San Antonio light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1911-1993, 1924-03-30
COOLIDGE AND
| DAUCHER7Y At
SWORD POINTS
Retirement Of Attorney
General Brings Little
| Satisfaction.
STIR MAY FOLLOW
Ex-cabinet Member Yields
Power an dMay Head
| COP. Revolt.
STIR MAY FOLLOW
BY DAVID LAWRENCE.

Copyright by The San Antonio Light.
Washington, ID. G.. March 20
War is on between former Attorney
General Harry NJ. Daugherty and
President Coolidge. What it will bring
in the way of political effects, what
damage it will do inside the Republi-
can party, what influence it will have
on the effort of Congress to say who
shall and who shall not be a member
of the Executives cabinet, it may be
too early to foretell with exactness,
but the retirement of the attorney
general has not been attended with
much satisfaction for anybody.
The Democratic national committee
is gratificd that Mr.. Daugherty is out
of the cabinet "upon any pretext
whatever" but accuses the President
of belated action. Mr.. Daugherty him
self thanks the President for the
statement that "he does not question
my fairness or integrity" but brands
the Presidents action as unwise and
untimely.
Mr.. Daugherty's influence within
the Republican party is not inconsid-
cradle. He may lead revolt against
Mr.. Coolidge on the serious charge
not uncommon in politics-that the
man from Massachusetts, doesn't stick
by the regulars in his party.
Daugherty q Factor.
There have been rumors for some
time that opposition to the nomination
of Mr.. Coolidge might be led by former
Governor Frank o. Lowden of Hi
nois. Some of Mr.. Daugherty'S
friends insist the former attorney
general will have n good deal to say
! about the way the Ohio delegation
votes in the next national convention
These may be empty threats, voiced
at the moment, because feeling runs
high. But Harry Dausherty is a fac
tor to be reckoned with in party
politics. And he will manage to keeI
in the limelight for many weeks tC
come as he makes his defense against
what he believes to be an unwarantcc
attack by the Senate investigating
committee.
His friends on Capitol Hill will en-
deavor for the party's sake to hell
I his cause. If he succeeds in making 4
good impression and explaining thu
many innuendoes which have beer
| broadcast from the Senate investigat
ing committee, he will strengthen thu
opinion of those in the Republican
party who feel today that Secretary
DENLY also should not have been al
lowed to retire without full hearing
and that Democratic sniping should
not sweep Republican leaders off thcil
feet.
Between Two Fires.
As usual with important decisions
the President has been between two
fires. He promised in his recent
speech that no man would be sacri
feed to clamor and he insists nov
that he is not prejudicing the issue
| which have arisen in connection witt
| Mr.. Daugherty's fitness for the port
folio of Department Of Justice. Blu
the President nevertheless came to tn
conclusion that the investigation il
| too much of an embarrassment ant
that Mr.. Daugherty could not defen'
himself against. attacks from the Sen
ate and conduct his office.
The thing which really weakened
Mr.. Daugherty's position was tn
widely spread understanding that b.
would retire soon, irrespective Of tn
outcome of the investigation. Th
morale of the Department of Justic,
is affected when it becomes know
| that the man at the top is likely TO b.
leaving office any day. The Presiden
was appraised of this situation. III
acted because the problems were get
| ting more and more complicated 10
him.
Consider q Successor.
As for n successor, several name
are under consideration. One Of thes'
is Judge William $. Kenyon O.
Iowa. He resigned from the UniteC
States Senate to go to the fedora
bench. He likes the judiciary, bu
| that being the case he must like to &
| TO the very top. And there is usually
more chance of promotion to the Su
preme Court of the United States di
rect from the Department of Justice
than from the district bench.
Mr.. Kenyon was the head OF thu
farm bloc when in the Senate. TIT
West has confidence in him-and h
is in the West that Mr.. Coolidge needs
strength. Further, Judge Kenyon was
assistant attorney general in the Taf
administration and has a thorough
familiarity with the affairs of the de
partment.
He was offered the secretaryshiT
Of the navy but declined because HI
didn't think he was fit for the port
folio. The fact that Mr.. Coolidge want
| ed him in the cabinet is significant
Since that time Judge Wilbur of Cali
fornia, who it was thought would b,
attorney general. has accepted thu
navy portfolio which enables thu
President to offer the job Of attorney
general to Judge Kenyon. He seem!
L a. ...act I;I.nIr ohoioa az tha r,nnnnnt