Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1924-06-07
RESULTS OF INVESTIGATION

Loss OF confidence In ones fei-
lowe. especially In those whom we
have placed in responsible positions
and in whose hands We have I'M
possd trust is n terrible calamity
far-reachiny. ennegt ating. dengener-
atlng and IN all ways Obstructive.
Under our form OF government such
conditions are especially menacing.
Our readers. who review in their
minds the scare heads" Of the re-
ports sent out about the Washing
ton Investigations. who recall the
dramatic and constituencies efforts
to smlrch. even the President OF this
country. may we'll have been appre-
henslve. The methods OF conduct
ing these we're in some respect
f1aRrnntly mischievous. Court rules
Of evidence were not adhered to,
the committee admitting what they
pleased and rejecting In like man
ner. The attempt to play politics
was 80 manifest as TO discredlt the
undertaking In the minds Of many
and served TO aggravate the appre
henslon. Under these conditions It
almost seemed hopeless TO expect any
benefit 10 accrue. yet we believe the
result on the whole Will prove OF
benefit. though not what 1t might
have been.
Gossip rumor. malicious. pervert
Cd and otherwise--aud some facts
have gone into the grist. Here Is
what the oil committee turns out as
tho meal: no crime Is declared; the
loan TO Fall Is described as most
reprehcnsible"; the transfer OF the
oil reserves from the Navy to the
Interior department Is declared
Illegal: DENLY and Roosevelt are
exonerated of all completely in the
leases: no facts. worthy of report.
OF speculation by public officials in
oil stocks have been found; the &C
cepting of non competitive bids Is
criticised: there also Is criticism OF
tho method OF building oil storage
tanks in payment for some of the
nayy's oil--hut none OF Congress
that has failed 10 provide the need
ed tanks, the danger Of drainage
OF the oil reserves Is admitted but
the extent or seriousness OF 1t is
left I'm doubt.
Is this what the sensationalists
promised to reveal? Does It meas
ure up to the dramatics of Walsh.
Wheeler ct ais Far from It, and
yet 1t would be incorrect TO term
the result illustrative OF the noun
tain that labored and brought forth
a mouse. on the contrary. gossip
has been thoroughly ventilated. wild
suspicious, that included everyone in
any part OF the neighborhood OF
circumstance. have been allayed,
paved 10 a readjustment which may
prove beneficial. and to make use
OF colloquialism. the country has
been enabled to get 1t out OF its
system"
That better way might have
been taken to do this few will
doubt. but doing so would not he
after tho fashion OF political In
designations conducted by politicians
on the eve of a great political
campaign. Tho intelligence of the
American people has enabled them
TO read between the lines. to ap-
prONimnte between fine oder of rot
terness and that OF poison gas.
Heart aches. calumny, the sorrows
resulting FROM SANDER have in
many instances been the accom-
panimont. also the spreading OF I'M
certainty respecting what to be-
Eeve. Exact justice has not been
done. probably cannot be done, but
a lesson has been taught to those
who would conduct public affairs
in the supposition that the spot
light may not be turned on them.
Best, most important of all. is the
assurance that in our public life an
investigation animated in large de-
gree by political animus. running
amuck, stabbing right and left. has
not revealed any general condition
OF corruption. has not fastened
guilt. in short has resulted in the
conclusion that the public servants
in this land are. with few excep-
tfons. trustworthy. That Is a great
achievement whether or not it was