Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1922-12-11
KELLER DEMANDS
TAFT BE HEARD
ON IMPEACHMENT
Scores yoktead for Not Including Chief Justice in First
Batch of Witnesses-Asks Him to Testify as
to Burns Unftness.
ro pE HEARD FIRST ON ANTITRUST CHARGES
Other 13 Charges Made Against Attorney General to pe
Taken Uu in Order Keller Mace Them, Judiciary
Committee Resolves

Washington, Dec. 1l.-Efforts by
republicans or the House Judiciary
Committee to save Chief Justice TAFT
the "embarassemnt and inconvenience
of appearing as a witness IN the
Daugherty impeachment hearings
starting tomorrow, were met today
by q declaration from Rep. Keller, au-
thor of the impeachment resolution
that he will insist upon Taft being
summoned.
In public letter addressed to
Chairman Volstead, Keller took the
committe to task for an alleged gen
eral bad faith and criticised 1t partich.
larly for it's failure to include Chle1
Justice Taft in the first batch Of wit
nesses. for whom subpoeRaes were Is
sued Saturday.
Keller wanted Taft to testify con-
cerning the alleged unftness Tor pup
lie office of William J. Burns, appoint
cd BY Daugherty as head OF the teder-
al bureau of investigation.
Stating he had been advised only
through the newspapers tnat tne
committee had decided 1t was "unnec-
essary" to call Taft to the stand, hei-
cir demanded of Volstead;
"What means have you OF knowing
whether Chief Justice Taft is or is not
q material witness in proof of these
charges that enables you to decide IN
this peremptory fashion that person.
al testimony would not throw further
light on the transaction? How do you
know that we are not going to elicit
testimony from Chief Justice Taft on
some of the other charges? Does your
committee persume TO take the "hoits
unwarranted and high-handed stand
that before you viii summon any VII
nesses YOU must know exactly what
they will testify to-"
Keller charged the committee with
being "biased" and with having per
iudged" the case against Daugherty.
He complained most vigorously
against the printed record IN the I'M
peachment proceedings to date, whicn
record he declared TO be false, ms
leading and doctored." Letters sub
m;tting and explaining his charges
have been left out, Keller declared,
while "the utmost care" was taken 20
include the attorney generais reply
10 the same charges.
Keller also rowed with the commit
tee today. He is for hearing first IN
sisting that testimony shall be taken
first on the Burns matter. The COM
mittee decided by resolution to start
ON the charge that Daugherty has
refused to prosecute violatorS of the
antitrust statutes, the first of the
Ia specifications laid down by Keller
and 90 right down the line IN order
Unless the committee gives IN. 1t IS
likely that the hearings cannot go on
without another postponement, for the
witnesses called for tomorrow are IN
tended by Keller to testify on the
Burns case. Those summoned are
former Attorney General Wickersham,
u,ho reported during the Taft admin
;stration on the alleged jury tixrng
nv William j. Burns in an Oregon
nordon case in 1912; President Sam
Gompers Of the American Federation
of Labor and Gomper's secretary
Guy Oyster. o,, .o,n
col 70 rthe Brotherhood OF hnginenen
and Firemcn, has also been Called
Smt Il ia believed he will not be put on
tbs stand until the committees reach
- +be charge that Daugherty put tne
49, and limb of the travelling puoIle
in danger, during the ralI strike, DS
failing to enforce the law reqorlns nI,;n
strict inspection of railroad equip
ment.