The Ypsilanti daily press. (Ypsilanti, Mich.) 1928-1962, 1940-10-24

Charles 4. anu All { Y
Stewart General Robert
II. J a k S o n
named Milligan, as a temporary
assistant, TO act as head Of II.
Milngan has a reputation for the
effective smashing of crooked po-
ntical machinery. In his position
Of federal district attorney in vest
ern Missouri he demolished Tom
Pendergast's Kansas City organi-
cation, to the accompaniment Of a
lot of criminal convictions. includ-
ing Tom and quite a list Of his
assistants.
Thus he seems TO be particular
ly wen qualified to go after cleo
ton irregularities on a still larger
scale. Nevertheless, there's
small insect POSSIBLY not as big
as a fly) shifted at by some critics,
in the ointment Of his selections
suitability.
Among political campaign impro-
prieties that he surely will be
called on 10 investigate will be
accusations Of violations Of the
Hatch act. which prohibits par
tisan activity by any but an ex-
cepted class Of federal Office hold
ers.
Ran for Senate
Now, Milligan, having become
extremely prominent through his
thorough wrecking Of the Fender
CAST setup. wanted to be the
Democrats senatorial nominee
over Senator Harry S. Truman.
But he was western Missouri's fed
eral district attorney. There's been
considerable discussion as to
whether or not federal district at
torneys ought to be included under
the Hatch act prohibition. MILL
gan seems to have felt that he
should quit as district attorney, in
order TO go into the senate race,
for he did resign as district at
torney.
Then Senator Truman beat him
in Missouri's Democratic primary.
Shortly afterward Milligan was
reappointed district attorney.
Legally it was all strictly ac-
cording to Hoyle. Milligan quit as
district attorney. Thereupon he was
perfectly entitled to be as political
as he pleased He was licked.
Such being the case, it was fully
his right to accept reappointment
TO his previous job. He was in
Eorsed, too, by Senator Truman;
also by Senator Bennett Champ
Clark. Technically the transaction
was absolutely o. k.
Nevertheless, fault-fnders main
tain that the spirit Of the Hatch
act was punched full Of holes.
Their version is that 1t would
have been all right for Ailligan to
get out of his federal position and
break into politics-if he STAYED
out Of his federal position, at least
for awhile. But their argument is
that his almost immediate reap
pointment to his district attorney
ship simply was kind Of subter-
tuge.
Inappropriate:
He's an inappropriate person.
they complain. TO put in charge OF
prosecutions Of. genuinely raw. dis
regards of our election laws-not,
however. that they can say he
actually violated them himself.
The senate's campaign eXpendi.
lures committee always has been
charged with the duty OF digging
into stories Of national electoral
crookedness. but 1t hasn't the far
flung organizations to consider in
stances Of it, all over everywhere.
The civil service commission at
terds TO Hatch act violations by
government workers under the
merit system. but 1t can't hit nom
civil service employees, and the nom
civil servicers, being more inde-
pendent. are worse than the civil
service crew, who are trained 10 be
csreful-or they know they'll be
kicked out.
It generally is agreed that the
justice departments new unit is
needed. TO accomplish all-arounc
results.
The difficulty is that the side
that wins will have charge OF the
task Is 1t likely that 1t will con
Wet Itself, and hard over the ad
ministration, the senate and tn
house Of representatives TO th'
other folk
Small, comparatively local post
election contests amount to some
thing now and then-but national
ly? It's hard to imagine.