Evening star., 1924-03-06
Referred to Commissioner.

of the messages was dated
~ IL and said: prescott is
away. Advise Slemp with whom
shall confer"
Within a few minutes after 1t had
this tatement was issued at the
White House:
1.-THE telegram related to the Dis
trict commissionership. Samuel J..
Prescott is republican city chairman
and the President desired to confer
with him regarding District matters"
The second telegram, under date
OF February IL, was as follows:
Thank you for your message. You
have always been most considerate.
Mrs. Coolidge joins me in sending
kindest regards to Mrs. Mclean"
When the attention of White House
they gave out the following:
The telegram sent to Mr.. Mclean
on February IL was in regard to a
message from Mr.. Mclean con-
graduating the President on his
Lincoln birthday address in New
York. The kilograms exchanged
were similar to others received and
sent out in that connection. 1t amount
ed simply to an exchange of amenities" t"
Statement Corrected.
c.. Bascom Slemp, secretary to
President Coolidge, later issued a
statement correcting the White House
announcement with respect to the
Mclean telegram Of February II. The
statement said:
THE telegram sent to Mclean un-
der date of February IL was in an
swer to a telegram received from
on his statement with respect to the
Senate resolution calling for the
resignation of Edwin DENLY as Sec
-etary of the Navy.
It was first thought it related to the
Presidents Lincoln day address at
New York. AN examination of the
White House files after issuance by
the President Of his statement dis
closes, however. that the Mclean
message related to the DENLY mat
ter. A number of. congratulatory
messages were received in connec-
tion with both the statements on the
Robinson resolution and the New
York speech"
Notified of SIemp Trip.
The committee had put into the
public record previously a telegram
from H. E. McKenna, chief door
keeper at the executive offices, dated
December %, informing the publisher
Florida. 1t consisted of a single
sentence anu said:
The secretary leaves here tonight,
s:40."
There also was an exchange Of
kilograms between Albert B. Fall at
Palm Beach and Chairman Lenroot
of the oil committee, in which the
former Secretary asked whether he
would be compelled to testify before
g Of nd a
chairman replied that he would not.
Senator Walsh had been sent to
Florida to question Mclean, and he
made an unsuccessful effort to find
Fall while he was at Palm Beach.
In an official telegram sent to Nc
Lean and previously published, Chair
man Lenroot had said that Senator
Walsh was appointed a subcommit-
Edward B. Mclean OF any
other witnesses who the same sub
committee may require to attend be-
fore him."
hearing. having gone to Southern
Pines, N. c., for rest.
Bennett Hearing Deferred.
After examining other kilograms
and questioning more Of the Mclean
employees. and others, the committee
concluded it's hearings for the day
without calling Ira Bennett, the
Washington Post editorial writer.
who was author of the message to
Mclean mentioning 1.-The principal"
One of those who testified was Fred
Starek, a director of the War Finance
Corporation and a former correspond
ent for McLean's Cincinnati En-
quirer, who had been mentioned in
one of the kilograms as being very
anxious to get in touch with the
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.
Means Sent Telegram.
CASTOR B. Means, a widely known
Investigator once employed by the
Department of Justice, wired to NC
Leans secretary early In January
that he was on the way to Palm
Beach.
please see Senator Jim and fnd
out II there is disposition to make
mutual friend make long Journey"
said a message sent from Palm Beach.
January "a, by w. F. Wiley to Ira
Wiley is manager of the Cincinnati
ENQUIRER and Bennett Is an editorial
writer on the Washington Post, both
Mclean publications.
The kilograms read also included
another Mary" message, in which
Mrs, Mary Duckstein, secret agent
of the Department of Justice, in
- n.v&l &lrp at,