The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1924-02-27
DAlJGHERTY
LAY-OFF
URGED
Announcement Of Decision on
Attorney General Due
Before Night.

ny luOeEu1tAOuBt NCWO 6SEVlCOs
The status Of Attorney Gen.
eral Harry M. Daugherty-his re-
tirement or retention in the Cab
inet--will be. cleared up within
twelve hours, it was strongly IN
dicated today, following a lengthy
conference between President
Coolidge and his Attorney Gen.
eral at the White House.
Announcement Due Soon.
Upon leaving the Executive Man
sion at 1880 o'clock, Daugherty
said he thought there would be an
either from the White
House or the Department Of JUS
tice before nightfall. but he stead
lastly declined to indicate its
nature or when it might be eX-
pected.
Have you submitted your resig-
nation to the President?" the At
torney General was asked.
THAT is a perfectly proper Ques.
tion." he replied, but it is also
q foolish one"
Refuses to Answer.
What do you mean by foolish?"
persisted a reporter; foolish to ex-
pect an answer, or foolish to expect
you to resign?"
Daugherty laughed and declined
to answer. He was apparently IL
good spirits and pleased at the re-
a,,Ik ~ 11io infor1yiou, NTH the Dvoot.
dent.
Today's conference between the
President and the Attorney General
since the arrival in Washington Of
William Butler. who is directing the
Presidents campaign for nomina-
ton at Cleveland. Butler sat in
during a lengthy session at the
White House last night and was
present again at the White House
this morning soon after 8 o'clock
when the Attorney General arrived.
Agreement Reported.
1t was widely reported following
this mornings conference that an
agreement has been reached that
the Attorney General will retire,
but that the manner Of his going
has presented considerable diff
culties.
In this connection, it was said by
the Attorney Generals friends that
he has always been ready to re-
tire. but not under fire." and not
until he has had an opportunity to
clear his record Of the charges
made against him in the Senate.
It Is known that Daugherty on sew
eral occasions has offered to place
his resignation at the disposal Of
the President IL the latter de-
sired it.
Suspension" Possible.
A possible way out of the dilem.
ma was suggested today in political
uuarters-for the President merely
to Suspend" the Attorney General
for the time being and until the
charges against him are either
proved or disproved.
This method, 1t was pointed out,
would put Mr.. Coolidge simply in
the position of withholding judg.
ment" in the case OF his Attorney
General. The Department of JUS
tice could go on functioning, minus
the embarrassment of having its
directing head under charges, and
at the same time Mr.. Coolidge
would be in a position Of freedom
to reinstate the Attorney General
after his trial." should the charges
prove groundless.
The conference at the White
House last night was participated
in by President Coolidge, his cam
paign manager, William Butler, of
Boston; Frank w. Stearns, of Pos
ton, and the Attorney General him
self.
It Is understood the whole sltua.
ton was gone over very frankly"
and that Butler inclined to the be.
lief that the Attorney Generals re.
tirement would lift a political load
!, fcorsirued ON PaRa 4 Colunn II