Atlanta tri-weekly journal. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1920-19??, 1924-03-08
Abrupt Removals From Cabi net-By John T. Bofeu1et

TT PRESIDENT COOLIDGE'S generous treat
4 ment Of Attorney General Daugherty /:
in marked contrast with the lack of cor
sideration shown by President Grant to his
attorney general, the eminent Judge F. r.
Hoar, of Massachusetts,.
Historical accounts say that Attorney Gen,
eral Hoar was sitting in his office attending
to the duties of his department. utterly igno-
! rant and oblivious of what was coming A
messenger entered with communication from
! President Grant 1t contained the naked state
ment that the president found himself under
! the necessity of asking for Judge Hoar's resig.
: nation. No explanation of any kind was
given nor reason assigned. The request was
as curt and direct as possible. A thunderclaD
could not have been more startling
No charges had been made against Hoar,
and particularly not of the character as have
! been advanced against Attorney General
| )augherty. Hoar was simply the victim of
machine" politicians, as Attorney General
mos T. Alderman, of Georgia, likewise be-
came soon afterwards, as I explained in this
column last Tuesday. When Hoar retired
rom the cabinet Alderman was appointed his
Immediate successor. Each served about a
year. when Grant summarily retired them
What Was Hoars Offense
Grant was too much involved with the ina.
chine" politicians to resist their demands
Hoar's zeal for civil service reform aroused
their bitter hostility, and Akermans crystal
integrity provoked the wrath of the LOBBYISTS.
Attorney General Hoars offense consisted
IN contending to President Grant that the
Judges of the newly created circuit courts Of
the United States should be made uI, of the
best lawyers, without regard to Senatorial
Courtesy or the usual dictation by senator's
Sundry senators who desired to have their
political favorites appointed became furious
with Hoar, and demanded his "scalp" of
Grant, and the presidents cold, curt request
to Hoar for his resignation followed
Judge Hoar was holding seat on the bench
of the supreme court of Massachusetts when
he was rendered unsought the office of at
torney general. He was lawyer and jurist
OF outstanding ability, and a man of high
personal character. But Grant lost sight of
these facts when the machine" politicians de-
manded his removal from the cabinet. Be-
cause of Hears disregard of senatorial dicta-
ton in the selection of the circuit court
judges, angry senators refused to confirm
his nomination by Grant for the position of
associate justice of the supreme court of the
United States. And the times at Washing
ton, under the present Republican administra-
ton, seem to be no better than when Grant
was at the helm of Republican affairs at the
national capital.
Another Abrupt Removal
Equally abrupt was President Grants re.
tirement of Attorney General Hoar. was his
dismissal of Postmaster General Marshall
Jewell.
The story, as | have read it, runs like this:
PRESIDENT Grant and Postmaster Jewell we're
alone together at the White House. talking
over matters, when, without any previous sug-
gestlon of the subject, Grant said Jewell.
now Go you suppose your resignation would
look written out?" Thinking or affecting to
TO thlnk the question a joke of the president.
JeWell replied he would write it and see "All
right said Grant, you just take some paper
ana write it down and see how it looks"
jewell wrote and handed the paper to Grant
The president eyed it a moment and then re-
marked, That looks we'll, I will accept ito
grant was entirely serious, and accented
Tue writing as the postmaster generals for.
MAJ resignation, and retired Jewell from fine
CaOlnet' after serving therein about two years
me machlne politicians demanded his de-
capltat1on, and got it. Jewell was a most ef
Llclent officer. He instituted numerous re-
forms IN postal management that the ma
chlneD politicians did not favor He cor
rected corruption in the service, abolished the
eVlI OF straw bonds" in connection with mail