San Antonio light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1911-1993, 1924-03-23

He said he believed Fell was good
| lawyer.
"As he was then private citizen
and ready to resume the practice OF
his profession" said Sinclair, Il saw
no reason why I should not employ
him rs legal counsel in connection
with the negotiations we were about
to undertake with the Russian gov
| eminent"
Witness, Inquiry at Odds.
The day started off with Sinclair
| and the committee at swords points
and ended when Chairman Ladd re-
ported the matter to the Senate and
officially declared that the committee
had decided to certify Sinclair for
contempt.
Senator Walsh. chief prosecutor,
however, said that no step would be
taken until the return of the govern
ment counsel, Pomerene and Roberts,
who are in the West prosecuting suits
against the leases. The committee,
Walsh said. would either certify Sin
clair to the Senate for contempt or
punish him themselves.
Speaking of Young Archie Roose-
welt. who first aroused the suspicious
Of the investigating committee against
Sinclair, the oil magnate said:
Notwithstanding all the Opportuni-
ties and encouragement that j had
given him he never would and never
could make good"
Sinclair revealed that young Roose-
velt's salary from the time he was
first employed graduated steadily from
10
Again he said: "This is the man
who attempted to assassinate my
character by offering as testimony
before the committee suspicious and
assumptions which he himself admit
ted to be without supporting wit
masses.
Didn't Want TO Fire Him.
"During the last few months of
his employment, in sympathy for his
record of failures, / did not wish TO
discharge him because it was reported
to me that he was looking for other
employment and / was reluctant to
damage his prospects before he could
arrange another business connection.
"In July, 1919, Theodore Roosevelt,
the present assistant secretary of the
navy, brought his brother, Archie
Roosevelt TO me and requested that
] give Archie employment. Although
the young man was equipped with
no business experience of any value
to us. I acted on the request and
took him into our organization. l
gave him opportunities that no other
man in our organization has had and
was enthusiastic in the hope that he
would live up to the expectations that
l held regarding him. / tried him in
one branch after another of our bust
ness and each time without success. :"
Continuing, he said: Il have read
the testimony of Mr.. Wahlberg mad
! think the evidence clearly shows
that Wahlberg TO use common ex-
preston was framed by the Roose-
velts. But he defeated their purpose
when he denied making the state
ments attributed to him by the Roose-
velts in reference to the $6S,000 pay
ment."
Hays Is Nervous.
' Republican members Of the COM
mittee tried their best TO save Sinclair
and Hays from being asked questions.
They were voted down on each roll
call. Usually Chairman Ladd. the
LaFollette progressive, cast the re-
Gliding vote in forcing the witness to
answer.
Hays. on the stand, was nervous.
His typical gesture was to scratch the
back Of his neck underneath his col
lar. He said he had known Sinclair
for ten or twelve years. When asked
concerning testimony of G. d. VAIL
burg, private secretary to Sinclair,
who mentioned turning over $4,000
in bonds to Mr.. Hays. the witness
said, II don't know whether he meant
me or not. have brother. 1t may
refer to a personal transaction be-
tween Hinkle Hays, my brother, and
Mr.. Sinclair. Anyway it was purely
personal. You can have a represent
tive 60 over my books"
In a series of questions Walsh
tried to clear up this statement and
ascertain il Hays had obtained a 500
600 loan from Sinclair, but Hays re-
piled, II don't think that's relevant
and all l want to say is that my
books are open to inspection"
The efforts to get ut the facts closed
when Walsh said that il Hays desired
to persist in refusing to answer, he
would let the matter drop.