The Telegraph-courier. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1888-1946, 1924-06-05

in every detail in connection there
with.
Was Ready to Appear.
''Since the commencement of your
inquiry, that is to say on the 18th day
of March last, have hoped to be ask
ed to appear before your committee,
and have been somewhat surprised
that l was not asked to appear at an
earlier period in your proceedings, as
/ was under the impression that the
investigation would be confined to my
official actions as attorney general OF
the United States and matters direct
.ly relating thereto.
"The fact that your committee has
not up to the present time called a SIN
gle witness suggested by me, and has
sought for evidence from unexpected
sources and generally from persons SO
situated that under ordinary circum-
stances very little credence would be
given their testimony, has from the
beginning caused me to feel that
there was a feeling of ahtagonlsm
entertained toward me by certain
members of your committee and that
these members of your committee IN
stead of prosecuting fair and inn
partial inquiry into my official conduct
as attorney general of the United
States, have made desperate attempt
to blacken my reputation and lnJure
my standing in the country by the
statements of unreliable witnesses
which would not be admitted to any
court of justice.
Beyond His Understanding.
81 have never been able to under
stand why your investigation was con-
Quoted upon such unusual and peculiar
lines, and with such bitter personal
feeling toward me on the part of GER
tain members of your committee. New
ertheless, full of confidence in the
ability of the department of justice to
demonstrate to the satisfaction OF
your committee, or any other, the fact
that it's function during the time OF
nv administration attained to ~a< high
degree of efficiency, / have been ready
and anxious to assist your committee
in every way within my power to make
public the splendid record of the ac-
complishment of the department
"At this point l take occasion to
contradict and deny any inference
"The controversy which arose in re-
gard to the power of your committee
to issue a subpoena duces tecum tc
| the officers of the Midland Nationa
Bank of Washington Court House
Ohio, to produce certain books anc
documents, resulted in an appeal tt
| the courts on the part of the bank
and a judicial determination of the
powers of your committee. A copy o.
the opinion of Judge Cochran, of the
federal court of the southern distric
4 of Ohio, was placed in my hands OF
Monday evening, June 2, careful eX
animation of this opinion has settled
as it seems to me, the course which
must now adopt in connection will
this investigation and has answered
for me your request that l appear be
fore your committee on Friday next
Judge Cochran holds squarely tha
your committee has been and is nov
exercising a power not granted by thu
constitution, expressly or by implica
ton, and that each and all of you
actions under Senate resolution NO
4 157,s are absolutely void. In view o
this decision, and in obedience there
to, it would seem to me to be vail
thing to continue an illegal proceed
ing and inquiry and l must therefor,
decline to appear before your com
mittee. From the very commencement
of your hearings, that is on thu
twelfth day of March last, l have beer
constantly represented by counsel a
all of said hearings, and during al
this time have entertained the hope
and have been encouraged by thu
promise that ultimately l would hav'
the privilege of producing witnesses
on my own behalf and on behalf O.
the department of justice The deci
sion of the court above referred tt
has changed the whole situation ant
rendered it unnecessary for me to ap
pear before your committee in person
or by counsel and their attendance a
your hearings will be discontinued
from and after this date.
''For your convenience and for pur
poses of the record, submit here
with a true copy of the opinion O.
Judge Cochran.
very truly yours,
III. M. Daugherty."