The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1924-03-29
DAUGHERTY'S GRACEFUL OPPOR-
TUNITY


Payton Gordon is United States
district attorney for the District Of
Columbia. He is a subordinate of
Attorney General Daugherty. More
than that he is said to have been
appointed on Mr.. Daugherty's re-
commentator.
This man, who has every reason
upon by the United States Senate
to procure the indictment of Harry
F. Sinclair before a District, of Co.
lumbia grand jury for refusing to
testify before the Senate committee
investigating the oil leases.
Mr.. Daugherty has been a friend
of Sinclair. He admits having spec
ulated in Sinclair stocks during his
Cabinet term. In his public state
ments he has implied that the oil
lease charges and the charges against
himself are alike inspired by politi-
cal cnmity. Accordingly it is to his
interest to see the oil investigation
defeated.
His subordinate, the district attor-
ncy at Washington, is thus placed
in dilemma. As Il public servant,
he should prosecute Sinclair to the
utmost. But as Il subordinate Of Mr..
Daugherty, he may feel reluctant.
Does not this situation give Mr..
Daugherty a valid reason for resign
ing Immediately, without admitting
the slightest guilt? Does not pro-
prety call upon him to write a let
ter to the President, saying he re-
linquishes the office which gives him
control over the man whose duty it
now is to prosecute Harry Sinclair?
So it seems to us. And it seems
to US that unless he does so, the
President should request it, basing
his request on the Sinclair incident.
There are other reasons, too, why
Mr.. Daugherty should resign, and
why Mr.. Coolidge should request his
resignation if it is not submitted vol
UNFAIRLY. Aside from Mr.. Daugher
tvs speculations, which alone were
sufficient cause for his resignation,
other reasons have been supplied by
the character of the testimony and
the character of the witnesses at the
Senate special committees hearing.
w. A. Orr's admissions of receiv-
ing money in liquor cases, and his
testimony of large payments to How
ard Warrington, who had desk in
Mr.. Daugherty's house, are indica-
tions Of busy grating by number
Of the Attorney Generals associates.
Orr and Warrington have been po-
litical intimates of Mr.. Daugherty.
If he did not know that there was
corruption around him, he was too
blind for his high office.
The extreme prejudice shown by
Senators Wheeler, Brookhart and
Ashurst in the investigation has
caused reaction in Mr.. Daugherty's
favor; but the unfairness Of thou
sand Wheelers could not make that
reaction strong enough to overcome
the evidence of corruption all around
the Attorney General.
We believe the people Of the Unit
ed States, Republicans and Democrats
alike, are ovcrwhel mingly convinced
that Mr.. Daugherty should resign. He
has the opportunity now to bow him.
self out with grace, in fairness to his
subordinate who must prosecute Sim
clair.
, If Mr.. Daugherty still refuses to
! go, the President should formally de-
mand his resignation. 1t is reliably
reported that the Attorney General
has threatened that if he is dismiss
ed he will appeal to the people and
will assail the President. An idle
threat! Mr.. Daugherty is discredit,
ed. His influence with the people is
no longer worth the price of bag
! of popcorn.-Chicago Journal OF
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