San Antonio light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1911-1993, 1924-03-28


, duty was clear, for / had freuuentl
been called upon to determine I'M
J question. My answer was ready, a
: | informed sou, and furnished you
copy thereof.
My sole purpose in taking the mat
: ter up with you was to let you hnuv
the position | was compelled to TAX
in the interest of the public business
and for the protection of the govern
ment, that you might be in position t.
advise other departments, IL similar
requests were made, what course they
should pursue.
"Sour suggestion that cannot func.
ton as attorney general ana uerend
myself against these charges ct the
same time, | believe, is hardly war
ranted by the facts.
"You know that | have employed
counsel at my own expense, to ,nke
the responsibility of representing me
at the hearings before the Senate COM
mittee in order that l could devote
my time to the public business. which
have been doing continually.
Department Is Efficient.
"Those employed in the department
have given no time belonging TO the
government to this so-ealled inyestiga.
ton, except to furnish data required
by the various congressional commit
tees. The business of the department
is at its peak in efficiency and ac-
complishment and | am prepared to
demonstrate this fact before any tribu-
nal if opportunity is afforded.
Your suggestion that an attack
upon a cabinet officer disqualifies him
! for further official service is a dan
gerous doctrine. Mr.. President, all
the pretended charges against me are
false. But whether true or false, il
member of the cabinet is TO be incapa-
ciated or disqualified by the prefer
ment Of charges against him, no mat
ter how malicious and groundless, and
he is compelled to give up his re-
sponsibilities and sacrifice his honor
for the time being because of such at
tack. no man in any official position
is safe and the most honorable. up
right and efficient public servant
could be swept from office and stable
government destroyed by elamor.
Says it Is Part of program"
Il have often advised you that my
elimination is part of the program
now being carried out, the origin of
the persistent and vindictive ATTEMPT
to discredit me as attorney general is
well known. 1t principally proceeds
from two sources: The powerful in
dividuals and organizations who re-
m fnl -, 60
lty with my sworn duty 10 save this
country from violence and anarchy
during an industrial crisis far more
serious than the general public has
ever known; second, from those equal
ly powerful individuals and organiza-
tons, guilty of graft upon the govern
ment during the World War while the
youth of our land was making the SUI
preme sacrifice for the nation.
4 have TO the best of my ability
discharged my sworn duty to prose-
cute all such individuals and organi-
cations, but the task has been beset
with peculiar difficulties by reason
OF the fact that the official record in
most of these cases was made up by
men supposedly representing the gov
eminent in these transactions ,who
were either knowingly or stupid par
ties TO the crime. = "a 80 ~ e.
This partnership of the rioter and
the war profiteer has ceaselessly
sought to break down the faith Of the
American people in me and in the De
partment of Justice In the high court
of impeachment their ATTEMPT to
fasten guilt upon me collapsed in dis
grace to its originatOrs. and they did
not dare appeal again to the consti-
tutional court.
Raps Scandal Mongers.
In the low court of scandal, gossip.
rumor and innuendo to which appeal
is now made, it will have no better
success with the people of this coun-
try who real and think and believe
in justice and the square deal. but
coupled with threats of similar treat
ment of other public men, it has i'm
pressed politicians who think every
thing OF personal and party expe-
diency and nothing of the principle |
involved, with the necessity of offering
me as a sacrifice to propitiate the
vengeful interests which seek my de-
struction.
81 cannot escape the conviction, Mr..
President that your request for my
resignation is also most untimely. 1t
comes at time when the truth is
vanishing, falsehood from the public |
mind, even though have not as yet |
had an opportunity to place upon the |
witness stand before the Senate COM
mittee single witness in my defense |
or in explanation or rebuttal of the |
whispered and gossipy charges
against me-
mo better evidence of the failure
to substantiate charges Of wrongful |
action on my part could be offered |
than the character of the proceedings |
by the Senate committee engaged in |
conducting the present inquiry. IL |
my accusers had believed me guilty, |
they would have been scrupulously |
careful to select as members Of the
tribunal men Of judicial character, |
with open minds, in order that an I'M |
prejudiced verdict might be rendered. |
Raps Inquiry Members.
"The choice as majority members |
OF this committee Of men, some of |
whom have openly, bitterly, and |
falsely assailed me under senatorial |
immunity, and who had assailed my |
administration Of the Department of |
Justice; the designation OF a member
of this court as prosecutor who is the |
responsible author of the resolution |
against me; the refusal to apply to the
proceedings any rule of evidence or |
TO grant-tO me the customary imme-
date right of cross-examinatiOn and |
early opportunity for rebuttal; and |
above all. the character of the wit |
nesSes including hlnckmnilerS hnntleg-