San Antonio light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1911-1993, 1924-03-29
RESIGNATION QF
pAUGHERTY 7 D
HELP COOLIDGE
Pr ident Ends Intolerable
Situation by Asking
Him to Quit.
ACTION NOT SUDDEN
Attorney General Of Little
Use Any More, Coolidge
Decides.
ACTION NOT SUDDEN
BY DAVID LAWRENCE.

-. SOnNT1Ent ny Inc san = AtNElp A~'saAs"
i Washington, ID. C.. March 20. -
President Coolidge has ended an in
tolerable situation for himself and the
Republican party by needing to the
demand of Congress and requesting
the resignation Of Attorney General
.lDaugherty, who complied Immediately
The decision of the President to re-
lieve himself of embarrassment was
snot sudden. He came TO the conclu'
: sion that the usefulness of Mr.. Daugh-
57erty as attorney general came TO an
END with the recent revelations. but
s-out of Difference TO the wishes of party
leaders and politicians. Nj. Coolidge
felt obligated to give Mr.. Daugnerty
a chance TO be heard.
The pretext on which the resigna-
:. ton was requested was not long in
coming. Mr.. Daugherty furnished il
himself BY refusing to disclose the files
. of his correspondence and the records
sof his bureaus. The Senate invcsti-
eating committee demanded them. Mr..
s.Daugherty asked the Presidents sup
port in refusing TO give up records,
declaring il would be incompatible
with the public interest" Mr.. Coolidge
.said he couldn't decide such a ques-
ssfion on the advice of a man who had
n personal interest in suppressing Of
-ficial documents.
OF Little Use.
Although assiduously endeavOring to
give the impression that he WAS not
trying TO "pre-judge the issues" III me
Daugherty controversy, Mr.. Coolidge
did make it clear that what had hap.
pened had made the attorney general
OF little use to him in dischargine
the duties of the Presidency in which
office legal opinions on vital matters
concerning the government are asked
almost daily of the Department Of
Justice.
Mr.. Daugherty's retirement was
urged many weeks ago by Senator
Henry Cabot Lodge, Republican lead
er. on the ground that the countr,
must have Confidence in the Depart
ment of Justice and would not fee
that confidence il the conduct of tn
attorney general himself were under in
vestigation.
From all parts Of the country let
tiers have been coming telling the ad
ministration that every day Harr!
Daugherty stayed in the cabinet. I'll,
Democrats were making votes and tina
Mr.. Coolidge's rength was diminish
ing. Mr.. Daugherty is a forceful per
sonality. He is one OF the "whee
horses" Of the Republican party. II,
is influential in Ohio politics. II,
was instrumental in having WarreI
Harding nominated to the Presidency
Snch man wasn't easy to eiminat'
and Mr.. Coolidge's New England con
science battled hard with the expe
diencies of pre-convention politics.
Daugherty Likesble Individual.
Today the friends Of the Presiden
were pointing to his action as a sigr
OF the real Coolidge who dared to Fl,
in the face OF the party zealots.
is an act of reputation OF one of tn
original Harding men which will. n
doubt. cause considerable resentment il
the Republican ranks, but the ,v$-e
may be offset by the gains and Nj
Coolidge's friends are supremelv con
fldent that on the day after the dc
feat in South Dakota their chirftai
has expressed himself forcefully 70
clean government.
The incident is not without II
tragic aspects. Harry Daugherty
a likeable individual who has man
friends in official life. friends devote