New-York tribune., 1922-05-22
Daugherty Is
Assailed Again
By Unternyer
Charges Repeated in Letter
to Woodruff Explaining
Why He Will Not Nolun-
,eer in War Fraud Cases
Full Inquiry Demanded
s,lu,arv Effect of Public
;,v in Housing Prosecu-
t;ons Cited as Argument
.~ -. 7-4sprcs Washington Bureau

-, T-4bu-cs Washington Bureau
r.sgrNGTON, May 2l.-Attorney
- - Daugherty and his plans for
0e".,s; the hundreds Of war fraud
P'oss>re ,rere Aayed in bitter language by
tsss ..I Untermyer. counsel for the
,s"'Htr.ood committee, in q letter. made
~, .o-nicht. TO Representative Roy
Nv 'W,oodrus. Republican. of Michigan,
rh,ch he sidesteppcd the latter's
n..rsstion that ne offer his services to
" 1augherty.
~ a-,s tender Of my services at this
wrote Mr Untermyer, "immedi-
'''S, ai, ,n,lowinC ,he last of my numerous
~. @...,...oyo-sies with the Attorney General
coz his non action in the antitrust
W. ,hst were disclosed by the ioint
I.csIs.ive committee on housing Of this
..s.s for which | am acting as counsel
so-I be open to misconstruction. It
s;-s. be recognized as prompted by
,srsonsl motives or as an effort to dis
rr.s5i. the Attorney General, VIXEN, in
,o;rt Of fact, have no personal i'll will
shs.eyer toward him and have never
nd controversy with him EXCEPT as
.bs result Of my determination to do
everything possible 20 force the prose
tp.ion OF these cases Personally | like
" Daugherty. although have recog-
r-sd his appointment to the exalted Of
s.. he holds as blunder and misfor-
:gne"
Refers to Morse Case
The Untermyer letter, dated May 20.
saws, n part;
II have observed with amazement and
ratification the published statement of
ne Attorney General that out OF sixty
lawyers presumably men of prominence
and professional reputation whom he
has invited 10 take charge Of the in
ses.igation and prosecution Of war
frauds he mas been unable to find one
who was willing 10 undertake this pub
lie service If Nj. Daugherty had said
.hst he had been trying 20 induce six or
six thousand reputable lawyers to
accept a retainer to assist him in get
ing Morse out Of prison by imposing
spon an over-credulous. generous-heart-
Il President. any lawyer would under
stand their refusal, but this statement
is not understandabl or believable.
a can understand that certain pro-
portion Of these men may be so stu
sted tnat It would be impossible or i'm
vr07er for them to act. but the bar will
b4 curious TO learn the identity OF the
0thers.
with all due respect to the Attorney
General. take the liberty of question
lrg the accuracy Of that grave indict-
nent against the bar OF the country. 1t
i; due to the bar that our profession
ball not be pictured as so wanting in
"
;liei in this charge.
ut would hardly be fair, in view of
.,is pending controversy. to expect the
a.forney General to accept such ten
.f from me, since the espOnslbllity OF
.he selection and for the results would
in the final analysis rest with him.
Predicts Big Fish Will Escape
az do not regard the Senate resolu-
-on referring the Investigation of
,Aese var frauds 10 the Attorney Gen
eral asan effective way of dealing with
me sgbiect at this stage, nor do be-
ieTe that il viii result in anything
more than the possible exposure of
ianifn! Of the smaller offenders with
~, political power, while the big men,
vho are able to pull political wires,
will get away under cover Of the noise
that will he made by the prosecution
Of the ht'le fellows, who may or may
not eventually be brought TO justice.
rat has been our experience thus far
n such Of the antitrust cases as have
been brought to the attention of the
Attorney General Fortunately we have
rad a very different experience where,
n dealing with ofenses against our
state antitrust laws. our Attorney
General permitted US to take charge of
me state prosecutions In those cases
there have been prompt trials and con-
vlctions.
Il do rot know whether there have
been frauds OF the character charged.
IN that subject | have an open mind.
BUY II there were any the only effect
I'VE way of thoroughly ventilating the
iacts connected with these war con-
tracts and bringing punishment for
frauds that are proven TO have been
peTpeirated IS 10 establish their exist
ence and precede the prosecution by an
open fearless and impartial Con-
eressioral invest tigation where the
RAGS can be made known and the public
VII be able to Judge of the basis and
necessity for Prosecutions In that
Va! much injustice that might other
wise be visited upon innocent men
wi. De avoided and the chances of the
escape Of The powerful offenders will
be mlnimized.
Publicity Held Chief Ally
mat has been my experience in the
.AVeSuganon that | have been and am
':ow conducting arising out of the hous-
- emergency. Prosecutions would