Evening star., 1922-09-16
KELLER W|THH0LDS
| EVIDENCE AGAINST
| ATTORNEY GENERAL
House Judiciary Committee
Adjourns Impeachment
| Charge Hearing.
PROOF is REFUSED
| UNTIL PUBLIC TRIAL
Minnesotan Insists on Decision of
Whether Accusations Constitute
Indictable 0ffenses.

Defamation of Representative Kel-
Ter. republican, Minnesota to pre-
sent evidence today in support of his
Impeachment charges against At
torney General Daugherty as the re-
suit of the rail strike injunction
brought about an adjournment of the
House judiciary committee after an
hours session, at which it had heard
Mr.. Keller present a general pre-
liminary statement
Appearing before the committee,
Representative Keller declared his
purpose was Ito See the laws of the
nation enforced without fear and
without favor, and to preserve the
dignity and integrity of the institu-
tions of the United States"
The Minnesota representative. who
brought his charges the result Of
the Attorney Generals petition for
an injunction in the cases OF Strik-
ing railroad employees. declared he
had no personal or partisan feeling
, against MI Daugherty, and asserted
that he had no personal interest in
any case which is now or has been
before the Department Of Justice
Feels Sense of Duty.
But when an Attorney General Of
the United States not only refuses to
prosecute individuals and corporation.
who have done the most outrageous
offenses, but also uses his high Office
TO break down and nullify acts of Con.
gress and to invade fundamental con-
stituuonal rights" said Mr. Keller. in
a preliminary statement, Il have a
right. L have a duty as a representa-
tive in Congress. to seek to restrain
his illegal activities and 20 remove him
from Office by the process of impeach.
! ment as prescribed in the Constitution.
Il fully appreciate the gravity of
| the charges which l have preferred
against the Attorney General. 1t is
| because of their very gravity and seri.
| BUSINESS that / demanded upon the floor
| of the House. not an investigation
but the formal process of impeach-
! ment.
I am prepared at the appropriate
! time to present witnesses and docu.
mentary evidence to sustain every
| charge that I make. But l demand
that when such evidence is presented
| it shall be in public hearings SO that
the American people may know whetn-
er or not my charges were sustained
Function of Committee.
Il contend that at this time il is
| the function of the committee to de-
| termine only one point-namelyr
| whether these charges which / pre-
sent constitute impeachable offenses
| if they are sustained by competent
| evidence.
This is a time" Mr.. Keller further
asserted, when the very safety OF
! the nation demands that the Amer
! lean people be assured of the up
rightness and impartiality of their
! public officials and of the administra-
! ton of justice. Unless the people are
| convinced that this is a government
of laws, and not of men who arbi-
| trarily and automatically override
constitutional limitations and trample
| upon the most sacred rights of Amer
! lean citizens, there is no stopping
I place short of anarchy and revo-
| luton"
Row Precedex Recess.
The Minnesota representative after
presenting his statement. in which he
declared he desired only ito preserve
the dignity and integrity of the in
stitutions of the United States" in
bringing his charges. was questioned
at length by republican members of
the committee, who demanded that
he present evidence to sustain what
Chairman Volstead described as gen.
eral charges. This brought on
wrangle, which ended with adjourn
ment of the committee until Tuesday,
when Mr.. Keller was instructed to ap-
pear with any witness he desired to
have testify.
You have got to furnish sufficient
evidence to raise a sufficient presump-
/ tion-otherwise, We could not report
! there solution to the house." Chair
| man Volstead told Mr.. Keller. IF we
| go to the House, we have got to
l.; La, hi i,I,
| can base a request for an investiga-
| ton"
! f. F. McGrady, representing the
American Federation of Labor, told
| the committee the federation desired
| to be heard in the case. and that
| Samuel Gompers. president. would be
| back in Washington next week. He
did not say specifically. however.
whether Mr.. Gompers would appear.
Might Prejudice Case.
/ Representative Dyer. republican,
! Missouri, endeavored to have Mr.
| Kellar present his evidence today.
The Minnesota member declined. say
! ing 1t might prejudice his case if he
disclosed any of his evidence in ad
vance of a formal hearing, at which
he desired to be represented by coun
sci.
II have made charges and am ready
to prove them"
Representative Yates wanted quick
! action, declaring it was unfair to
the Attorney General to let the
charges against him hang over dur
| ing a recess of Congress.
! "When member of the House
comes in and makes charges against
| the Attorney General" said MT.
Dyer, "he ought to be prepared to
| offer proof Immediately, and il not
| he should be courteous enough TO
withdraw"
Mr.. Keller declared he could not be
ready before Thursday. but the
wrangling was cut short finally with
l i'm, Tn