The Neshoba Democrat., 1920-07-01

Neutrality-suspicious. 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 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 Republicanism IL
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 /
Democrat or Republican, he is en-
titled to the credit for II. or at least
that he should not be assailed for
partisan advantage.
When Mr.. Palmer was nominated to
he attorney general he was naturally
he target of attacks instigated by Ger
man sympathlzers, who were prompted
In their hatred of him by the fact that
'e had taken over $500. .0O0. 900 Of enc
NY property. which was being utilized
70 the great detriment Of this country,
and Americanized It. Senator FreIing-
huysen. Republican, OF New Jersey
sought to prevent Mr.. Primers con-
irmation by the senate. and long In.
"estigation ensued, hut the Committee
IN 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 .ion
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
that the whole matter hadt been gone
over thoroughly when his nomination
for attorney general was before the
committee. Senator Calder. Repubii-
can, Of New York offered the resolu-
tion for nm 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 In that Mr.. Palmer had
a great task to perform. and he had 10
work through many instrumentalities.
He had to take In the range OF the en-
tire country. know from little mst-
ters that happened In my own state
how some OF the German interests
took pains to cover mp their tracks. I
think he deserves on the whole great
credit for his work In ferretingi ont
German interests is 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 Americas IN
dustries engaged In the work Of pro.
duction for the necessities Of the war.
II 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. case
can be made against Mr.. Palmer. and
there Is no occasion for this investiga-
ton.
II regret to say, and after all 90
not regret 1t, that / am unable to wrap
myself up In party political spirit In
matter Of this kind. I look upon Il
from the standpoint OF the ordinary
American citizen. Mr.. Palmer bad
great task to perform He performed
II, In my opinion, as carefully and pru-
IDENTIFY as q man could under the cir.
cumstances. In all instances where he
took possession OF property and had to
sell II he was careful as he was In
those cases that our cbmmittee invcsti-
gated, to have board Of independent
appraisers appraise the property, and
he would act according to their iudg.
ment What more could man doi
"Mr. President, ! can see no good to
be accomplished by this proposed In
yestigation. and were It not for the
fact that ! do not want to hurt the
feelings Of my good friend from New
YORK (Mr. Calder). should move 70
indefinitely postpone the rescIutior.s
Thus again the Repubilcan-pro-G Ger
man effort to successfully assaii the
attorney general failed.