Evening star., 1924-02-23
DAUGHERTY BRIEF
PUT BEFORE j. S.
Volume Issued After Failure
of Impeachment Contains
Full Record of Case.
BY FREDERIC WILLIAM VILE.


Harry NJ. Daugherty's case before
"the bar Of public opinion" has al
ready been submitted. 1t exists in
the form of a virtual brief" A VOL
ume entitled Facts of Record and
Editorials was issued by an anony-
nous committee of Mr.. Daugherty's
friends last autumn. 1t consists Of
127 pages, dealing with the impeach-
ment proceedings initiated BY Repre-
sentative Oscar E. Keller, republican,
of Minnesota, on September IL, 1922.
Then, in chronological fashion, there
are recorded the succeeding steps
taken in the House of Representa-
1929, when by vote Of 2o4 to 77 the
House adopted the report of the
judiciary committee exonera ting
feasance in office" The volume is
inscribed Compiled for the Informa-
ton of the Public II was distrib-
uted privately.
Sees yindication.
The Attorney General looks upon
the thoroughgoing investigation of
his administration OF the Department
Of Justice, extending over a period
of more than four months. as d COM
plete vindication. The judiciary COM
nittee of the House, at the end of its
inquiry, submitted a report. which
was adopted sixteen days later, read
ing. in part, as follows:
Resolved, That your committee has
made an examination touching the
is any probable ground to believe
that any of the charges are true; and
on consideration of the charges and
the evidence obtained ii does not ap-
pear that there is any ground to be-
lieve that Harry VI. Daugherty, At
any high crime or misdemeanor re-
uuiring the interposition of the i'm
peachment powers of the House; and
Resolved further. That the com
mittee on the judiciary be. discharges
from further consideration of the
charges and proposed impeachment OF
Harry NJ. Daugherty. Attorney Cen
eral of the United states. and that
House resolution 425 be laid upon the
table"
The vindication brief" includes
speeches in the House on the judiciary
committees report by its chairman
Andrew J. Volstead. and by Repre-
sentatives Blanton Of Texas, Graham
of Pennsylvania, Bird of Kansas,
Montague of Virginia, Goodykoontz
igan, Yates of Illinois, Taylor of Ten
neSsee, Clouse of Tennessee and
Hersey of Maine. Messrs. Blanton
Montague and Taylor are democrats.
with Representative keller's refusal
to be sworn as witness ana MS
later failure to appear before the
committee in response TO subpoena
Editorial Digest Given
The Attorney Generals friends con-
slider that the most convincing section
of the above described brief" filed
before the "bar of public opinion" is
the digest of editorial opinion from
the American press. The digest is
divided into nine different geograph-
ical groups, comprising practically
eyery section of the United States.
Both republican and democratic news
papers are quoted in extenso. Prob
ably the Attorney Generals adherents
point with pride to editorials favor
able to him in certain republican
for his head on charger. One of the
most important of these journals, fe-
licitating the Attorney General on his
vindication. deplored the attempt to
conduct government by SANDER
In Washington during ing baen the pas pasI
to detect a definite reaction in Daugh-
erty's favor, in consequence of his
lighting rejoinder to Senator Peppers
invitation to quit under fire.
There are. Of course. vital political
equations involved, which President
Coolidge's political managers are not
likely to ignore. Daugherty is still
a factor to be reckoned with in Ohio
republican politics. Only recently
mainly under the Presidents direc.
ton. Daugherty and some of his in
veterate republican foes In Ohio
buried the hatchet. 1t was arranged
that the Attorney General should this
year not be denied the privilege he
Sought in vain in 1920 of becoming
a delegate at large to the republican
national convention.
These sores are not so long healed
that they could not be easily reopen
ed. How the President, his political
chiefs and the other high priests OF
the G. O. P. will meet the situation, hav-
ing an eye to the pivotal state of Ohio
and its importance in the electoral col
umn, remains to be seen.
fC.nvy;1hf 1904