Atlanta tri-weekly journal. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1920-19??, 1924-04-17
CLASS TURNS GUNS
UPON COOLIDGE FOR
ATTACK ON SENATE

/ WASHINGTON, April 15.-The
Democratic assault upon President
CooIidge's letter of last Friday re-
lating to the conduct Of investiga-
lions was renewed in the senate to-
day, Senator Glass, Of Virginia, de
claring the presidents letter to be
IAN amazing imputation' upon that
body.
Denying any purpose to attack
the president or the secretary of
treasury because of their attitude
to the investigation of the internal
revenue bureau, the Virginia sena-
tor said he arose to express in a
temperate way the indignation every
senator of spirit must feel"
1t became known as the senator
was speaking that he had decided
on the major points In his address
after conference with a group of in
fluential men of his party both in
and out of congress. His colleagues
were nearly all in their seats and
listened to the speech with an air
of expectancy which indicated that
they regarded the utterance as of
unusual significance.
Scores Offensive Language
1.-THE president and the secretary
of the treasury" Secretary Glass
said "have directed amazing impu-
tations against this body in Ian
guage of offense as needless as, in
truth, they are devoid Of justifica-
ton"
Il feel constrained by every con-
sideration of self-reSpect to repel the
unprecedented assault made by these
public officials upon the integrity
of the United States senate.
"Some weeks ago when the senate
adopted a resolution eXpressll ; its
conviction that the public interest
would best be served by the dis
missal from the presidents cabinet
of Secretary DENLY | haZarded the
opinion that we were deliberately in
viting, and [ confidently believed
would receive, from the president,
the very rebuff which he was en-
TITLED to make, and quickly did adj
minister. Other executives had done
THE same thing, in better behalf, |
think, out not more tersely nor in
better tenor.
"They were widely applauded, just
as President Coolidge was, and just
as any president must know he will
be. for a vigorous assertion of con-
stitutional jurisdiction. That was
quite right--a thing finely done in
an unhappy case.
painful Contrast"
But dignified, unyieiding asser-
ton of constitutional prerogatiye is
one thing, and an unrestrained ar
raignment of a coordinate branch
Of the government is another. The
contrast is painful. But in no cir
cumstances could it be more deplor-
able than when the president Of
the United States, through the pre-
scribed medium Of communication,
levels at the senate of the United
States accusations which eravely inn
peach it's honor, in justification of
which indictments he does not, as
am sure he cannot offer any proof,
from the record"
For the first time in history, the
senator declared, a chief executive
has abruptly faced the senate with
the official charge Of having lnstl-
tuted a government Of lawlessnCs SIS, y
and has pointedly impeached its
probity with a charge / "subterfuGe
and insincerity.' In so doing, he
added. the president acted upon the
unauthenticated suspicious of an
avowedly partisan seantor, Gctuated
by the personal antipathies and ap-
prehensions of a cabinet minister
The senate is charged, he de-
clared, with the creation of a con
dition actually subversive of the
most sacred guaranty of the consu-
tuition. The president himself has not
bothered to disguise it. Not in a line
or sentence is there hesitation or
concealment. The president intended
to be vehement. He intended to be
threatening.
G.. or. Hints IntolerabIe
Quite intolerable enough it is to
have individual senators so about
broadcasting the accusations that
their colleagues here are indecent
and enga sed in dirty business when
they bring into the light of day the
hidden offenses of maladnlinitsration.
Bad enough it is enough incendiary
fashion to apply the fagots of misin-
formation and Vituperation to an al
ready inflamed and poisoned public
opinion which would stop pursuit of
the actual criminals and punish the
senate for exposing crime. For one,
| am totally unwilling, without pro-
test. to have the prestige OF the
chief aSiStraCy put in the balance
against a senator, sworn as he is to
uphold the constitution and con,
strained to a course Of fearless and
upright official conduct"
Senator Glass said he could not
approve the employment of a special
counsel by member of a senate COM
mitLee and "au this discussion"
would have been averted had the
president confined himself to criti-
cism Of this exceptional procedure"
But neither the president nor
the secretary desired to confine this
controversy" he declared. Neither
desired ito discuss an episode. Both
wanted to project an issue. And |
reject as untenable and little less
than childish the suggestion that the
secretary and the president are pro
testing solely against an irregularity
Of method, prompted by incense
quential personal pickering between
a cabinet minister and a senator of
his own party on a question Of tax
ation. The text and tenor of Mr.
Mellon's letter to the president and
the latter's message to the senate af-
ford an effective refutation of such
an hypothesis.
Exposure Defended
1t is the triflinS incident of an
irregularly compensated attorney
general. however much TO be de-
preciated, that has caused the White
House ard the treasury TO DESPAIR Of