The Omaha morning bee. [volume] (Omaha [Neb.]) 1922-1927, 1924-02-21
Attorney General
Stands Condemned
by Oil Friendship
Daugherty Will Be Forced to
Retire to Save Present
Administration, SAYS
Mark Sullivan.
BY MARK SULLIVAN.

Washington, Feb. 20.-The really
substantial reasons why Daugherty
is under pressure to retire from the
cabinet are not directly connected
with the ''oil scandal" 1t is true that
Senator Walsh spoke OF the attorney
general being under suspicion in con-
nection with the oil leases. II is
also true that Senator Walsh is a
man OF restraint and care in the ex-
preston OF his suspicious. But the
suspicion against Daugherty, so far
as the record has gone, rests merely
on a phrase in letter written by q
subordinate in the Interior depart
ment to Fall at the time the leases
were being drawn, in which the sub
ordinate suggested that an opinion on
the legality of the leases should be
secured from the attorney general
and added the mysterious word. Il
realize the objections to asking such
an opinion"
That phrase alone would not prove
that Daugherty had any knowledge
OF the oil leases. or. that he ever
gave any opinion on their legality
Indeed. that phrase might readily be
interpreted to suggest that Fall and
the others in the Interior depart
ment did not want to ask for the at
torney generals opinion for fear he
might give an adverse one and upset
the whole proceedings. II ii were
some other man than Daugherty to
whom that phrase referred. it might
as readily be interpreted in his favor
as against him. II Daugherty had
not already been under attack be-
cause of other things. that fragmen-
tary connection with the oil scandal
would not have excited demands for
his resignation.
Not Duty OF His Office.
F Also. Daugherty cannot be charged
with negligence in falling to have
knowledge of the oil leases. and fail
ing TO take the initiative in stopping
them. 1t in not within a fair or
usual Interpretation of attorney gen
erals functions to hold him TO such
q duty az that. In such case the
attorney general is only held 10 ac-
countability for giving sound opin-
ion when he is formally asked TO pass
on the question. AS respects the oil
scandal. Daugherty had no such
culpahility as DENLY had.
Nevertheless. there are plenty oil
good reasons why Daugherty should
resign. Scandal after scandal is being
unearthed in various departments of
the government. The attorney gen
eral Is tho official who should prose
cute those scandals. Rightly or
wrongly. the fact Is that the public
generally. including many Of Daugh.
crtys own friends. regards Dsngherty
as not a good man TO prosecute the
charges arising out Of these various
Investigations.
oil Friendships Disuuslify.
The demand that under these cir.
,cumstances, and at this time. the man
lin the attorney generals office shall
Ibe one in whom the public has perfect
lconfdence. Ii there were nothing
|else. the fact that most OF the men
accused We're friends of Harding or
Isppointees Of Harding. or both friends
and appointees. Is enough 10 dis
qualify Daugherty. Daugherty was
Hardings close friend. and the public
viii always suspect that Daugherty
would want to protect Harding'sI
reputation, and shield Hardlne's
friends and appointees. Some OF the
men accused were known as psugh.
erty's friends as well as Harding's.
Fall was an example. II is more than
tho public would expect OF human
nature that naugherty should put as
much earnestness into prosecuting |
Fall as that case demands.
Case after case is coming ur IN
which paugherty as head OF the legal
arm OF the government Will he COM
PEELED To choose between the sternest
kind OF duty and LOYALTY te the
friends and 10 the memory Of hts own |
great friend Harding. naasherty |
would need to retire In the light of
the present scandals because of the
peculiarly intimate nature of his re
lations with the president Who ap.
pointed tho accused men, and with
some OF the accused themselves