The Washington times., 1924-02-13
To
QUIT, IS
BELIEF
Garfield, Called to White
House, May Succeed Him as
Oil Case Prosecutor.

President Coolidge today was
challenged by Senator Robinson,
Democratic leader Of the Senate,
to Garry to the country" his ''de-
fense" Of Secretary Of the Navy
DENLY.
Replying to the Presidents New
York address, Robinson declared
Mr.. Coolidge soon would be forced
by public opinion not only to dis
miss Denby, but other public off.
cialS connected with the naval oil
leases.
In the face Of stern opposition
that has developed in the Senate
to the selection of Silas H. Strawn
OF Chicago, as one Of the special
counsel appointed by the President
to prosecute the naval oil leasing
cases, it was strongly indicated at
the White House today that Strawn
may retire, and that James r.
Garfield. secretary of the Interior
In the Roosevelt administration,
may be appointed in his stead.
President Coolidge had a confer
ence of two hours with Strawn this
morning and later called in DIR.
Garfield, who is a conservationist
and is understood to have none of
the "big business" connections
which led to. the opposition to
Strawn.
The Senate Public Lands Com.
mittee was spit wide open today
on the nomination of Strawn and
also Pomerene. Of Canton, Ohio, as
special counsel.
Walsh Leads Attack.
The attack upon Strawn in com.
mittee. led, by Senators Walsh
Dem) Of Montana and Dill Dem.)
Of Washington, took a new turn
because Of his testimony that he
is director OF two Chicago banks,
the First Trust and Savings and
the First National, which handle
finances Of the Standard OIL Com.
pany of Indiana.
Pomerene was assailed by rail.
road labor organizations, which
united against him in his unsuc-
cessful tight for reelection to the
Senate two years ago, and because
Of his lack Of experience in prose.
cutting criminal cases.
Four times in executive session
the committee has been unable to
act upon the nominations. Wit
nesses have been heard opposing
the names.
Strawn and Pomerene themselves
have appeared to testify and sub.
init to a gruelling cross.examina-
ton. But each time the committee
has not even come close to q de.
cision.
Strawn Again Called.
Again today the nominations were
up for consideration. It seemed
highly improbable, however, that a
decision could be reached. Strawn
himself has been called to reappear.
In addition to being repositories
for the Standard Company, the com
mitttee has been told that the two
Chicago banks were members of q
syndicate which floated millions OF
dollars worth of bond and stock is
sues for the Sinclair Consolidated
Oil Corporation.
The committee is working on in.
formation to verify this report, and
planned to ask Strawn whether he
had any part, as q director, in
floating any of the Sinclair stock.
walsh and Dill were insistent
that the special counsel should be
men with wide and full experience
In criminal nature.
Pomerene is said to have admit
ted to the committee he has prose
cuted few criminal cases: Strawn
virtually none, having devoted his
attention as lawyer to civil suits.
Dill was vigorously and energeti'
cally opposed to the appointments.
have no personal feeling
against either Strawn or Pomerene,
he said today. '"They both have
regulations a. excellent lawyorRc