Evening journal., 1922-06-01
War Graft Made Easy and Legal
BY Democratic administration
Over Half Money Dsspaed in Graft and
Waste Which Was Legazed" by Democratic Congress and
Administrative Ofcas-Records Destroyed to Prevent
Republican Prosecution.

WASHINGTON, May 31.-A most
smazing exposition Of war graft
nd waste coupled with a powerful
arralgnment of the Democratic ad-
ministration. which was responsible
for Il. and an explanation as to why
the Department Of Justice since
j March 4. 1921, has not been able
Ito bring war grafters to book was
made on the floor of the House by
Representative Graham. Of Illinois.
Mr.. Graham is especially qualified
Eto speak knowingly upon this sub
ject because he was a member of
the special House commission which
\. inves; igated the expenditures of
n the War Department. Mr. Graham.
| speaking in reply 10 the Democratic
Il queries as to why the Department
L of Justice under Attorney General
A Daugherty had not Initiated any
n prosecutions OF alleged war graft
ers. stated that when the subject Of
war graft and waste was being in
vestigated by a special House COM
mittee the Democratic minority in
every instance filed minority re-
ports and did everything they could
1 10 obstruct the Investigation and
! prosecution. When we put our
4 finger on some scalawag who had
defrauded the government and
ought TO have been prosecuted the
minority came in with a report and
the Secretary OF War (Newton D.
Baker, appointed a committee to
go out and whitewash him" At this
]. point in his remarks Mr. Graham
4 was interrupted by Representative
Johnson. Of Mississippi, who asked:
d as ii not a fact that Democrats
+ voted for every invesilgation?" At
this point a dialogue cnsued which
may be quoted from the Congress
sional Record;
4 Mr.. Graham, of Illinois. Oh yes
they voted for It. but they never
, voted for any recommendation for
prosecutions and the parties were
Z whitewashed.
Mr. Andrews OF Nebraska. Who
had the power Of prosecution prior
to the 4th Of March. 1921?
"Mr Graham, of Illinois. It laid
with the Department OF Justice and
the administration. but you could
not get anywhere; you could not
get a prosecution started: there was
not one. The way the records were
left when this administration came
ina confused mass of intricacy-
you could not start a prosecution
without a very long research.
Mr.. Longworth. Were there not
cases where important papers were
missing?
Mr.. Graham OF Illinois. Yes But
I did not intend 10 discuss this sub
ject when arose. Let me tell you
one thing that happened. There
were people brought before our
committee and people brought be-
fore the grand jury out OF the War
department who were concerned
with the keeping Of these records.
whG deliberately hid and lost
pak re- for the purpose OF keep
inH members Of the Department
OF Justice from examining them.
am not saying that the prose-
cution ought to be delayed. but
say that a reasonable time ought 10
be given for investigation, and then
the law ought 10 be enforced as
quickly as possible under the cir
cumstances. A great deal Is being
said about the failure OF the De-
partment OF Justice 10 prosecute.
No lawyer, I care not what his abil-
ity or standing. could have gone into
the Department OF Justice when this