Evening star., 1922-12-25
Impeachment Court No Place for
Political Quarrels.

Out of what is widely viewed as the
''farcical' proceedings in the Daugh-
erty impeachment case grows an in
sistence in editorial columns that
some way be found to keep political
family rows" from assuming the
grave proportions of actual impeach-
mcnt charges. Quite apart from the
merits of the case or of Attorney
General Daugherty's fitness for. the
position he holds. newspapers are
protesting against the lack of dignity
and apparent lack of purpose that
have so far characterized the hear
ings on the Keller charges.
For Representative Keller himself
and his attitude in the matter there
is scant sympathy. AS the Mime
apolis Journal tindependent republi-
cam sums up the performance, it is
grand opera star" temperament, for,
"having written the words and music
of his political farce. The Impeach-
ment of Attorney General Daugh-
erty,' he now abandons his stellar role
of the avenger because the judiciary
way he wrote it." And it is generally
agreed that while, as Mr.. Keller says,
the hearings have become "a comic
opera performance" the Port Huron
Times Herald GndependenD ex-
presses the general estimate when II
says that the Minnesota representa-
tive has himself become the chief
comedian"
THE man who starts something and
then runs away from it because
things are not going to his liking
may be very sincere person." the
4
grants. but .'he must excuse the pub
lie if it fails to follow him." and the
only possible conclusion to draw IS
that "either Mr.. Keller had poor
case or else he has handled it very
poorly" AS in the case of many
papers of both parties frankly un-
friendly to Mr.. Daugherty. the
Roanoke World-News (democratic)
insists that. in spite of the many
sins of his administration, he mas
done nothing that justified Repre-
sentative Keller in the course he has
pursued" Having brought more or
less serious charges against the At
torney General" the Huntington
Herald Dispatch (republican) insists
that "it was his duty to do his best
as the Mobile Register tdemocratie)
sees it, his emotional course LEADS
to the conclusion that in his prosecu..
ton of the case che has run snort OF
information of sufficient Importance
to command the respect of the COM
mittee."
AS viewed by papers in his own
state, Mr.. Keller was putting up
bluff. to quote the Duluth News
Tribune (republican), or "a grand.
stand play" as the Duluth Herald
independently has It,. Instead OF
tionine under OATH" the former paper
says. "Mr. Keller wanted to make
political speech before the committee
without being sworn. and the mem-
bers quite rightly called him.. IN
this course, however, ne was mercy
Tribune (republican) suggests for ne
is "the perfect exponent of the radi-
cal method" and "your radical IN
sistently believes that the proof of an
allegation rests solely on the vehe-
mence with which it is made. ,,s
allegations" the Utica Observer. Dis
patch dndependenD inquiries. why
didn't he stand his ground and nave
it out on the spot?" Instead of doing
so. however: the Detroit Free - Press ,s.,
peach the whole committee along
with the Attorney General without
proof, and thereby asks the country
to strain credulity by believing that
he is the only honest man in the lot.
make out a stronger case. if it has
one, than by producing; s;,d its e evidenee dedse
whether or not the committee IS
prejudiced in Daugherty's favor" the
Kansas City Journal republican)
thinks, rather than by saying to the
committee, eff you do not agree to
| convict we will not produce all our
evidence"
Nevertheless, the Knoxville Sentinel
| Independent democratic) contends
that "the> committee should either
have treated Mr.. Keller's charges
seriously or it should have dismissed
them summarily- They are either too
grave to trifie with or they are too
preposterous to entertain any way"
| The New York Globe Independently
holds that 'Mr. Volstead's committee
has been neither diligent, fair nor
thorough" and II they want the
sanction of logic and justice to pro-
! ceeding with the Daugherty investi-
CATION they should take the first step
by reforming their methods and max
| inE amends for their past Inactivity =
The country sis in no mood to be in-