The Washington times., 1924-03-28
SUPPLY THREATENED WITH DEPLETION IN TWENTY YEARS
Coolidge Daugherty
Correspond ence
Continued from First Page.)

to me or to the committee what
would be diSinterested advice as
to public interest. You have a
personal interest in this investi-
cation which is being made Of
the conduct Of yourself and your
office, which may be in conflict
with your official interests as
the Attorney General.
II am not questioning your fair
ness or integrity. 1 am merely
reciting the fact that you are
placed in two positions, one your
personal interest. the other your
office Of Attorney General. which
may be in conflict.
How can l satisfy a request
for action in matters of this
nature on the grounds that you.
as Attorney General, advise
against 1t, when you as the in
Quiry is directed, necessarily have
a personal interest in 1t? do
not see how you can be acting for
yourself in your own defense In
this matter, and at the same time
and on the same question acting
as my adviser as Attorney Gen.
eral
These two positions are in
compatible, and cannot be recon-
ciled. I am sure you will see that
it Is necessary for me to have the
advice Of q disinterested Attorney
General, in order that l may dis
charge the duties Of my office in
this and other matters. feel
certain that you will know how
deply I regret that this situation
has arisen. 1t only illustrates the
difficulties which are certain to
recur with every increasing en-
barraSsment, and your inability to
perform satisfactorily the duties
Of Attorney General under pres
ent conditions. You will readily
understand that 1t is not now my
intention to prejudice the issues
which remain to be developed in
this investigation.
II recognize that you are en-
titled to a full and fair hearing.
But as there is no way by which
you can divest yourself of the in
terests you have personally in the
investigation, / can see no way
but for you to retire as Attorney
General, and am therefore COM
PEELED to request your resignation.
very truly yours,
CALVIN COOLIDGE"
The reply of the ATTORNEY Gen.
sral 1Oas brief. 1t follows:
my Dear Mr.. President, I here
by acknowledge receipt of your
letter of March 81, and by the
hand of your Secretary, request
ing my resignation as Attorney
General of the United States.
Solely out Of Difference to your
request, and in compliance there
with, hereby tender my resig.
nation. While you do not state
when you desire my resignation
to- become effective, / most re-
spectfully request that it become
effective forthwith.
Very truly yours,
III. NJ. DAUGHERTY,
Attorney General"
Tho second letter of tho Attorney
General folIot0s:
MY dear Mr.. President.
Under separate cover I have
Justed handed you my formal
resignation as Attorney General
OF the United States, to take effect
forthwith. Now that I am no
longer a member Of your cabinet,
l feel constrained, as a private
citizen. in all kindness, to call
certain matters to your attention.
Your request, Mr.. President,
for my resignation, is based on
grounds that seem to me unten.
able. AS you will perhaps re-
member, did not intend to seek
your advice with regard to COM
pliance with the demands Of the
Senate committee for indiscrim-
mate delivery Of the confidential
files Of the Department Of
Justice. or parts thereof. AS I
explained to you, my duty was
clear. for I had frequently been
called upon to determine this
question. My answer was ready,
as informed you, and furnish.
ed you a copy thereof.
Explains His Position.
MY sole purpose in taking the
matter up with you was to let
you know the position 1 was COM
PEELED to take in the interest of
the public business and for the
protection Of the Government, that
you might be in a position to
advise other departments, If sim.
liar requests were made, what
course they would pursue.
"Yopr suggestion that can
not function as Attorney General
and defend myself against the
charges at the same time, I
believe, is hardly warranted by
the facts. You know I have en-
ployed counsel, at my own ex.
pense. to take the responsibility
of representing me at the hear
lngs before the Senate committee
In order that / could devote nv
time to the public business which
l have been doing continuously,
"Those employed in the depart.
ment have given no time belong.
ing to the Government to this
so-called investigation, except to
furnish data required by the va.
rious congressional committees,
The business Of the department
Is at its peak in efficiency and
accomplishment, and I am pre-.
pared to demonstrate this fact
before any tribunal If opportunity
Is offered.