The Omaha morning bee. [volume] (Omaha [Neb.]) 1922-1927, 1924-03-29
Accedes to
of
Action Comes as Result of Re-
fusal to Give Office
Records to Senate
Committee.
E n ds Long Fight

4 w dSuluSIoil, MdICii co..
Attorney General Harry M.
Daugherty retired from the
cabinet today under condi-
tions that amounted virtually
to a removal from office by
President Coolidge.
Mr.. Coolidge asked for the
resignation of Mr.. Daugherty
in a 700-word letter, in which
he said matters had reached
a stage where it was neces-.
cary for the president to have
the "disinterested advice" of
an attorney general, and, in
view of the investigation now
proceeding against Mr..
Daugherty, he did not think
he was capable of rendering
that sort of advice.
The president got Mr.. Daugherty's
resignation in a 60-word reply that
was as bruscue and brief as the presi-
dents letter was lengthy and explana-
tory.
Daugherty's retirement from the
government ends fight against him
that has been in progress almost ever
since ne was appointed by the late
President Harding. and which has
been particularly severe for a year
past. In the last six weeks. or since
the passage OF the Wheeler resolution
Of investigation. pressure upon him
has been terrific.
| Put Up Fight.
/ The attorney general fought back
with a determination that his friends
called .nagnificently courageous and
his enemies termed "perverse stub
bernness."
II Always he was fnsistent that he
would not resign under fire. or 50
long as the charges made against him
and his administration remained un-
proved.
Daugherty was more to Harding
than a mere campaign manager-he
was n close friend and associate Of
years standing. and Harding brushed
aside all objections TO his friend.
From time 10 time. during the Hard
ing administration, enemies Of the at
torney general would start sporadic
drives against him. but always they
fell down against the stone wall of
Mr.. Harding's opposition.
II A year ago these drives against the
attorney general eliminated in the
introduction OF impeachment BY Rep
resentative Keller. republican. OF
Minnesota, who acted for a group OF
Dausherty's enemies inside and out
side the government. The resolution
came TO nothing. and Daughertv con
tinued in office. apparently more solid
ly entrenched than before.
II Harding's Death Severe Blow.
Harding's death was a severe hl-w
TO Daugherty I'm a personal way. ara
so crushed was he that his was the
first resignation placed in the hands
Of the new president after the Hard
ing funeral. At that time. however.
President Coolidge is said 10 have
placed his hand on the attorney gen
erals shoulder and observed that hs
Coolidge, believes he Daughertyl was
much msiigned man and he
asked him TO remain. Daughertv
consented with some reluctance. for.
as he told friends. with Harding
!. gone he did not care particularly
I whether he remained in the cabinet
or not
Z Then came the renewed drive
;, against the attorney generzi-an Off
I shoot of the the Teapot Dome in
' vestigation. His enemies seized upon
: the fact that Daugherty never PRO
tested against the oil leases to file
. fresh charges Of Incompetence Al
!. though he had been ready TO retire
last August. the renewed assaults ap-
!. parently aroused the attorney gen
erals fighting spirit. and he fought
his detractors ssvagely. determined
not 10 get out while under attack.
The pressure. however. became too
e strong on Mr.. Coolidge. Witnesses
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