The Colorado statesman., 1924-04-05

ference on the part of the political
leaders of the two great parties.
Now there is full realization that tho
use of the word Interference may be
taken to mean that the lenders may
attempt to call halt in the march
toward the truth concerning possibly
guilty ones. hut really 1t means moth
ing Of the kind. 1t is pretty well un-
derstood here that some of the Demo
cratic and Republican chieftalns have
come to the belief that the country
Is tired of an investigation which
seemingly Is following lines leading
into the fields of innocence just as
actively as It is following those which
may lead into the field of guilt.
Seemingly, therefore, 1t may he that
suddenly there will come IL cessation
of some of the committees labOrs. An
immense amount of stuff has been
turned over TO reveal nothing at all
of pertinence to the subject of the In
quiry. 1t is said now that some of
the Democratic chieftans particular
ly fear there may be n reaction in the
country against the methods which
have been employed. To put it an
other way. there seems to be n grow
ing feeling that really important
things are being smothcred in II feath-
er bed of words about entirely unln-
portant things.
Daugherty Making Fight.
Now the Duugherty inquiry Is on.
The attorney general elected to make
II fight for his own, and ii Is only the
truth to say that lie has won personal
admiration for his determination from
the members of both parties in this
town. The Daugherty inquiry, of
course, is not supposed to be trial.
but in fact 1t is trial with major
ity of the Investigators probably more
than ,prejudiced in advance against
the defendant in the case. However,
If the facts show innocence, prejudice
can do nothing because the public
Will make Itself felt. and If there Is
guilt it will be brought out and ey
erybody will forget that the majority
Of the Investigators possibly had pre-
judged the case.
No one knows yet definitely wheth
er President Coolidge would have been
better satisfied if the attorney gen
cral had followed the example of Sec
retary of the Navy DENLY and hand
ed in his resignation as cabinet
member The two cases in way
are somewhat different. for the inti-
nations in the DENLY case were that
he might in some way or other be
connected directly with the oil lease
proceedings in which negligence of
duty was manifest.
on the other hand, Attorney General
Daughertys case is in Il way only in
directly connected with oil leases. lie
has admitted that he bought oil stocks,
hut he has said that he bought for
investment and not for speculative
purposes. This brings up the old
question as to whether or not 1t Is
proper for government official, while
he is government official, to pur-
chase or to own stock in any con-
Germ which possibly may become in
volved in government inquiry proceed
lngs.
Power of the "Progressives."
So far us these Investigations are
concerned, ii might be said in the gen
eral method of their conducting, there
Is proof found that the so-called pro-
gressIve element in the senate holds
In investigating matters something
much more than that balance of pow
er which 1t holds in the senate proper.
While n Democrat acts rs chief pros
n Ntfr.,N Nf..,, l.t
methods, so far as one can judge, are
entirely approved by the progressive
Republicans who also hold committee
membership.
The old line Republicans who sit IN
the committee seemingly are content
to let things go their way unchecked.
but 1t may be that there Is some wis
dom in this because. as has been in
tlmated before, the present thought.
or perhaps hope, Is that the country
eventually will object to the Outreach-
ing committee procedures.
Announcement has been made by
the two attorneys appointed by Pres
ident Coolidge to look into the whole
subject of oil that criminal proceed
ings will be brought Immediately after
The civil suits to set aside the oil leases.
The sharp question now In Wash
ington is, Against whom are indlct-
ments to be brought? In cases of al
legged bribery there must be two par.
ties to the temptation deal, or per
haps more There are the bribed and
there are the brbers. What are their
names?
Euening Up the Chances