Atlanta tri-weekly journal. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1920-19??, 1924-05-22
JESS SMITH RULED
DEPT. Of JUSTICE,
|. ]. BAILEY SAYS

w ASf1lNNI 1O-N, MUS L uCo
days open session of the DauSherty
investigating committee was devoted
exclusively to the testimony of wit
nesses who said that Smith, though
not on the official payroll of the de-
partment Of justice had a large part
in the conduct of the department.
Upon authority of former Attor-
ney General Daugherty, orders given
by Jess Smith, his friend and com
pani0n. were taken and obeyed by
the bureau of investigation of the
department of justice, Lewis j.
Bailey, it's former acting chief, testl-
fled.
Bailey, now agent in charge for
the bureau at Atlanta, was acting
chief from October, 1920, to August,
1921. He said he was told by Mr..
Daugherty to take up all questions
with Smith.
"Mr. Daugherty said he was a
very busy man." Bailey testified,
but that Mr.. Smith represented
him. Anything that came up, he tolo
me, [ should see Smith about. and
whatever Smith told me to do would
be all right"
"Did you do so?" asked Senator
Wheeler.
Eyes" Bailey replied, except in
one or two instances, where L had
some question as to Mr.. Smiths
judgment and went to the attorney
general
Ousted Bureau Official
The bureau was being reorganiZed
during the period, Bailey added, and
most of the consultations between
himself and Smith dealt with the
question of employees to be retained.
dismissed or hired, Smith, he said,
had an office in the department and
took an interest in everything"
The witness related how Smith
had told an assistant chief of the
bureau 'he had to get out"
Answering a question by Chair
man BrOOkhart. he said there was
no reason in his judgment for the
decision.
Everybody around the, depart
ment of justice recognized Smith as
the man they had to pay attention
to-" Bailey said. "IIe was the most
powerful man there next to the at
| torney general
"You understand that Smith was
a sort of messenger for the at
/ torney general?' asked George E
! Chamberlain, attorney for Mr..
! Daugherty.
"Wen, [ don't know as to being
a messenger, Bailey responded. He
was some sort of a representative
of the attorney general, though I
cont say ] was to follow his word
entirely, without some indication
that the attorney general approved. -
/ Nv. INc.,,1 ni - tl1t
the usual political requirements for
a change in the personnel of the
! bureau with change of administra-
| ton had been responsible for the
situation but Bailey replied that the
bureau of investigation usually had
been considered outside of the pat.
ronage system.
Couldn't Always Agree
did Smith ever request you to
! do anything wrong" Mr.. Chamber
| lain demanded.
There were two or three little
| questions we couldn't agree on, -
Bailey said. There wasn't any cor
ruption in his request"
Smith got everything he wanted
Bailey, said when Senator Wheeler
asked as to his access to official
| files. The bureau of investigator
files were frequently furnished to
him, the witness declared, though
all the files he remembered Smith
having We're in reference to EN-
! ployes
Everybody up there understood
they had to do what he told them. -
| Bailey added. eff they were like
/ me, they figured they had better take
his orders or look for a new job"
There was a case file" in the
/ bureau relating to w. J. Burns
/ Bailey said when Burns became di-
/ rector of the bureau, indicatin that
/ the department had investigated the
/ detective chief himself at some pc
riod during the war. What it con.
! tanned BaFey said he did not know.
/ Smith was making every effort
to reduce the force to a minimum.
/ the witness went on, and in so dong
/. gave preference TO Republicans. He
I SAID Smith declared in my hearing
that he was in no way officially
connected with the department. 81
! justice and he was there as a mat
ter of personal friendship to the at
| torHey general, helping to get things