Newark leader. ([Newark, Ohio]) 1917-1946, 1924-04-04
President Coolidge Asks For the
Atty Generals Resignation
Mr.. Coolidge Yields to Enormous Pressure Brought
to Bear Upon Him and Finally Acts
DaugherN Complies With the
Demand Immediately

which remain to be developed in
this investigation.
81 recognize that you are en-
titled to a full and fair hearing.
But as there is no way by which
you can divest yourself of the in
terests you have personally in
the investigation | can see no
way but for you to retire as at
torney general and | am there
fore compelled to request your
resignation.
Every truly yours,
"CALVIN COOLIDGE"
The reply of the attorney general
was brief. 1t follows:
"My Dear President:
81 hereby acknowledge receipt
of letter of March 27, by the hand
of your secretary. requesting my
resignation as attorney general
of the United States.
"Solely out of Difference to
your request, and in compliance
Herewith, | hereby tender my
resignation. While you do not
state when you desire my resig-
nation to become effective, |
most respectfully request that it
become effective forthwith.
Every truly yours,
H. M. DAUGHERTY,
attorney General"
Daugherty's retirement from the
government ends a fight which has
been particularly severe for a year
past.
Hardings death was a severe blow
to Daugherty in personal way and
so crushed was he that his was the
first resignation placed in the hands
of the new president after the Hard
ing funeral. At that time, however,
President Coolidge is said to have
asked him to remain. Daugherty con-
sented with some reluctance.
Then came the renewed drive
against the attorney general an off
shoot of the Teapot Dome investiga-
ton. The attorney general fought
back with "peverse stubborness. )"
Always he was insistent that he
would not resign under fire, or so
long as the charges made against him
and his administration remained un-
proved.
A year ago these drives against the
attorney geenral culmintaed in the
introduction of a resolution of inn
peachment by Representative Keller,
Republican of Minnesota. The reso-
luton came to nothing and Daugherty
continued in office.
The attacks on Daugherty came not
only from his political enemies but
also from those within his own party
Senators Lodge, Curtis, Pepper, Bo-
rah-the most influential Republi-
cans in the senate-were foremost
among those urging Coolidge to get
rid of the attorney general.
For some time, President Coolidge
wtihstood this pressure. But it fin
ally became too strong, and at last
the President yielded and requested
the attorney generals retirement.
Within an hour after the White
House announced the retirement of
the attorney general and made public
the two letters, Daugherty himself
made public a second letter to Mr..
Coolidge-written as a private citizen
in which he described the grounds
on which Mr.. Coolidge asked for his
resignation as "untenable."
The attorney general bluntly told
the president that he was following
"a dangerous doctrine" in forcing the
resignation of cabinet officer simply
because charges were made against
such an officer and before there was
a "fair hearing" on such charges. A
precedent is thus established, the at
torney general contended, that is
dangerous"