The New York herald., 1922-05-26
FRIDAY. MAY 2s. 1922.
JIM WATSON as campaign keynoter
isn't convincing. The day for his kind
las passed in American politics.
A Political Blunder.

THE NEW YORK HERALD sees no
political wisdom in the purpose Of
Representative CAMPBELL to shield
, Attorney-General DAUGHERTY from
the investigation called for by the
Woodruff resolution, introduced in
the House April IL. 1t sees it as a
distinct political blunder.
This resolution proposes an In
quiry as to the failure of the Attor-
ney-General to prosecute, civilly and
criminally, persons and corporations
alleged to have defrauded the Gov
ernment in war contracts.
The Rules Committee of the House
voted six to five on May 3 to report
the resolution favorably. Mr.. CAMP
BELL is chairman Of the Rules Com
mittee. He recorded his vote on
May with the majority for favor
able consideration of the Woodruff
resolution. Now he comes out in op-
position to it and in this opposition
it is reported he has the powerful
support of Floor Leader MoNDELL-
Since the Woodruff resolution was
introduced, April II, the position OF
Attorney-General DAUGHERTY before
the public has very materially
changed. If there was justifiable
cause on May for the Rules Com
mittee to report the Woodruff reso-
luton favorably there is more cause
now for putting it through. The
question then was confined to the
Attorney-Ge alleged failure to
handle these war fraud cases with
the vigor and the decision that the
nation demanded.
The question now, just or unjust,
man for Acknowledgement of the
! United States. This is what the pub
lie wants to know. The facts in re-
spect of the Morse pardon from the
Atlanta penitentiary by President
TAFT and Mr.. DAUGHERTY' connec-
ton with the case were so bungled
by Senator WATSON in his defense Of
the Attorney General against Senator
CARAVANS charges in the Senate
that the public got an unpleasant
picture of the whole matter.
What Mr.. DAUGHERTY needs more
than anything else right now is a
thorough, fair discussion of all the
charges against him. He should not
permit himself to become the storm
center of politicians on either side Of
the chamber. He should not permit
his party to smoke screen him, for
smoke screening by ones party
serves only to give wings to sus-
picion.
In this awkward situation the only
thing for Mr.. DAUGHERTY is to draw
the fire of the men attacking him.
His fitness or unfitness for the great
office he holds in the Harding Ad-
ministration should be determined on
the facts justly and fairly consid.
cred. Any other way of considering
them would not give Mr.. DAUGHERTY
u Square utdl. Ills htntoo iOi <AN'Si
ney-General of the United States is
question of fact, not question for
partisan heat.
HARRY DAUGHERTY, with his warm
human instincts and kindly feeling,
has a world of devoted friends. That
a situation should have developed
that makes for Congress considera.
tion Of his management of the office
OF Attorney-General and makes as
well for consideration Of his connec-
ton with the Morse case Is distress
ing to his friends and to his party.
But the situation having developed,
the way to meet the issue Is the way
his friends would have him meet IL.
by asking himself for the investiga-
tion and insisting on getting IT, THE
Nrw YORK HERALD sees no other
course open to HARRY DAUGHERrY II
he wishes to retain the Office of At
torney-General with full public conf
dence. 1t is either this or surrender
the Office to his great chief and get
out from under the burden of public
service, get away from. public jeal-
ousies and public criticisms.