Atlanta tri-weekly journal. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1920-19??, 1924-03-08
ATTORNEY GENERAL.
FACING NEW CRISIS.
SPEEDS To CAPITAL
Successor Sought by Cool
idge as Veterans Bureau
Graft Probe Touches on
Daugherty's Department

| WASHINGTO =, March 6.-DeVel-
opments in the Investigations of the
oil and other scandals have again
brought up sharply the question of
Attorney General Daugherty's imme-
date retirement from the cabinet.
Selection Of a successor or as at
torney general is under Amusement
at the White House and at least
three men have been annroached in
directly to ascertain whether they
| would ocept such an apr ointment
if it should be offered.
| Mr.. Daugherty, meanwhile, is en-
route to Washington from Miami
Fla, where his wife is ill. He left
last night, although he had been
there less than a week after having
convinced President Coolidge, appar-
entity, that he should be permitted
to retain his post until the Senate's
| investigation of his administration.
White House officials have refused
to comment on the new crisis in
Mr.. Daugherty's affairs. except to
say that no demand has yet been
made for his resignation and that
no one has been selected to take his
place; nor did the attorney general
make any statement upon his de-
parture from Miami.
The new situation is the out
growth of developments which have
arisen since the sudden departure
of Mr.. Daugherty last week for Mi
ami by way of Chicago, where he
appeared before the special grand
jury that shortly afterwards indicted
! Charles Il. Forbes and j. w. Thomp-
son in connection with veterans bu-
reau transactions
The grand jury's report disclosed
information of alleged irregularity in
matters coming under the attorney
generals jurisdiction, and, it is said,
involved individuals close to Mr..
Daugherty. In addition, PERSONS
connected with the department of
justice recently have been brought
into the senate oil inquiry and, with
the special investigation of his ad-
ministration expected to start next
week, the question has been raised
| whether Mr.. Daugherty would be
able to give adequate attention to
his official duties during its prog
ress.
, The men who have been asked
whether they would accept appoint
ment as Mr.. Daugherty's successor
include former Senator Kenyon, of
Iowa, who resigned to become judge
of the Eighth United States circuit
Of appeals; Frank S. Dietrich, fed
eral district judge of Idaho, and Cur
tbs ID. Wilbur, chief justice of the
supreme court of California
Senator Borah. Republican, Idaho,
one of the leaders in the recent un-
successful effort to get Mr.. Daugh.
erty out Of the cabinet, has con-
ferred again with the president, and
Senator Moses, of New Hampshire,
one of the administration leaders,
who also called at the White House
yesterday, had a talk with John w.
II. Grim, the department of justice
special counsel in charge of the Vet.
Grams bureau criminal investiga-
ton. The trend Of these discussions
/ was not made known.
1t has not been intimated that
Mr.. Daugherty himself was involved
in any of the charges not relating
to the Veterans bureau which were
included in the grand jury report,
but some of this evidence related
to alleged improper liquor with
drawals and pardon activities. both
Of which are within the jurisdiction
of the department of justice.
A grand jury is expected to be
! convened here next week in com
plianCe with the orders of President
Coolidge to Acting Attorney General
Seymour that all Of the incidental
charges mentioned in the Chicago
report be made the subject of
prompt investigation These in
clude not only the liquor and par
don allegations, but the allegations
that two members of congress have
accepted money improperly. that
one or more officials have utilized
official information for purposes Of
| speculation, and that files from a
! government department were en-.
trusted to a person not entitled TO
! them.
The special senate committee
elected to investigate Mr.. Daugh-
| erty's administration held a long
conference yesterday with Mr.. Grim
and is said to have received infor-
nation from him that may prove
important in its inquiry. Mr.. Grim
pledged further aid to the commit
tee, and it agreed to take no action
that might prove embarras sing in
the grand jury investigation order
ed by the president. The house
rules committee, for the same rea-
son, also has withheld action on
the resolution of Representative
Garrett, of Tennessee, the Demo
cratic leader, for an investigation
of the charge that two members of
the house were the members Of con
gress referred to in the Chicago re-