The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1923-06-20
JUDGE GRIM CASTS A BOMB

The criticism of the department of
justice by Judge John w. Grim, as
sistant attorney general, may not be
dismissed as the outburst of novice
or of one who seeks notoriety for
himself by unusual utterance. Judge
Grim occupied his present office
through the administrations of both
Roosevelt and Taft, and his conclu-
sions may be taken as fortified by ex-
perience and an uncommon opportu-
nifty to study the conditions of which
he speaks. In the first place, the
assistant attorney general" finds that
the department of of justice is too
much under the spell of politics to
make the enforcement of law and
public justice its first and main con-
sideration. Indeed, says Judge Grim,
the attorney general spends his first
year in selecting his subordinates, his
second year in organization, and his
third year in electing a president.
One shudders to think how far afield.
from his constitutional duty he may
wander in his fourth year.
The judge did not mention the name
of Attorney General Daugherty dur
ing his address, but inasmuch as he
made no exceptions as to the applica-
tom of his sentiments it may be taken
for granted that the shoe fits the at
tor1ley general as if it were made for
him. The people of the United States
have never had any particular enthu-'
siasm for Mr.. Daugherty, and public
opinion regards him as politician who
happens to occupy the keystone posi-
ton in the enforcement of federal
law. Therefore, whatever enforce
ment of law there may be under his
administration may be taken as an
unexpected and unanticipated emolu-
ment. The political influence in the
conduct of the department of justice
is not minimized by Judge Grim, who
declares: "The crooked politician,
with his machine, is always on the
other side (of law enforcement.) The
various processes in the department
have peculiar attraction for them, and
their number increases in direct ratio
with the increase of it's work" That
crooked politicians should interfere
in a department whose head is a poll
tician is not surprising, especially when
one recalls the farewell words of the
recently retired director of immigra-
ton at Ellis Island to the effect that
the politicians use all possible wiles
to help into this country those for
hidden by our federal laws. I'm
doubtedly the same baleful influence
is exerted in every other department
to the extent of political opportunity
That the department of justice
should not be headed by a political
henchman or by professional politi-
clan goes without saying, and yet that
is what occurs. The result is trav-
esty of justice for the sake of retain
ing political advantage. Judge Grim
is not without remedy. He suggests
that the attorney generalship should
be divorced from politics; that it
should not be partisan office; that
the attorney general should be elected
or chosen for life and for his pro-
found attachments in the law and in
the enforcement of law.
If there is a growing disrespect for
law in this country, is it not due to the
fact that those who should lead in
law enforcement are themselves lax
and subverting the cause of justice to
some political or partisan end? There
is no law that cannot be enforced
among an enlightened and intelligent
people, # those charged with the duty
of law enforcement perform their
duty. Judge. Grim has sounded the
warning; let those who serve the peo-
pie in public affairs inquire into the
situation with view to applying a
remedy.