South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1922-05-23
TURN ON THE LIGHT.


The people Of this country are entitled TO all the
facts in connection with the employment. or lack
Of f. Of the present attorney general in the release
OF millionaire Morse from federal prison.
The people are entitled to all the f1cts behind
the charge made floor OF the senate that me
attack upon Daugherty IS for the purpose OF pro-
teesing frauds perpetrated upon the government by
two cabinet members under the Wilson administra-
ton the charge being laid against former attorney
general and formeE secretary Of the treasury.
The burden OF proof would TO be upon Mr.
Iaugherty in whose defense Sen. James Watson OF
This state emphaticaly declared that he had never
been employed IN any capacity by Morse
The release Of Morse from the federal pententiary
was one OF the great crimes of the past decades in
that Il was a. -omrlishd through the betrayal ana
personal friendship the president Of the United
States.
No one will dare 20 suggest that when Prest Taft
signed the order for the release OF this prisoner
from Atlanta that not firmly convinced that
Morse was dying that his recovery was doubtful and
that his physical state was more than precarious-
Taft IL a man who lives in the atmosphere OF
friendship and of trust His presidential mistakes
can be traced 10 his reliance upon those who i'm
posed uron his friendship.
Vow il is disclosed there was careful con-.
splracy to betray his confidence that elaborate
scheme of initiating Hines devised. that the re-
Forts were doctored in such manner as to make
the strongest appeal the humanitarian sentiments
of his great heart
He acted in this case just he would have acted
in that Of a pennileas who dying and whose
only appeal was that Of his manhood.
Now II appears that his sympathy played upon
b- designlng lawyers as a means or collecting huge
fees that definite contract for $4,000 was made
and a verbal promise Of another 100000 made if
the liberty OF Morse secured
II that fact is proven and the evidence so far
presented is in the form Of the contract for this
fee the cAlntry wiz demand that its chief legal
adviser be a somewhat different man who
would betray the confidence OF friend. make him
an unwilling party conspiracy. and deliver
the pardon power of a president for money.
SO much for Mr.. Daugherty. His defenders now
produce another scandal as great if not greater,
and the shock confidence IN government is such
hat il requires the most thorough probe and the
most careful searching OF facts.
II two OF the members Of Mr.. Wilson's cabinet
were parties TO frauds upon the government
through contracts and through the sale Of alien
enemy property those men should be the
Pententiary for there could be no greater treason
II might be well to remember that in the first
instance the charges against the republican attorney
general did not come from democrat, but from
Rep. Woodruff. a member of congress from NIichi-
gan a republican by party affiliation.
II was this courageous member who first pointed
the finger OF accusation and first made the oren
charge that the present attorney general was pro-
tecting profiteers
He charged that hundreds of millions had been
stolen that the proof hand. that the men
and companies which took these funds known.
He pointed directly to the aircraft situation as
one instance but did not limit his charges to that
department.
In his own words, ne gave this mis- reason for
making the charge:
Mr. Chairman, what have said has been said
In behalf Of decency and fairness in government.
II has been said behalf of the four and one-half
million ex-servlce men of the nation. II has been
said In behalf of everyone who wishes TO see the
laws enforced against the rich well the poor.
Everything here presented is subjec, to proof and
much else besides I have touched upon only the
more fragrant cases. There are many others. The
federal prisons are full of petty thieves and gratters
they are filled with The small bootleggers but
Inow of no instance where the big men the men of
NsaIth or political power who finance and direct
bopuegglng i'm a big way have been prosecuted
although I do know that information upon which
- TO base sach prosecution is In the hands de-
partment OF Justice
I have laid sufficient facts before congress today
TO starte the nation. and I believe if there is an
unwnlingness inability the part Of the depart
ment Of justice 20 function i'm the manner In which
should function that public sentiment should and
viii compel a change. L is inconprehenslble that
the president should oe aware of the conditions
that existed during his administration: ] do not
believe that PRIEST Harding OF the con
ditions as they exist today"
This attitude Is which exactly represents pub
lie interest Il q the attitude which must be main
II confidence in government exist ar all
Il Is the attitude which every citizen without regard
70 party. VIII applaud
The tine has come to turn on the light and Sc,
what has hidden behind those locked doors al
Washington