The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1924-03-05
D|AUGHERTY
HELD|N
MESH
Senators May Be Investigat-
Ing Themselves Soon Re-
garding Appointment.
BY WILLIAM HARD.


Daugherty investigation case in
Gluded the possibility that the
trails pursued by the investiga-
tors may lead them into the ex-
ecutive office Of the White House
as it was in the days before
Calvin Coolidge became President.
All five Senators composing
the investigating committee re-
manned non-communicative as to
the exact trails and clues which
the committee has in mind; but
q knowledge Of certain informa-
ton on its way to the committee
revealed the fact that much of
the committees material will con-
sist of evidence regarding the
part played by politics in the
management Of the Department
Of Justice.
Pressure Is Alleged.
It has long been alleged that
when the Harding Administration
came into power the Attorney Cen
0ral was put under pressure from
White House sources to appoint
the United States district attorneys
rs follows:
In districts in States where there
was Republican United States
Senator, or where there were two
Republican United States Senator'S,
he was to be guided by Senatorial
advice and order.
In districts in states where there
were no Republican Senators, but
where there were Republican Con.
gressmen, he was to be guided by
the recommendations Of these Re-
publican Congressman.
In districts in States where there
were neither any Republican Sena.
tors nor any Republican Congress.
men, he was to be guided by the
judgment Of the Republican ma.
tlonal committeeman from those
States.
Thus the whole immediate local
WORKING force OF the Department Of
Justice, the force through which
Its work for the most part stands
or the hands Of the Attorney Gen.
eral and put into the hands of
multitude Of local political in.
Auences.
Abundant Details Given.
This situation, it is charged, was
the result of commands coming
directly from the White House,
and the consequences Of it are being
forwarded in abundant detail to the
Daugherty Senatorial investigating
committee.
In other words, it is being
charged, and much proof of the
charge Is being produced, that the
tnlng that has allied the Department
OF Justice is the same thing that
has allied the prohibition division of
the Treasury Department, namely.
politics and political appointments
instead Of the merit system or in.
stead OF appointments by the un.
tnlpeded personal judgment Of the
head OF the department or division.
Thus the inquiry into Daugherty
IL likely to serve an end much
higher than any question Of the
character or conduct Of Daugherty
personally.
1t is likely to lead into the whole
subject of appointments through
politics and through local political
fractional influences and Quarrels.
Out Of it may come, it is in some
quarters hoped, a higher and bet
ter method of filling certain impor-
tant positions In the Federal Gov.
eminent.
Political Network.
De- <lA1 -
Orty from the beginning was in
Volyed in network of all sorts Of
politics-Presidential, local, Con-
Gressional and Senatorial.
Members Of The legislative body
now investigating him were them
selves responsible for many of his
for many Of his most unfortunate
acts.
This inquiry by the Senate, IL It is
followed to its logical end, may lead
to a stringent restriction Of Sena-
torial power in influencing the ap-
poiptments and in influencing the
decisions of the administrative de-
partments and bureaus.
The Senate, If it continues to in
J vestigAte to the bitter end, will find
itself investigating itself.
Sc The outcome may possibly be, It Is
hoped, not merely a criticizing Of
Daugherty, but a certain reforming
Of the system within which Daugh-
erty worked.
Meanwhile the personnel Of the
committee gives the public every
reason to believe that the lnvesti.
cation will be thorough, Senator
Wheeler Of Montana. who Is arrang-
ing the points on which Mr.. Daugh.
erty will be Intercepted, was a
= United States prosecuting attorney
in Montana for five years.
Wheeler Real Prosecutor.
When he resigned, the Federal
Judge of the district within which
he did his prosecuting, mad an