The Birmingham age-herald., 1924-02-20
SAYS DAUGHERTY EXPLOITED HIS
 HIGH POSITION
Wheeler Charges Attorney Generals Friends Used
 Office To Make Money

WASHINGTON, Feb. 19.-(By As sociated Press. )-The attempt to drive Attorney General Daugherty from the cabinet was renewed from a new angle in the Senate today after he had adopted an attitude of defiance toward his critics
 Senator Wheeler, democrat, Montana, not only charged on the Senate floor that the attorney generals name was mixed in the oil scandal from the first, but he charged that MT. Daugherty's personal friends had been accepting money in exchange for their influence with him and added If the attorney general has not actually got the money, he is bigger fool than the people of the United States give him credit for being"
 This is only a small portion, an ex- tremely small portion, of the testimony that will be produced" Senator Wheeler doubt in my mind that the attorney gen. eral of the United States. instead of prosecuting crime, has been protecting crime and criminals"
 The speech of the Montana senator was delivered in behalf of his resolu- tion for sweeping investigation of Mr. fDaugherty's official record. He sought immediate action, but consent was re- fused by Senator Lodge because of Mir. Wheeler's proposal that he himself se- fleet the investigating committee.
 Daugherty Says He'll Not Quit
 Tonight the attorney general not only maintained his determination against ratt tpsn Off h,,t nln refused to make any reply to the at tacks upon him. There had been a suggestion that MT. Daugherty might make a statement after today's cabinet meeting, but he left the White House and went to his home to spend the re- mainder of the day without word as to his intentions.
 Prior to the cabinet session a belief had prevailed in some quarters that the question of Mir. Daugherty's remaining in office would be taken up in connec- tion with a general discussion of the more recent disclosures in the oil in quiry. All of the members united in a statement after the meeting that the oil investigation was not discussed. and later President Coolidge authorized the statement that, not only had MT. Daugh- erty not resigned, but that there had been no discussion of him, or his office, in the cabinet, either before or after the meeting.
 Seems Nervous At Questioning
 MT. Daugherty talked for a few min utes with newspaper men after the cabi- net session, but said nothing that would indicate his future intentions. He warded off all questions. but was plain ly nervous under the fire of inquiries. some of which related to the belief of certain members of his own party in the Senate that he should retire, as did Secretary Denby, in order to relieve the administration from embarrassment
 Some of MT. Daugherty's friends de- clared tonight that regardless of those who believe he should resign, he never would do so unless directly requested by the president. It was apparent that MT. Coolidge, on the other hand, was not at present prepared to force any open break with him.
 In his charges on the Senate floor that friends of MT. Daugherty had ac- cepted money, Senator Wheeler named Jesse Smith of Ohio, who committed suicide in the attorney generals apart ment here last May. and the attorney generals former partner and friend, Mir. Fielder.
 Ready To Make Charges Public
 Senator Wheeler made his Senate speech. after he had appeared before the oil committee in executive session and laid before it certain information regarding investigations which have been made into charges of stock specu- lation by governmnt officials. He would not reveal the character of this information, but promised, if necessary, he would produce it. publicly, at the proper time. The Montana senator proposed as members of the investigat- ing committee Senator Brookhart, Iowa Jones of Washington Mclean, Con- necticutt. and Ashurt of Arizona and himself. democrats. Senator Willis ob- jected that designation of the commit tee members in the resolution was an insult to the presiding officer, whose function 1t naturally would be to make the selections. Senator Wheeler in re- turn asked whether Senator Willis, re- publican. Ohio. had not given the chair another list for membership on the com mlttee after conferring with Mir. Daugh- erty.
 Certainly conferred with the chair" said Senator Willis.
 
 ferred with the man, who is to be in- vestigated." persisted Senator Wheeler.
 That statement like so many of the senator's is entirely gratuitous." re- piled the Ohio senator. Tt is also be- side the point"
 Remembered Daugherty's Trial.
 Senator Wheeler then explained that he had undrtakn to choose the person mel of the committee because he re- called what had happened during the Daugherty impeachment proceedings in the House in 1922. Instead of Mir. Daugherty. he said, the man who in troduced the resolution was in reality tried. Ever since the Attorney Gen eral has occupied the position he now holds, various chargs have been made against him in the newspapers and by
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