The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1924-04-13
COOLIDGE UNFIT
TO BE- PRESIDENT,
WHEELER AYERS
Incapable Of Dealing With
Present Situation, Is
Declaration

CHICAGO, April 12.-In vigor-
Gus defense of the senate's investiga-
tons, Senator Wheeler, leader of the
committee investigating Harry Nj.
Daugherty, declared today that Calvin
Coolidge had proven himself unfit for
the presidency of the United States.
1.-The trouble with Coolidge is that
he is looking at everything from a
purely political standpoint, instead OF
looking out for the welfare of the peo-
Pile of the nation" Wheeler said.
Referring to the senatorial investiga-
tons, the senator continued:
"The Presidents lack of action in
all these matters has shown the coun-
try that he is incapable of dealing with
the situation which demands forceful
leader that will drive from office in
Washington all those who have been
guilty of corruption or have taken part
in the gigantic conspiracies carried on
in the last few years by crooked poll
ticians and big business"
Wheeler attacked former Attorney
General Daugherty as "a man entirely
untitled for the office he held" and
declared the department of justice had
been made a collecting agency. He
painted Daugherty as poor man when
he entered office three years ago, and
now as "a man dealing in Sinclair and
steel stocks and owning stocks in the
Wright Martin Airplane corporation"
Wheeler promised that the Senate
Daugherty committee would persevere,
because the country demands, l think,
that our committee show up the vicious
system that has grown up in Washing
ton on using the department of justice
as a collecting agency"
The senator charged the Columbus,
o., gang has grown rich with Daugh-
erty."
Wheeler, en- route to Washington
from a subcommittee investigation of
Nal Daugherty, the former Attorney
Generals brother, Mt Washington Court
House, o.. said Nal Daugherty would
appear before his committee in Wash
ington Monday.
IF he doesn't testify, we can put
him in jail" Wheeler said.
Speaks At Club
In a formal speech later in the day
before the annual banquet of the Fri
quOis club, attended by hundreds of
democratic leaders. Senator Wheeler
attacked the well organized pIan,"
which he said now is operated on a
national scale" to undermine public
confidence in the Senate investigations
and to discredit chose who are seek
ing to re-establish the integrity of gov
ernment."
His address began with the outline
of the system by which the President
was nominated. dwelt Mt some length
upon the detail of selection of the cab
met, moved with spirited emphasis
through three years of organized cor
ruption in the very seat of the federal
government and terminated with n hur-
ried summary of third party prospects
for 1921.
Interspersed were frequent refer
ences to corruption, incompetence.
booze" bootleggers. improper use of
governmental powers, shady deals in
almost everything which might serve
as basis for a DEAL" and protection.
There was reference to "the cheap
back room crowd" surrounding the
Ohio powers in the republican party
and an unqualified reputation of all
charges of partisan selfishness in the
motives of the headmasters in the Tea
pot Dome and Daugherty investiga-
tions.
Praises Newspaper Men
Senator Wheeler's first tribute after
that paid to the ideals and principles
of uncomprOmisipg Jeffersonian democ-
raey was to the younger newspaper
men Of Washington
The new bloods there have contrib
Continued On Page TwOl