San Antonio light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1911-1993, 1924-03-19
NO "FIRST-HAND" DATA,
Darden Takes Stand and
Tells Of Leasing Re
serve Acreage. =.
DURING WILSON REGIME
Says He Heard Of Teapot
Lease z Months Be-
fore Signing. -

Washington, ID. C., March 1e.-
The atmosphere at the Chicago Repu5-
llcan convention in 1920 was sur.
charged with stories of "oil deals the
oil committee was told today by Til
fin Gilmore. deputy secretary of state
of Ohio. who was at Chicago as a
Wood supporter.
One story was, Gilmore said. thst
oil operators had proposed TO throw
delegate support to Major General
Wood if they were permitted to name
the secretary OF the interior. He de-
elared he knew nothing about it
first hand but that il was CON-
mon talk that IDEAL had been corr
summated between oil operators and
the possible nominee"
who were the operators?" he was
asked.
Il do not know except that they
were big operators in the Western dis
trict.,
"Who made the proposition?
al do not know. | could not say.
The proposition was made TO General
Wood"
In conversation he had after the
convention with Carmi Thompson,
Ohio Republican leader. who was ttfc
nominee of his party for governor u,
1922. Gilmore said there was some
discussion OF n land claim Thompson
was interested in.
Air Was "Surcharged."
"What land did you refer TO whom
you asked Carmi Thompson il he had
the land?r asked Senator Bursum. Re
publican, New Mexico. The whole
air was so surcbarged ! cannot tell.
Ny impression was that it was sonr~
land adjacent to Bakersfield. CALI
had never heard of Teapot fomc--at
that time"
did you gather the impression that
Mr.. Hamon flame Hamon. RepuAis-
can national committeeman for Okiu-
homa) had anything TO do with it,
II don't know what oil compani2s
We're in it.. / do think. however. that
young man named Motor told me
Hemon was mixed IN in it.
"You really know nothing OK those
matters except gossip on the street;
Il do not"
NO man who knew ever told your
mo SIR"
Asked BY Senator Walsh. Democra.
Montana. if he knew what reply Gess-
eral Wood had made. Gilmore said:
Il was told he walked up and doNn
at his hotel and said it was 'shadss
deal: that he would have nothing-to
90 with it: and that they would hais
TO defeat him." 49,
With that the witness was ex.
cused and the committee called Jam,s
G.. Darden, a man OF many adveai-
lures. whose name has been inter-
woven with disclosures in both tae
,,l Pm
cess servers had reported failure 60
locate. him for a month. but he de.
MED he had tried to avoid service %
the committees subpoena. He satf
he was away from home a good desi,
but had seen by the newspapers. mar
he was sought and Immediately hss
notified w. j. Burns of the Depart-
ment of Justice. -
Darden Knew Harding.
Darden said he had known Prrsr
dent Harding a long time and had be-
ccme intimate with him during the
pre-convention campaign in 1S2U-
did you aid in bringing aDout-tlS
nomination Il did everythfng--I
could"
Did YOU raise any money:f
did now and then, very little. -.
Where did you raise the moneyf'
Among nv friends: some of my Dem
ocratic friends. including some la
North Carolina"
aDo YOU know Joseph Hall. Of New
York; Il do; met him during ire
Harding cSmpaign. He came rs--se
us and wanted help. Mr.. Daughersy
was there" -.
Darden said be also became mti-
mate with Attorney General passh-
ertv during the Harding campaign:
Senator Walsh took the inquirx.lo
Teapot Dome. and DsrIlen iaunelist
into long recital of how be -res
claims in the Salt Greek field as MI
as in the naval reserve. he SAL
there were 100 acres in Teapot ~
volved. and twice as much outsidcs't
was during the WilOsn administrau oil-
Darden said. that he took the mauar
up 18th the Interior Department.
Asserting that Mr.. TAYLOR had o.
cided to contest. with him bis risht-te
the land on Teapot Dome. Darsir.a
continued: ~Mr. TAYLOR came down
and employed Mr.. Wilson. the Frs
CONTINUED on nezt page.)