New Britain herald., 1924-03-06
One Was Regarding Polit- ical Appointment, Other in Reply to Congratula- tions On Stand In Denby Case
Teapot Dome Committee Again Grills Duckstein-- Phone Operator Discloses What She Heard "Listen- ing In."

Washington. March e.-The oil committee today produced two tele- grams sent by President Coolidge to Edward B. Mclean in Florida, and the president immediately announced that one referred to local affairs in the District of Columbia, while the other was in response to 8 telegram of con- graduation on his Lincoln Day ad- dress.
 One of the messages was dated January 12 and said:
 Prescott Is away. Advise siemp with whom I shall confer"
 White House Statement
 Within few minutes after 1t had been read into the committee record. this statement was issued at the White House:
 The telegram related to tho district commissionership. Samuel J. Pres- colt is republican city chairman, and the president desired to confer with him regarding district matters"
 The second telegram, under date of February l2. was as follows:
 Thank you for your message. You have always been most considerate. Mrs. Coolidge joins mo in sending kindest regards to Mrs. Mclean"
 A Second Explanation
 When the attention of White House officials was called to this message. they gave out the following statement: The telegram sent to Mir. Mclean on February i2 was in regard io q message from MT. Mclean congratu. latlng the president in his Lincoln birthday address on New York. The telegrams were similar to others re- ceived and sent out in that connection. It amounted simply to an exchange of amenities"
 The committee had put into the public record previously telegram from H. l.. Mckenna. chief door, keeper at the executive offices, dated December 22, informing the publisher of Secretary slemp's departure for Florida. It consisted of single sen- tence and said:
 The secretary leaves here tonight, 9:40."
 Lenroot Also Mentioned
 There also was an exchange Of tele- grams between Albert B. Fall at Palm Beach, and Chairman Lenroot of the oil committee, in which tho former secretary asked whether he would be compelled to testify before Senator Walsh of Montana, and the chairman replied that he would not Senator Walsh had been sent to Florida to question Mclean and he made an un- successful effort to find Fall while he was at Palm Beach.
 In an official telegram sent to Me- Lean and previously published, Chair- man Lenrooht had said that Senator Walsh was appointed a sub-commit- tee Of one to take the testimony of Edward B. Mclean or any other witness who the same subcommittee may require to attend before him."
 Mir. Lenroot was not present at fhs hearing. having gone to Southern Pines, \. C., for a rest.
 Bennett Not Called
 After examining other telegrams and questioning more of the Mclean employees, and others, the committee concluded its hearings for the day without calling Ira Bennett, the Wash ington Post editorial writer. who was author of the message to Mclean mentioning the principal"
 One of those who testified was Fred Starek. n director of the war finance corporation and former cores pondent for McLean's Cincinnati En- quirer, and who had been mentioned in one of the telegrams as being very anxious to get in touch with the pub fisher on an important matter. He testified that the affair had nothing to do with oil, but that his business with Mclean related to negotiations for purchase of the Washington Post.
 Third Statement Issued
 c. Bascom Slemp secretary to President Coolidge later issued statement correcting the previous White House announcement with re- spect 10 the Mclean telegram of February 12.
 The statement said.
 ''The telegram sent to Mir Mclean under date of February 12 was in answer 10 a telegram received from Mclean congratulating the president 0I nis statement with respect 10 the senate resolution calling for the res ignation of Edwin Denby as secre- tary Of the navy.
 Owing to the date Of the telegram fl was first thought it related 10 the presidents Lincoln Day address at New York. An examination of the White House flies after announcement by the president Of his statement dis closed however. that the Mclean message related 10 the Denby matter. \ number Of congratulatory messages uert received in connection with both the statements on the Robinson