The Omaha morning bee. [volume] (Omaha [Neb.]) 1922-1927, 1922-12-16
SUI nnOns
Is Ignored
by Keller
Representative Refuses to Ap-
pear Before House Com.
mittee Hearing Charges
Against Daughcrty.
Hearing Is Postponed

Washington. Dec. l5.-Representa-
tive Keller. republican. of Minnesota,
failed to appear today before the
house judiciary committee in response
to a formal summons. At his Office
afterward 1t was stated that he had
decided definitely not to respond to
the subpoena served on him late yes
terday after he had dramatically an.
nounced his withdrawal from further
participation before this committee ln
the presentation OF his impeachment
charges against Attorney General
Daugherty.
- Whether the committee will under.
take 10 compel his appearance or to
hail him before the bar Of the house
for contempt will not be decided be-
fore tomorrow. postponement OF fur
ther proceedings until that time hay.
ing been taken at the. request OF At
.orney Jackson II. Ralston, who
stated in letter to Chairman Vol
stead that he was representing the
Minnesota member.
No Reply.
Immediately there was INQUIRY as
to whether Mr. Keller would appear
tomorrow. James II. Nahey. an at
torney OF Boston. who presented Mr.
Ralston's letter said he was unable
to answer that Question; that Mr.
Keller would act on advice of coun
sell
Announcing that Mr.. Ralston's let
Ter asking for a postponement be.
nraSctrr- l1nCiy1ncI
gagements he had made for today
constituted no excuse" for the non.
appearance OF Mr.. Keller. Chairman
Volstead ordered that his rI.me be
called.
The house sergeant at arms called
Mr.. keller's name three times, but
there was no response.
Characterizing the proceeding be-
fore the house judiciary committee as
'barefa attempt TO whit.wash
Harry NJ. Daugherty." Repr ese7tative
Keller OF Minnesota refused to assist
further in the presentation before
that committee ot his impeachment
charges against the attorney general.
Dramatic Climax.
Voting to 90 on with the hearings
despite Mr.. keller's withdrawal. the
committee planned to put him under
oath today and call upon him 10 give
III the information upon Which he
based his charges OF high crimes ana
mis,lemsanors" against Mr.. Daugh-
crty.
Mr.. I<eller's refusal TO assist further
in the proceedings came late yester-
aay as a dramatic climax to the third
day of the hearings. He had pre-
pared a statement to read to the COM
mittee. but he never got the oppor-
tunity Several members wanted to
nut him under oath. while others
wanted to know il it was his purpose
to lecture" the committee.
Adds Demands.
Refusing to be put under oath, MI
keller replied to the Inquiries that he
might lecture" the members. To
that he added demands that he be
heard. Chairman Vo.stead repeatedly
broke into the general hubub to or
der Mr.. Keller 10 sit down and to
inform him that he could not bully
rag" the committee.
Advancing to the chairman's place
at the bend" OF the horseshoe-shaped
rail behind which the committeeman
sat. Mr.. Keller threw his prepared
statement In front of Mr.. Volstead and
dramatically announced that il he
could not read 1t to the committee he
was through with the proceedings.
Then he stalked from the committee
room, which had been thrown into an
uproar. with attaches in the huge Of
flee building arriving on the run from
several directions to find out what
was causing all the excitement.
Meantime. Chairman Nolstead had
ordered the clerk to issue subpoena
for Mr.. Keller SO that he might be
placed under oath and questioned.