Great Falls tribune. [volume] (Great Falls, Mont.) 1921-current, 1922-11-05

AA0 AS NAA S~ -
supporting him this year and they
are taking serious exception to the
desperate efforts of republican
partisans to revive the scurrility of
two years ago.
The charges of disloyaity against
Wheeler during the war were based
upon his reported failure to secure
convictions against alleged disloy-
alists while United States district
attorney. The statements were
freely made two years ago that he
purposely laid down on the pros
ecution Of seditionists. Facts have
since. come to light, which show
that a grave injustice has been
done him.
Federal Judge George M. Bour-
quin, a republican, who presided
over the federal court during all
the time that Wheeler was district
attorney, Thursday of this week
wrote a public letter to Wheeler
in which he said, in part:
1.-THE truth is evidenced by the
records-you prosecuted many
charged with sedition, most Of
whom with no reproach to you
were not indicted by the grand
jury or were found not guilty,
either by. direction of the court or
by will Of the trial jury.
"The times were favorable to
loose, unfounded and trivial
charges of that character, many of
them inspired by malice and for
personal ends. Indeed, a grand
jury in this court, refusing indict-
ments upon such charges, filed its
formal report that before it such
charges had been presented by per-
sons seeking private vengeance and
private ends. A competent prose-
cutor always will refuse to con-
duct such prosecution, refuse to
~persecute, and insofar as you did
SO, it was with the sanction, ap-
prevail and suggestion, if not the
direction, Of the court in further
ance of sound public policy, and
in vindication of your official
oath and duty to yourself, to the
court, and to society.
you will remember you de-
clined a like statement by me in
the fall Of 1918, and I make it now
with no object but simple justice
to an able, diligent and conscien-
tious prosecutor in a most trying
period of our country's history
The foreman of the federal grand
Jury which refused the indictments
referred to by Judge Bourquin was
B. J. Boorman, a prominent repub-
lican and citizen of Great Falls.
Those republicans, who are
frantically trying to save them
selves from inevitable defeat next
Tuesday, are attempting to make
much of the fact that Wheeler re-
signed while under fire" The
facts are that Wheeler voluntarily
resigned in October, 1918, in the
interest of party harmony. He
learned that his personal friend,
Senator T. J. Walsh, who was a
candidate for reelection in 1918,
had been told by certain demo
cratic leaders that unless Wheeler
resigned Walsh would be defeated,
and though the senator did not ask
Wheeler to quit, and though
United States Attorney General T,
l.. Gregory strongly advise d
against it, Wheeler resigned the
district attorneyship, SO as to re
move himself as an obstruction III
his friends campaign. The attor-
ney general, in regretting Wheel
er's resignation, said that the
| United States government had ben
Gifted by his loyal and efficient
service"
Such evidences of the falsity OF
/ the charges that have been made
against Wheeler's personal integ.
rity and loyalty to his country
have been leaking out during the
last two years and are bringing
about a reaction in his favor.
He is beginning to be known foI
what he is-an able lawyer and Z
successful business man who has
established a large following in the
state. The Tribune believes thai
he will develop in the United
States senate and become n Of
the outstanding western senators
of whom Montana will be proud
in years to come.
THE CLOSING CAMPAIGN
THE carc,+:opa u~oorL,ct,S ;~