Page "Warren G. Harding" Paragraph 97

Harding's appointment of Harry M. Daugherty as Attorney General received at the time more criticism than any other ; Harding's campaign manager's Ohio lobbying and back room maneuvers with politicians were not considered the best qualifications.

Historian M. R. Werner referred to the Justice Department under Harding and Daugherty as " the den of a ward politician and the White House a night club.

" On September 16, 1922, Minnesota Congressman Oscar E. Keller brought charges of impeachment against Daugherty.

On December 4, formal investigation hearings headed by congressman Andrew J. Volstead started on Daugherty.

The impeachment process, however, was stopped since Keller's charges that Daugherty protected interests in trust and war fraud cases could not be substantially proven.

One alleged scandal involving Daugherty concerned the Wright-Martin Aircraft Corp., which was supposedly found to have overcharged the Federal government by $ 2. 3 M on war contracts.

Capt.

Hazel Scaife attempted to bring the company to trial, but was blocked by the Department of Justice.

At this time, Daugherty was said to have owned stock in the company and was even adding to these holdings, though he was never charged in the matter.