"IN CONNECTION WITH AMERICAN METAL CO. CASE"

FORMER ATTORNEY GENERAL INDICTED BY FEDERAL GRAND JURY

Washington, D.C. (JFK+50) On May 7, 1926, former U.S. Attorney General Harry M. Daugherty* "was indicted by a Federal grand jury...for conspiracy in connection with the American Metal Company case."

The grand jury had been investigating "for several months" the transfer of American Metals stock to the alleged German owners.  $391,000 was allegedly paid to the Attorney General and others "for putting through the transfer deal."

JFK+50 NOTE

The case went to trial twice with the first jury deadlocked.  In the second trial, HMD was acquitted by virtue of one not guilty vote.

*Harry Micajah Daugherty (1860-1941) was born in Washington Court House, Ohio & earned his LLD at the University of Michigan.  HMD served as Attorney General under Warren G. Harding & Calvin Coolidge.

SOURCE

"Harry Daugherty Is Indicted With Thomas W. Miller," The Evening Star, Washington, D.C., May 7, 1926, Chronicling America, Library of Congress, www.loc.gov/

Harry M. Daugherty

Bain News Service

Library of Congress Photo

"PRESIDENT'S REQUEST ANSWERED IN '3 TERSE SENTENCES'"

ATTORNEY GENERAL SUBMITS RESIGNATION, EFFECTIVE AT ONCE

Washington, D.C. (JFK+50) On March 28, 1924, Attorney General Harry M. Daugherty "submitted his resignation, effective at once."

According to The Evening Star, President Calvin Coolidge felt that his Attorney General "could not give disinterested attention to his official duties" while the United States has his past conduct in office under investigation.

The President's rather lengthy letter to Mr. Daugherty requesting his resignation, and published in full by the Star, is dated March 27, 1924.

The Attorney General's reply, dated March 28, 1924, was also published in full by the Star.  The letter is described as one of "three terse sentences."  One of which characterized the President's action as "unwarranted by the facts."

JFK+50 NOTE

President Coolidge's request for the Attorney General's resignation was supported virtually unanimously by Republican Senators.

SOURCE

"Daugherty Resigns At Request Of Coolidge; Attorney General Hits Back With Sizzling Reply," The Evening Star, Washington, D.C., March 28, 1924, Chronicling America, Library of Congress, www.loc.gov/

 

 

Harry M. Daugherty

1920

 

"UNABLE TO IDENTIFY THE MEN BY NAME"

FIVE MEN MADE $33 MIL IN OIL DEAL SAYS ROXIE STINSON

Washington, D.C. (JFK+50) On March 26, 1924, "a hint of an oil deal...was brought by the (Harry) M. Daugherty investigating committee...by Roxie Stinson, divorced wife of the Attorney General's...political lieutenant Jess W. Smith."

According to Miss Stinson's testimony, "five men made $33,000,000" in the deal which occurred in the fall of 1922.

She said she learned this information from her former husband, Mr. Smith and "had to do with stock in the Sinclair (oil) interests which leased Teapot Dome*."

Miss Stinson was unable to identify the five men by name.

*Teapot Dome was a bribery scandal involving the administration of Warren G. Harding 1921-1923.  Before Watergate, it was "the greatest & most sensational scandal in American history."

Secretary of Interior Albert B. Fall was found guilty in 1929 of accepting bribes in the scandal. 

SOURCE

"$33,000,000 Profit In Oil Deal Hinted By Roxie Stinson," The Evening Star, Washington, D.C., March 26, 1924, Chronicling America, Library of Congress, www.loc.gov/

 

 

Teapot Rock, Wyoming

Historic Postcard

"WILL BE CONFINED TO HIS HOTEL APARTMENT"

AG DAUGHERTY ORDERED TO BED DUE TO HEAVY COLD

Washington, D.C. (JFK+50) On January 28, 1923, the Sunday Star reports Attorney General Harry M. Daugherty* "has been ordered to bed by his physician for a rest."  

The Attorney General, who has been suffering from a heavy cold, will be confined to his apartment in a hotel here in the Nation's Capital.  Mr. Daugherty's doctor is Brigadier General Charles E. Sawyer**, the White House physician.

*Harry Micajah Daugherty (1860-1941) was born in Washington Court House, Ohio & received his LLB from University of Michigan law school.  HMD served as Attorney General of the United States under Presidents Harding & Coolidge.

**Charles Elmer Sawyer (1860-1924) was born in Wyandot, Ohio & graduated from Homeopathic Hospital College.  CES served as Physician to the President of the United States 1921-1923.

SOURCE

"Physician Orders Daugherty To Bed," The Sunday Star, Washington, D.C., January 28, 1923, Chronicling America, Library of Congress, www.loc.gov/

Attorney General Harry M. Daugherty

1920

"CITIZENS WINK AT VIOLATION OF SOME LAWS"

PROSECUTORS APPEAL TO PUBLIC TO HELP STOP CRIME WAVE

Albany, New York (JFK+50) On January 11, 1922, "federal, state and county" prosecutors "appealed to the public to co-operate with the authorities in checking the prevalence of crime."

The officers of the Court, meeting in session here in Albany, "declared that one of the causes...is the substitution of sentiment for sanity in the prosecution of criminals."

Prosecutors criticized judges "who abuse the probation and suspended sentence system."  They also were critical of citizens who "wink at violation of some laws."

The meeting is part of a nationwide effort by Attorney General Harry M. Daugherty* to "jail the food and fuel profiteers."

*Harry M. Daugherty (1860-1941) was born in Washington Court House, Ohio & served as U.S. Attorney General under Presidents Harding & Coolidge.  HMD was part of "the Ohio Gang" implicated in the Teapot Dome Scandal.

JFK+50 NOTE

The decade of the Twenties would become known for the growth of organized crime centering on the illegal manufacture, transport and sale of liquor.  Reading this news article from early 1922, it seems "food and fuel profiteers" were leading the nation in crime.

Certainly, the public's winking at some law violations could well apply to Prohibition.  It has been said that more liquor was manufactured, transported & consumed during that era than any other.

More recently, the 1990s statistically show the highest number of crimes reported in the United States at 136,400,000.  According to World Atlas, the rate of violent crimes quadrupled following WWII & reached their peaks between 1960 & 1992.

SOURCE

"Public Called To Help Fight Crime Wave," The New York Tribune, January 12, 1922, Chronicling America, Library of Congress, www.loc.gov/ 

"World Atlas," www.worldatlas.com/

   

 

Wrecked Car & Moonshine Liquor

Nov 15 1922

Washington, D.C.

Library of Congress

"CONSPIRACY LAWS MAY BE INVOKED TO STOP STRIKE"

AG SAYS GOVERNMENT HAS RIGHT TO PROTECT ITSELF FROM PARALYSIS OF TRANSPORTATION FACILITIES

Washington, D.C. (JFK+50) On October 24, 1921, Attorney General Harry M. Daugherty "intimated that the conspiracy* laws might be invoked to prevent a (railroad) strike."

According to the New York Tribune, the Attorney General let this be known "after a conference with District Attorneys from New York, Chicago, Cleveland, Buffalo and Indianapolis."

Daugherty added...

"The government has the inherent right to protect itself from a paralysis of the transportation facilities."

*Conspiracy is defined in the U.S. as an agreement between two or more persons to commit a crime or to accomplish a legal end through illegal means.  Conspiracy against the United States is a federal offense (18 USC, 371).

SOURCE

"Daugherty Hints U.S. May Charge Conspiracy," The New York Tribune, October 25, 1921, Chronicling America, Library of Congress, www.loc.gov/ 

   

 

Harry M. Daugherty

Attorney General (1920)

"DAUGHERTY RETURNS FROM SECRET TRIP WEST"

AG SAYS THERE WILL BE NO RAIL STRIKE

Columbus, Ohio (JFK+50) On October 22, 1921, Attorney General Harry M. Daugherty* arrived here in Columbus after "a secret trip West in connection with the threatened railroad strike."

The Attorney General did not answer questions about his trip, but did say that there would NOT be a general railroad strike.

Daugherty added, however, that in the event of a strike, the government would operate mail, freight & passenger trains.

*Harry M. Daugherty (1860-1941) was born in Washington Court House, Ohio & became a political insider in the Republican Party.  HMD served as Attorney General under Harding & Coolidge.

SOURCE

"Daugherty, Back From a Secret Trip To West, Says There'll Be No Strike," The New York Tribune, October 23, 1921, www.chroniclingamerica.loc.gov/

 

 

Harry M. Daugherty, Attorney General

Bain News Service Photo

Library of Congress Image

 

"TELL 'EM I'M DELIVERING A LECTURE"

St. Augustine, Florida (JFK+50) On February 24, 1921, President-elect Warren G. Harding "lashed out verbally...at all those who criticized his appointment of...Harry M. Daugherty to be Attorney General."

Mr. Harding characterized the criticisms as "malicious efforts to undermine public confidence in the Harding administration."

 He said...

"This premature criticism is a serious menace to popular government.  I don't like it."

While the President-elect was talking, he was interrupted by his secretary who told him he had a phone call.  Mr. Harding said...

"I can't come now.  Tell 'em I'm delivering a lecture."

SOURCE

"Harding Vexed By Criticisms Of Daugherty," by Boyden R. Sparkes, New York Tribune, February 25, 1921, Chronicling America, Library of Congress, www.loc.gov/ 

 

 

Warren G. Harding (1920)

Library of Congress Photo

 

 

"ONE OF HARDING'S WORST APPOINTMENTS"

DAUGHERTY GETS NOD AS ATTORNEY GENERAL

St. Augustine, Florida (JFK+50) On February 21, 1921, President-elect Warren G. Harding announced his readiness to appoint Harry M. Daugherty* Attorney General "if he would accept."

The New York Tribune reported the following day that not only would Daugherty accept, he had.

The President-elect said...

"I find Mr. Daugherty a splendid man, and I think he will make a splendid Attorney General."

Mr. Daugherty issued this statement...

"No man would refuse to serve a friend and his country.  I am appreciative of both the honor and the responsibilities."

During his tenure as Attorney General, "Daugherty was suspected of profiting from the sale of government alcohol supplies, failure to enforce prohibition laws and the selling of pardons."

It is widely argued that Daugherty was "undoubtedly one of Harding's worst appointments."

 

*Harry Micajah Daugherty (1860-1941) was born in Ohio & received his LLB from the University of Michigan in 1881.  As a Ohio Republican boss, HMD was instrumental in the political rise of Warren G. Harding.

During his service as AG, HMD was accused of involvement in the Teapot Dome scandal & President Coolidge asked for his resignation in 1924.

Herbert Hoover wrote in his memoirs HMD "should never have been in any government..." 

 

SOURCES

"Daugherty and Hoover Join Cabinet," New York Tribune, February 22, 1921, Chronicling America, Library of Congress, www.loc.gov/ 

"Justice Department Scandal," www.u-s-history.com/

 

 

 

 Harry M. Daugherty

Attorney General 

Library of Congress Photo

 

 

"SAY, BOYS & GIRLS, LET'S PICK HARDING!"

REPUBLICANS NOMINATE HARDING ON 10TH BALLOT

Chicago, Illinois (JFK+50) On June 8, 1920, the Republican National Convention meeting at the Coliseum* here in the Windy City, nominated Senator Warren G. Harding of Ohio as their presidential nominee.  Governor Calvin Coolidge of Massachusetts was selected as his running-mate.

The Republicans turned to Harding as a compromise candidate among "the largest field of presidential hopeful's in the party's history."  After 9 ballots without a winner, the GOP looked at Harding as a candidate acceptable to both conservative and progressive wings of the party.

According to the Chicago Tribune, "an Ohio delegate found a sheet of white...board with the words 'Say, boys and girls, let's pick Harding!'  He displayed it for all to see and the shtick started a bandwagon."

Another account states that the Harding nomination was "engineered by Harry M. Daugherty**," his political manager...in a "smoke-filled room." 

On the 10th ballot, Harding picked up 644.7 votes (471 needed to win) and that figure jumped to 692.2 after votes were "shifted".  The delegates must have been relieved as the convention hall was described as "steaming."

The presidential election of 1920, James M. Cox/Franklin D. Roosevelt (D) v Harding/Coolidge (R) was the first in which returns were broadcast on commercial radio.  Previously, voters had access only by listening to record albums.

*Chicago Coliseum (1513 South Wabash Avenue, Chicago) was the site of 5 consecutive GOP conventions from 1904 through 1920.  CC was also the site of the Progressive Party conventions of 1912 & 1916.

**Harry Micajah Daugherty (1860-1941) was born at Washington Court House, Ohio & graduated from Michigan Law School in 1881.  HMD served as Attorney General under President Harding but his implication in the infamous Teapot Dome Scandal led to his resignation in 1924.

 SOURCE

"Presidential Election of 1920: American Leaders Speak," www.loc.gov/

"The GOP convention that took 10 rounds to pick a candidate," by Ron Grossman, April 30, 2016, Chicago Tribune, www.chicagotribune.com

Republican National Convention

June 8 - June 12, 1920