Atlanta tri-weekly journal. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1920-19??, 1924-02-19
ROOSEVELT STICKS
AFTER CONFERENCE
At WHITE HOUSE.
Action Of Naval Secretary
ReviveS RumorS That
Daugherty Also viii Quit
the Cabinet

WASHINGTON, Feb. 1S.--Secre-
tary DENLY has resigned and will
retire from cabinet on March 10.
He informed President Coolides
| that in view of his connection with
the leases he did not desire to further
embarrass the administration by re-
naming q member Of it.
The president, in a letter accept
ing the resignation, praised the Of
fetal record of his retiring naval
secretary, and said he acceded to the
request with regret.
{ Theodore Roosevelt, who as as
sistant secretary under Mr.. DENLY,
had a part in drafting the order
which transferred the naval reserves
from tie navy to the interior depart
ment, conferred with the president
! and announced later he did expect to
resign.
doubt As to Successor
There was no indication that Mr..
Coolidge had given thought to sue
cessor to Mr.. DENLY but it appeared
likely that one would be selected
without much delay.
Secretary Denby's decision was
reached after personal and political
friends / ad advised him not to con-
tinue the attitude of defiance he
adopted when the senate passed its
resolution asking that he step out
of his cabinet.
The senate attack was not directed
against any suspected moral wrong
doing on the part of Mr.. DENLY, but
was based on charges that he had
not been sufficiently diligent pub
lie servant in his connection with the
oil reserves.
His resignation was coincident
with the completion of senate col-
firmation of the governments spe-
ciaI oil counsel, and Mr.. Denby's ad-
visers had urged that once the gov
eminent had moved In the courts Tor
cancellation of the oil leases he
signed along with Albert B. Fall
his position in the administration
would become untenable.
Resigns ON Birthday
Mr.. Denby's resignation was sub
mitted on his fifty-fourth birthday,
just after he had gone to the navy
department to find his office filled
with flowers from his friends. When
his letter had been sent to the pres
ident, he turned cheerfully to official
duties waiting his attention and
told those about him that great
load of worry had been lifted from
his shoulders.
The retirement of the navy secre-
tary also revived rumOrs that the
resignation of Attorney General
Daugherty would follow within .
9w days A resolution relating ~
him, and somewhat similar to t.lat
adopted some days ago asking for
the resignation Of Mr.. DENLY, is
pending in the senate ana It's spon-
sors are pressing for quick action
On it.
The resolution in which the presi.
Cent was advised to ask Secretary
Denly to leave the cabinet was
adopted February II, with : thu
Republic an organization leaders 90
posing it, but with ten Republicans
voting in its support. The vote was
AZ to a.
Immediately it was sent to the
White House, Mr.. Coolidge issued
statement declaring that such ques-
tons lay wholly within the province
of the executive, but adding:
THE president is responsible to
the people for his conduct relative
to the retention or dismissal of pub
lie officials / assume that respon-
sibiltty and the people may be as
sured that as soon as / can be adj
vised SO that / may act with
entire justice to all parties concern
ed and fully protect the public in
terests, I shall act.
II do not propose to sacrifice any
innocent man for may own welfare.
Nor do / propose to retain in office
any unfit man for my own welfare.
shall try to maintain the functions
Of the government unimpaired, 10
act upon the evidence and the few
as / find it. and to deal thoroughly
4 d summary with every kind OF
wrongdoing."
~
Since then many conferences have
been held by the president with other
officials of his administration, SEN
ate leaders, and personal friends OF
Mr.. DENLY. Two of the most fre.
quentIy at the White House have
been Secretary Weeks and Charles
3. Warren, of Michigan, both old
personal and political friends OF tbs
navy secretary.
The decision in favor Of resig.
nation apparently was re dched 500:
after Mr.. Coolidge went 70 zig office
this morning. but a formal announces
ment was deferred. r.. T. Clark, ono
of Mr. Coolidge's secretaries. visited
Mr. Denby's office to consult ds &c
what form the announcement
should take. Mr.. DENLY soon otter.
ward left the navy department By
private entrance, GLIDING newspaper
men, and left word that TO" the pres
ent he would have nothing 20 say
The secretary's retirement makes
the first break in the official family
Mr. Coolidge took over intact from
the Harding administration. Mr..
DENLY was one OF the original mem.
bers Of Mr.. Har1ing's cabinet, hav.
ing taken office on March 4, lei
His selection brought to that de-
partment for the first time in many
years a man who knew by personal
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