The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1924-02-07
REJECT STRAWN AND POMERENE

TlHE Senate has authorized and directed President Cool
l idge "to appoint by and with the advice and consent of the
Senate special counsel to represent the Government in the naval
oil lease cases.
To date the President has restricted his search for FEadvice
and consent to the small coterie of Republican Senators repre-
sented by Lenroot, Curtis, Lodge and Pepper. Consultation with
these reactionares has led the President into suggesting the
names of silas strawn, Republican of Chicago, and Atlee Pom
creme, Democrat, once a Senator from Ohio.
The Senate should not consent to the Presidents selection.
Neither of the Presidents proposals is we'll advised. The
careless haste with which his action has been taken could hardly
be better evidenced than by his hasty withdrawal of the name {
former Attorney General Gregory less than three days after he
had put it forward.
1t is not yet too late to prevent the confirmation of Strawn
and Pomerene. In the natural course of events the nomination
should go to the Senate Committee on Public Lands. G. 0. P
regulars, led by Senator Curtis, plan to turn the nominations
over to the Judiciary Committee. That plan should be thwarted.
Ample ground exists for their consideration by the committee that
has gathered the evidence in the Teapot Dome case.
Once there, the committee should reject the nominations. IF
course, Chairman Lenroot, who aided the President in making
these il-advised selections, may be counted on to vote for their
confirmation. So also may Reed Smoot, reactionary Repubiio n,
who has attempted throughout the hearings to obstruct and hin
der Senator Walsh. Other Senators who may be counted on to
stick by the President are Cameron, Stanfed and Bursum.
That makes five.
There are thirteen members of the committee.
Eight-Senators Walsh, Pittmar, Jones IN. NJ, Kendrick,
Adams and Dill, Democrats, and Laid and Norbeck, Republican
progressives-s should stand out against the Presidents nomina-
lions.
Then, if an effort is made on the floor of the Senate to over
ride the action of the committee, Democrats and progressive Re-
puoIcdnS HdN 1t III tHeT power, as tHy nave So amply ho"h
on two noteworthy occasions, to sustain the committees action
With a clean slate, President Coolidge may make another
start-next time keeping in mind that the men-or perhaps the
man-needed for this job must be real prosecutors-men who are
familiar with public lands administration; men who have an en-
thusiashc interest in public problems; men who re qualified by
experience and temperament for the big task.
The best that can be said of the Presidents present cardi-
dates is that one is one of Chicago's "big business" lawyers, and
that the other served twelve years in the Senate without once
giving a sign of possessing the kind of ability which the success
full prosecution of the naval oil reserve crimes requires.
Assuming every honesty of purpose on the part of both
Strawn and Pomerene, this newspaper, in behalf of the public,
protests against their confirmation by the Senate.
Pomerenes actual, active practice of the law has been. to
say the least, not so extensive or recent as to mark him as a
great trial lawyer and investigator, two qualities which certainly
are needed in this matter.