New Britain herald., 1924-06-04
.DAUGHERTY REFUSES I'D TAKE STAND BUT INNOCENCE
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partment of justice. Before definite
 ly replyingq to your suggestion that appear before your committee, l wish to call your attention 10 certain mat ters which seem to me to be pertinent at this time.
 'l-The great volume Of business
 of the department of justice. so diver
 sified that il yitally touches every branch of the government is of neces-
 sity handled in detlil by the various
 assistant attorneys general and iAcial
 a assistants to the attorney general, but
 under the general direction and super vision of the attorney general himself. in order to arrive at a correct iudg- 1 ment regarding any particular case, 1t is absolutely necessary to call said
 2 assistants who have had that case in
 charge and who, having access to the
 files Of the department, can fully and accurately advise the committee in every detail in connection herewith.
 Tt would be absolutely necessary
 for me or any attorney general 10
 refer to the assistants and the files
 before I could with any degree of satisfaction attempt to make a state
 ment before your committee. That
 being true. such assistants and others
 having the active charge of cases and fully advised with reference to all details and executive work under inquiry, and who have full access to and the use of records and files per- taining thereto, and are familiar with every phase of such cases, should
 have been called before your com mittee prior to my appearance. The adoption of such a course would in all proba bility eliminate the necessity of my appearance in connection with the investigation of my official duties, by reason of the fact that full and ac- curate information would be in the possession of the committee as a re- suit of calling the assistants in active charge of litigation. The calling of these witnesses at the commence ment Of the inquiry would have en- abled the committee te bring this in- Qniry to an end at an earlier date, at least insofar as it concerned my of hcial conduct as attorney general.
 "2. Since the commencement of your inquiry, that is to say oa the l2th day of March last. I have hoped to be asked to appear before your committee, and have been somewhat surprised that I was not asked 10 an- l pear at an earlier period in your pro- i ceedings, as l was under the i'm. i pression that the investigation would |, be confined to my official actions as | Encouragement of the United States and matters directly relating thereto.
 The fact that your committee has not np to the present time called a single witness suggested by me, and | has sought for evidence from unex- : pocted sources and generally from persons so situated that under ordI- . nary circumstances very little cre- dence would be given their testimony has from the beginning caysed me 10 feel that there vas a feefing of an- tasonism entertained toward me by certain members of your committee, and that these members Of your com mittoe, instead of prosecuting A fair and impartial inquiry into my of- flcial conduct as attorney general Of { the United States. have made a des- perate attempt to blacken my rcpu- tation and iniure my standing in the country by tho statements Of un- reliable witnesses which would not be admitted in any court of justice.
 Attacks Investigation
 'f have never been able to under stand why your investigation was con- ducted upon such unusual and pecu~ liar lines and with such bitter per- sonal feeling toward me on the paft Of certain members Of your commit tee. Nevertheless. full Of confidence in the ability Of the department of justice 10 demonstrate to the satisfac- ton of your committee, or any other. he fact that its functions during the time of my admYistTation attained to a high degree Of efficiency. I have been ready and anxious 10 assist your committee in every way within my power 10 make public inc splendid record of accomplishment Of the de- pertinent.
 At this point I take occasion 10 and deny any inference. surmise or supposition. that 1 profitcd In any illegal corrupt or uncthical way. directly or indirectly by reason Df any activities of political associates pr friends at any time, or that my conduct, either official or personal. was directly or indirectly influenced ,t any time, In any way. by venal and corrupt motives. No witness has ap- Deared before your committee who 1as by syrmise. innucndn, suposition ,r otherwise, intimated the existence ,f any such circumstance, except by way Of the grave, and the silence of he tomb. shas forever rendered the lirect denial Of these islanders impos- tible.
 g. The controversy which arose n regard 10 the power Of your com nitte to issue a subjeona duccs tecum 0 the officers of the Midland National ,snk Of Washington court house. )hio, to produce certain books and documents, resulted in an appeal 10 he courts on the part Of the bank, md a judicial determination of the towers of your committee.
 "A copy of the opinion Of Judge Cochran Of the federal court for the outhern district of Ohio was placed n my hands on Monday evening. June {. \ careful examination of this 'pinion. has settled as it seems to me, he course which must now adopt in onnection with this investigation end las answered for me your request hat I appear before your committee n Friday next. Judge Cochran holds auarely that your committee has cen and is now exercising a power