Indiana daily times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1914-1922, 1921-10-10
SIX SCANDALS
IN SIX MONTHS
4 COMPRISE RATIO
Public Disgraces of Admins
tration Subject of Com
ment.
HARVEY SPEECH LEADS
BY RICHARD LINTHICUM.

In six months OF the harding ADMINS
tration have developed to full proper
tions, with enough more In embryo to
maintain this ratio for the year. Speci-
fcaIIy and briefly they are:
1. The Harvey Scandal-Permitting
George Harvey, ambassador to Great
Britain to retain his post without repri-
mand or rebuke, following his public
speech at the Pilgrims Society dinner,
London, May 10, insulting the living and
the dead of America in the World War.
This speech was condemned by prac
tically all classes of citizens, by nearly
every church conference since held and by
those who had the best right to condemn
it because their feelings and sensibilities
were most strongly outraged-members OF
the American Legion Posts, and organiza
tions of War Mothers
President Harding and Secretary of
State Hughes, it should be said in all
fairness, have since uttered ser timents to
the contrary, but the fact remains that
Ambassador Harvey has not been off,
cialIy reprimanded and the general de-
mand for his recall has been ignored.
NEWBERRY FACTS
MATTER OF RECORD.
2. The Newberry ScandalLThe white
washing of Senator Truman Il. Newberry
of Michigan by a unanimous vote of the
Republican members Of the Senate Com
Inittee on Privileges and Elections.
The facts in the Newberry scandal are
matter Of court and legislative record.
1T is admitted that a slush fund of nearly
5000, 900 was raised and spent in New
berry's behalf in the Senatorial Primary
election of 1918; that the financial rec
ords of the campaign were destroyed or
mysteriously disappeared. Evidence to
show Senator Newberry had knowledge OF
the financial campaign in his behalf was
sufficient to bring about his conviction
in a Federal Court, but the conviction was
nullihed by a to decision of the Su-
preme Court of the United States on the
ground that the Federal Corrupt Practices
Act did not apply to primary elections.
but the decision did not touch the merits
of the case.
Despite all Of the evidence in the trial
and at a subsequent Senate Committee
inquiry, the entire Republican member
ship of the Senate Committee on Privi
1eges and Elections voted unanimously TO
"exonerate" Senator Newberry and recon-
mended that he retain his seat; Dilling-
ham, Spencer, WadswOrth, Watson Qnd),
Edge, Ernst. Shortridge and Bursum, all
members OF the Old Guard. Senator Ken
yon, a Progressive, was removed from
this committee when the present Senate
was organized. The Democratic members
Of the committee voted to declare the seat
vacant
The NewberrS case will be finally de-
termined by the Senate as a whole.
LEGAL ADVISERS HOLD
ENORMOUS CLAIMS.
s. The Lasker Shipping Board Scandal
The projected sale of POS wooden ships,
costing $500, 900 to $500, 600 each, for s., 100
each, with but a : gle bidder. (Thls bid
following wide adverse publicity, has just
been rejected.) Also the employment of
members of the legal staff Of the board
at salaries as high as $4,000, some Of
them recommended by Arms holding
claims against the shipping board.
The employment of these attorneys at
such salaries. while the staff OF the at
torney general is available and while the
admin stration is making a pretense Of
economy, has been severely criticised both
by Democratic and Republican Senators.
but the most scandalous phase Of this
matter is in the revelations that promi
nent law firms Of New York which had
been asked by Chairman Lasker and Chief
Counsel Schlesinger to recommend ap-
pointees in the legal department Of the
shipping board held claims against the
board as high as fifteen, sixteen and sew
enteen million dollars.
t. The Thoresen Scandal-The removal
from Office by presidential order Of Sur
veyor General l. c. Thoresen Of Utah
whose term had not expired and against
whom no charges were made. for the
avowed sole reason Of giving the Office to
a Republican.
President Harding's first letter TO Sur
veyor General Thoresen. suggesting his
resignation, said: 81 need not tell you Of
the current demand for the recognition Of
aspirants in our own party for considerd
ton in the matter OF patronage"
Mr.. Thoresens reply that he was the
first and only person requested to resign
without being accused of neglect Of duty
was followed by the letter of removal
and the appointment Of one E. D. Soren-
sen, thus serving notice that the Admin
istration has instituted the spoil system
and will enforce 1t with the strong arm"
when necessary.
FEDERAL PATRONAGE
TRAFFICKING CHARGE.
5 The Overall Scandal-The alleged re-
ceipt OF money from applicants for Office
by John W. Overall, Republican national
committeeman for Tennessee, acting as P
! Job dispensing referee" who is quoted
' IN an interview in the press as saying
his collections were turned over to the
Republican national committee to apply
on its campaign deficit.
This scandal was aired on the hoor
of the Senate on Aug. II by Senator Nc
Kellar, who said
81 want to call the Senate's attention
to one of the most remarkable disgrace
full traffickings in Federal patronage that
has come under my notice since l have
been in public life"
He read into the Record letter from
8 close friend of the national committee
man to an applicant for a postmaster
ship, suggesting that he kick in S10'
to help pay Overalrs expenses to Wash
ington; then a letter from one Shivers,
the applicant, enclosing a check for $10
asking for information in the matter of
the appointment Of a rural letter carrier
Then letter from National Committee
man Overall acknowledging receipt of
the letter with enclosure" and stating
that when the appointment OF the rural
carrier is referred to him he will appoint
any one of the eligibles that Shivers NAV
desire. 1t was also shown that Overall
endorsed this check John W. Overall
\. c." presumably national committee
mani and deposited it in bank
President Hardings change in the civil
service rules to make the highest three
on the list eligible, instead of the highest
one, as under President Wilson. makes
possible such trafficking in appointment
MKELLAR'S EFFORTS
MEET NO RESPONSE.
Senator Mcclellan introduced the fol-
lowing resolution: Resolved, that the
Postoffice Committee of the Senate be-
and is hereby authorized and instructed