AMERICAN OIL SCANDALS

Otago Daily Times, Issue 19134, 31 March 1924, Page 5

AMERICAN OIL SCANDALS

MR DAUGHERTY RESIGNS. AT THE REQUEST OF THE PRESIDENT. NO DECLARATION OF GUILT. Pr*M Association—By Toloeropfi—Copyr(*M WASHINGTON, March 28. Mr H. M. Daugherty has resigned the Attorney-Generalship at the request of Mr Coolidge.—Sydney Sun Cable. It is understood that the President, in announcing Mr Daugherty’s resignation, is expected not to declare Mr .Daugherty guilty of anything, but to suggest that so many charges are piling up against him that Mr Daugherty cannot possibly give proper attention to the country a business.—Sydney Sun Cable.

CLEARING IN STORM CENTRES. NEGLECT OF PUBLIC BUSINESS. WASHINGTON, March 28. Surrounded by an ever-growing storm of criticism, and under pressure trom many of his party leaders, Mr Daugherty consented to follow the Secretary of the Navy (Mr Denby) into retirement. His resignation has been accepted by Mr Goolidge, and clears the Administration of the last of its Cabinet Ministers who had become storm centres in the oil scandal. Mr Coolidge is convinced that, under present conditions, public business is not receiving the attention it merits* in the Department of Justice, and this is given as one of the chief reasons for the resignation ; but no doubt the repeated charges before tlie Senate Committee, leading indirectly to Mr Daugherty, although not involving him directly, had an influence in determining his fate.—A. and N.Z. Cable. MRS SMITH’S EVIDENCE.

NAME OF A PRESIDENT INVOLVED. WASHINGTON, March 28. At the Senate Inquiry Committee’s sitting Mrs Smith, recalled, was not allowed to give the names of five men that she had previously referred to as making 33,0f10,000d01. Counsel for Mr Daugherty said the name of a President was among them.—Sydney Sun Cable. TROUBLOUS REPUBLICAN CONVENTION FORESHADOWED. THE POLITICAL MACHINE. WASHINGTON, March 28. (Received March 30, at 5.5 p.m.)

Mr Daugherty’s resignation, coming after Mr Coolidge’s request that he leave the Cabinet, promises a troublous Republican Convention this June, with possibly unforseen results. Mr Daugherty remained in the Cabinet because he was on© of the strongest leaders in the party, absolutely controlling the political machine in Ohio, which is always a pivotal State in national politics. Observers indicate that the President was uncertain about requesting Mr Daugherty's resignation for fear of antagonising and losing Ohio support in the coming campaign, but the recent so-called primary elections in the various States, at which delegates are chosen for the national convention indicate such strong support Mr Coolidge that the Presfdent’s advisors counselled that Mr Daugherty should be asked to resign. His resignation is attended by actually visible popular relief, as the Senate’s investigation is causing great distaste throughout the nation, and distrust in the Department of Justice has been long evident.—■ A. and N.Z. Cable,