The Bottineau courant. (Bottineau, Bottineau County, N.D.) 1895-1929, 1919-03-13
MINERAL LANDS
SWINDLE FAILS

HAND OF STANDARD OIL MAN
MYSTERIES, LYING CABLES
FROM EUROPE.
After Senator La Toilette had
served notice last Wednesday, that he
would talk to death both the mineral
lands swindler and the waterpower
leasing scheme, Secretary Of the Navy
Daniels broke his long silence upon the
mineral lands bill. Here is the letter
which Senator Swanson, chairman Of
the naval affairs committee, read to
the senate:
Washington, February 27, 1919.
my Dear Mr.. Chairman: I under
stand that statement has been made
by some member Of congress that the
attorney general and the secretary Of
the navy favor the land legislation re-
ported by the conference committee
on public lands Of the two houses.
You know my position all the time
has been that, while not opposing the
leasing bill, which / favor, have op-
posed incorporating any provision
with reference to the naval oil re-
serves in such legislation. I do not
favor the bill that has been agreed
upon; lido not think it is just to the
government; and while it is better, so
far as the naval reserves are concern
ed, than the original bill, my attitude
is that the naval reserves ought not
: to be touched by legislation but (their
ownership ought to be settled by the
courts.
II did agree with the attorney gen
eral and the secretary Of the interior
upon a provision some time ago that
would protect the naval reserves and
would confer upon the president power
to operate going wells. I did this
because I did not wish to assume to
be standing in the way of the passage
of legislation Of Importance which ]
favored, and write you because ]
hope you will correct the impression
that I have changed my attitude. ]
believe that the naval interests re-
quire that whatever in the naval re-
serves belongs to the navy should go
to the navy, though the final matter
should be settled by the courts, un-
less the provision referred to, which
the attorney general and myself
agreed to some time ago, is incor-
porated. think it would be a great
mistake to go further than that.
will be glad if you will make my po
sition known.
Sincerely yours,
"Josephus Daniels"
Would Suppress Letter
Senator King Of Utah, one Of th.
most determined Of the promoters o.
the grab, jumped up to ask whether
this letter was to be put in the rec
ord of the debate. The vice presiden,
answered that it could not be KEPT
out, since it had been read aloud
King announced that he wished "tt
express my dissent from such a pro
ceeding."
This was probably the first time
that any one in the senate had eve1
tried to suppress an official letter
I from member Of the cabinet. Tha
senate conference committee on thi'
mineral lands bill had made the state
ment deliberately, through Senator
I Pittman, that the secretary Of th'
navy and the attorney general wer'
satisfied" with the conference bill.
Just about the hour when Daniels
letter was being read, Representative
Frear Of Wisconsin was reading TO tn
house two kilograms which provet
that Attorney General Gregory, hk'
Daniels had been misrepresented.
These messages were one from Gil
ford Pinchott to Gregory, and Greg
ory's reply. They follow:
ssThomas w. Gregory, Attorney
General, Department Of Justice, Wash
ington, D. c.:
II see you are quoted as favorable
to the conference report on the SO
called coal and oil leasing bill. Ther
Il must be some mistake. Your patriotic
md effective efforts to prevent injur,
/ to the navy through legislation which
I Ike this would impair the naval petro
# 14UIu ISSSIVC0 pAVvSy = A~~SA Sss~ - 9.---
yon would not want your name con
nected with this bill, which undoes g
much or your work, endangers tn
interests Of the navy, and leaves TIN
people Of the United States holding
the bag. You have done too much e
leave the rest undone. The belief i
congress that you favor the passags
81 this bill is = powerful factor i
its favor. II ought 70 be cbrrected
/ FOR it might well Be decisive. urss
you TO let you true position be known
Clifford Pinchott.
The answer read:
seIn reply to your wire OF the 10Th
1 NJ one can truthfully say that have
favored the conference report On the
socalled coal and oil leasing bill
Members Of both houses q congress
are aware Of the fact that have de
eImed to advocate its passage
ssThomas w. Gregory.