The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1924-02-15

v
- one of the chief roles in the un.
folding OF the Teapot Dome oil scan
DIAL
His name is John G. Holland, Jr.
In Government records he appears
merely as Clerk" assigned to the
office Of Senator Walsh Of Montana.
The part he has taken in exposing
tho rotten state of affairs in the In
terror Department is second only to
that Of his chief.
Long before the public paid even
passing attention to what has now
become the sensation of a century,
young Holland was studying doc
uments, scanning official correspond
ence and digging through literally
tons Of Government records.
He knows the oil lease cases bet.
ter. perhaps. than any member OF
the Public Lands Committee. except.
ing only Senator Walsh. At every
hearing Of the committee It is to
young Holland Senator Walsh turns
when he wants to make sure Of some
fine point. When Walsh addresses the
Senate on matters related to the oil
leases, Holland is always present
working handtn-glove with his able
chief.
Holland Discovers Letters
1t was Holland who discovered
among the interior Department files
the letters which have proved so EN-.
barrassing TO many Of the witnesses
summoned before the committee
These letters tended to discredlt one
or the biologists hired by the com.
mittee, exposed a conspiracy among
Government officials and private citi.
zens to split proceeds fraudulentlv
acquired and otherwise tended to place
IN the hands OF the committee much
valuable evidence.
Like Senator Walsh. Holland halls
from Montana. He came to Washing
ton 'on his own" nearly four years
ago In order to study law. He OBJ
tanned employment in the Indian Blu.
reau as a stenographer and typist and
attended night school at GEORGETOWN
University. In January. 1921. he
learned Of an opening in Senator
WaIsh's Office and obtained employ.
nent there as a Senate clerk.
Is research Worker
It was not long before the Senator
discovered he had got hold Of nat.
uralborn research worker. When i'm.
portant legal points were 10 be looked
up the Senator confidently entrus ed
the work to his youthful assistant.
Because OF the extensive research
Senator Walsh's activities in the Sen.
ate during the past three years have
involved, Holland has gained q repu.
tation as one Of the best research men
ever employed in the Senate.
lie Is now waiting an opportunity
TO take his bar examinations. He
graduated from Georgetown Law
School last June, but has ever since
been so busily engaged on the oil
lease cases he had to pass up
the bar examination last autumn. He
now hopes TO be able TO enter the ex.
aminauons TO be held IN June.
Labored in Mines
Some years ago Holland had set
his heart on being a mining engineer
and attended the Montana State
School Of Mines for several years and
also spent some time as a laborer in
the mines near his home In Butte.
Being below draft age he did not
get into the Army. but was a mem
Der of the student training corps at
the Montana Mines School.
The biggest thing Holland is set.
ting out Of his present highly i'm
portant public. service Is the expert
ence. The Government does not ap-
preciate his services as much as It
well might, for it pays him only ST.
40 a year.