Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1924-02-19
DAUGHERTY MAY GO

W dSlllllS lbll, ftD. lN-lNCUCWCu uC-
mands for the resignation of Attor-
ney General Daughcrty are receiving
serious consideration among officials
high in the administration.
The attorney general himself is
not now inclined to leave the cabi-
net unless he is directed to do SO by
President Coolidge.
The attitude of the president has
not yet been made clear. 1t was ir-
Dictated tonight tiyt some Develop
ment might follow tomorrow's cabi-
net meeting.
During the past "a hours incrcas-
ing pressure has been brought To
bear to convince MIR. Coolidge that
! he should entirely clear his admin
istratiOn of those who have come un-
der attack in the oil Inquiry. 1t has
been pointed out To HIM that with
DENLY out, many Of the critics of
the discreditcd FAN leasing policies,
may center their attacks on Mr..
, Daughcrty, ANA that a resolution
pcnuinS in the senate will give op-
portunlty for II comprehensive as
sault on the whole record of the
! present department of justice.
, One of those who have become
! most active in pressing for the at
. tOTnCy generals resignation Is Sen
a;or Borah of Idaho. representing "a
wing of the Republican senate
! strength that has not heretofore
joined with the Lafollctte group in
most of its assaults on the admin
istration. Last night at the White
House Senator Burah confronted
both the president and Mr.. Daugher-
ty with a demand that the latter step
out of the cabinet because the coun-
try had lost confidence in him.
ON the Democratic side the at
tack has been led by Senator
Wheeler, who has told his colleagues
that he is prepared to present infor-
nation of an entirely new and sem
sational character If the proposed
inquiry into the administration Of
Attorney General Daugherty is fol-
lowed through. His declarations
have been carried indirectly to the
president.
NJ. Daugherty has repeatedly de-
clined TO talk about details of tho
criticism Ievclcd ut him, but he Is
| understood to take the position that
the effort to drive him out of office
is a subject which could well be taken
up for discussion by the cabinet.
White house officials declined tonight
to discuss a report that 1t would be
, discussed ut the regular Tuesday cab
met meeting tomorrow.
Heretofore, the attack on the at
torney general has been directed
along two lines. On contention OF his
critics has been that regardless OF
the actual facts as to his record, tho
cumulative effect of long series OF
developments has been TO discredit
him in the opinion of the public. Tho
other arguments used against him
has been that although he was not u
party to the oil leases. and he said
he never was asked for an opinion re-
garding them. he occupied the position
! of chief law officer of the government
at a time when his colleagues in tho
cabinet were concluding agreements
now recognized by congress as with
out authority in law.
Whether new factors have entered
into the latest phase of the situation
| is not revealed, nor are the senators
opposing him willing 1T the present
stage TO produce publicly the charges
they say they will make IL he remains
in the cabinet and undergoes the or
deal of public invcstig alton az pro-
posed in the pending resolution in
troduced by Senator Wheeler.
Mr.. Daugherty has told his friends
in and out of congress that he does
rot fear the result of such an inves-
tigation: has pointed out that as n
matter of fact he himself. requested
that the inquiry be beld 'after de-
mands for his retirement had been
made in the senate; and has insisted
that his record both as regards the Oil
scandal and all other matters con-
nected with his administration is alb
solutely clear. Today he sent TO the
senate. in response 10 an inquiry, a
record Of the war frauds investigation
which he said showed that actual
material progress has been made de-
spite great handicaps.