion, from the
investigation that took place before
the Judiciary Committee, that no cas-
can be made against Mr.. Palmer, ant
there is no occasion for this investiga
ton.
az regret to say, and after all / d.
not regret II. that am unable to wral
myself up in a party political spirit II
a matter of this kind. l look upon ]
from the standpoint Of the ordinar.
American citizen. Mr.. Palmer had
great task to perform. He performe'
II. in nv opinion, as carefully and pru
IDENTIFY as a man could under the cir
cumstances. In all instances where n
took possession Of property and had t
sell II he was careful, as he was Il
those cases that our committee invest
gated. TO have a board Of Independent
appraisers appralse the property, an
he would act according TO their 1udt
ment What more could a man dot
"Mr. President, can see no good
be accomplished by this proposed II
yestigation, and were 1t not for th
fact that | do not want to hurt tn
feelings of my good friend from Ne
YORK (Mr. Calder), should move
indefinitely postpone the resolution.
Thus again the Republican-pro-Ge
-. - s,ooaasfuIIv assatl N