Evening star., 1924-03-29
WILL DAUGHERTY
FIGHT COOLIDGE?
Dismissed Attorney General
May Lead Revolt of Repub-
lICan "Regulars."
BY DAVID LAWRENCE

By DAVID LAWRENCE.
War is expected between former At
torney General Daugherty' and Presi-
dent Coolidge. What it will bring in
the way of political effects, what dam
age it will do inside the republican
party, what influence it will have on
the effort of Congress to say who
shall and who shall not be a member
OF the Executives cabinet, it may be
too early 10 foretell with exactness.
but the retirement OF the Attorney
General has not been attended with
much satisfaction for any body. -.
The democratic national comrnittee
Is gratif1ed that Mn. Daugherty is out
OF the cabinet upon any pretext
whatever" but accuses the President
of belated action. :. Mr.. Daugherty
himself thanks the President for the
statement that "he does nor question
my fairness or integrity, hut brands
the Presidents action as funwlse and
unumely.
May Lead Revolt.
MI Daugherty's Influence within
the republican party is not inconsid-
erable. He may lead a revolt against
Mr. Coolidge on the serious charge
not uncommon in politics-that the
man from Massachusetts, doesn't stick
by the regulars in his party. Such
movement might on the one hand,
estrange certain elements, but it
might, the other hand. win to Mr..
Coolidge's side Independent voters
who want him to break the fetters OF
party.
There have been rumors for some
time that opposition TO the, nomina-
tion of Mr.. Coolidge might be led by
former Gov. Frank o. Lowden OF Hi
nois. Some of Mr.. Daugherty's
friends insist the former Attorney
General will have a good deal to say
about the way the Ohio delegation
votes in the next national convention.
These may be empty threats, voiced
at the moment, because feeling runs
high. But Harry Daugherty is a fac
tor to be reckoned with in party pol
ftics. And he will manage to keep the
he makes his defense against what he
believes to be an unwarranted attack
by the Senate investigating commit
tee
His friends on Capitol Hill will en-
6eavor for the party's sake to help
his cause. If he succeeds in making
good impression and explaining the
many innuendoes which have been
broadcast from the Senate investigat-
ing committee, he will strengthen the
opinion of those in the republican
party who feel today that Secretary
DENLY also should not have been al
lowed to retire without a full hearing
and that democratic Sniping should
not sweep republican leaders off their
feet.
Between Two Fires.
AS usual with important decisions,
the President has been between two
fires. He promised in his recent
speech that no man would he sacri-
feed to clamor. and he insists now
that he is not prejudginE the issues
which have arisen in connection with
Mr.. Daugherty's fitness for the port
folio of Department of Justice. But
the President, nevertheless, came to
the conclusion that the investigation
Is too much of an embarrassment and
that Mr. Daugherty could not defend
himself against attacks from the Sem
ate and conduct his office.
The thing which really weakened
Mr.. Daugherty's position was the
widely spread understanding that he
outcome of the investigation. The
morale of the Department of Justice
is affected when it becomes known
that the man at the top is likely to be
leaving office any day. The President
was apprised of this situation. He
acted because the problems were get
ting more and more complicated for
him.
AS for a successor several names
are under consideration. One of these
is Judge William S. Kenyon of Iowa
He resigned from the United States
Senate to go on the federal bench
He likes the judiciary, but that being
the case, he must like to go to the
very top. And there is usually more
chance of promotion to the Supreme
Court of the United States direct from
the Department of Justice than from
the district bench.
Headed Farm Bloc.
Mr. Kenyon was the head OF the
farm bloc when in the Senate. The
west has confidence in himAand it
is in the west that Mr.. Coolidge
needs strength. Furthermore, Judge
Kenyon was assistant attorney gen
eral in the Taft administration and
has a thorough familiarity with the
affairs of the department.. He was
offered the secretaryshfp of the Navy,
but declined, because he didn't think
he was fit for the portfolio. The
fact that Mr.. Coolidge wanted him
that time Judge Wilbur of California.
who. it was thought would be Attor-
ney General. has accepted the Navy
dent to offer the job of Attorney
General to Judge Kenyon. He seems
the most likely choice at the moment.