The Birmingham age-herald., 1924-02-23
LET THERE BE JUSTICE

Mir Frank A. Vanderlip says that he well comes the damage suit brought against hlm by the owners of the Marion Star, and only wishes that there were full court opportunity to bring out some of the facts which, he al leges. are now being officially concealed. By this it appears that Mir. Vanderlip does not refer to any Marion Star transactions, but rather to the general program of failure to nrosecute in the Veterans Bureau and Tea not Dome ransactions. Even now there is the implication. emanating from Washington, that there can be no criminal procedure against certain men whose records convey all the moral certainty of criminality. It IS time for those who are genuine defenders Of the public right to demand that the guilty shall be both detected and punished It is time for all right minded men in Washington to come to the support of Senator Thomas J.. Walsh in his valiant endeavor to throw light upon a situation which has previously been purposely kept dark. It is time for com plete revelation of all the furtive official con- duct of men in high public office who have used their position for their own advantage and the advantage of those to whom they have sold the allegiance that belongs to the people of the United States.
 There are those who question Mir. Wander lips sincerity but surely there are none who the crime should be tried and that the in fuence of political considerations shall not be allowed to prevail MT. Daugherty, for example, says that he desires to carry his case to the people, because he fears that the senate inquiry will be packed against him. Why should Mir Daugherty appeal to the people? That would mean merely the setting forth of whatever argument he chooses to develop. It would be a onesided thing. Besides, the people are not responsible for Mr.. Daugherty's public occupation of high office If he is delinquent or is accused of delinquency, let him appeal to the president.
 As far as the people are concerned, they do not desire to be jury to only an ex parte presentation. If Mr. Daugherty wants vim dicatiOn, let him ask for his acts grand jury investigation and a court hearing, if he feels that he cannot safely entrust himself to the senate. Anu alter dll, uc SHOulu/ De lawyer enough to know that the constitution designates the senate as the tribunal estab- lished for such cases as his. Besides, there is every likelihood that the senate is unjustly complained of by MT. Daugherty. The sen ate committees may have been guilty at times of treadng lightly over the thin ice of in quiry, but the senate committees have not yet been charged with taking advantage of their authority to incriminate innocent men
 Besides thesreal charge against Mir. Daugh erty in the public mind is not that he has deliberately transgressed any law, but that, as a public prosecutor, he is inefficient and a failure. As one observer remarks his sins are apparently of omission rather than of con- mission He is regarded as figurehead rather than as the vigorous exponent of lead ership in the enforcement of law. One of the most severe criticisms that can be brought against the administration is it's failure in law enforcement. MT. Daugherty cannot es- cape the major share of blame for that fail ure Nothing he could say to the people could possibly be set forth in more stentorian tones than his own record of unaccomplish- mppt