The Washington times., 1924-02-16
WALSH SAID To
HAVE. KEENEST
Of MINDS
Oil Probe Prosecutors Career
Is Marked by Fairness
Of Dealings.
By International News Service.

The force and skill with which
Senator Thomas James Walsh
(Dem.) of Montana, uncovered one
Of the greatest national scandals In
history in his investigation Of the
leasing Of naval Oil reserve lands
to private interests, has been char.
acteristic Of his entire life, both
If there is one word that typifies
Walsh that word is "work"-fear-
less, unceasing, relentless.
A brilliant cross-examiner, an
able and logical speaker, Walsh
never for q moment varies or
deviates in any work that he sets
That is not shown alone in the
oil investigation, but also in his
political career and in his educar
ton.
Walsh was born in Two Rivers,
Wis, June IL, 1859. After gradual
Ing from the public schools he
taught as principal Of several high
schools in Wisconsin. But the fact
that he was forced to teach and
not deter him from continuing his
education. He taught himself, read
law and finally, after passing an
examination covering the usual col.
lege course, was able to go to the
University Of Wisconsin to take O
law degree.
Armed with a diploma, little
money, but with high hope, young
Walsh went to Redfield, S. D., and
became associated with his brother
in law firm.
The Ncall Of the West became too
strong, however, and in 1890 he
opened an office in Helena, Mont.
His success as a lawyer was al,
most instantaneous In that mining
community, and in 1907 he formed
a law association with Col. c. B.
Nolan, former attorney general Of
Montana
Defeated for Congress-.
Undismayed by his failure to DO
elected to Congress in 1906, Walsh,
four years later, because q candi.
date for the United States Senate.
Through his efforts Montana re-
turned a Democratic Legislature,
but a deadlock ensued, ending In
the selection Of Henry L. Meyers.
Unsuccessful in his first two
trys, Walsh came back for a third
time in 1912, carried the Demo
cratic nomination unanimously and
received the highest number OF
votes cast for any candidate at the
elected in 1918, his term expiring
next year. He plans to be a candi.
date for reelection.
Senator, Pepper R.) Of Pennsyl.
vania, In the course Of some re-
marks praising Walsh's work In
connection with the Oil investiga-
ton, paid him one Of the highest
compliments ever paid by a Sena-
tor Of one political party to a Sena-
tor of the opposite political faith.
HE is one Of the fairest men and
has one Of the keenest minds Of
any man I have ever KNOWN" said
Pepper.
That holds true of the entire
membership Of the Senate, where
his opinions and judgment are re-
spected universally.
Walsh has been fierce at times
in his investigation Of the oil leases,
and yet he is one Of the most
unostentatious and mild-mannered
men in the Senate. About him
there is no demagoguery, no furry,
no desire to arouse public common
dalton for the mere purpose of
power or glory.
Speaks When Certain.
He never speaks until he is sure
| Of his facts. He never makes q
| charge until he Is certain that the
public trust has been betrayed.
But once convinced, nothing can
swerve him from his opinion.
His very heart and soul have been
| thrown into the oil investigation,
not to gain political advantage, but
because he feels. and feels deeply,
that one Of the gravest crimes of
all time was committed In the leas-
ing Of the reserves. He has deteo-
mined that the reserves must be
returned to the public domain; that
those guilty Of fraud and corrup.
ton in connection with the leases
must be punished, and he Will not
stop until this is accomplished.
Walsh does not seek higher DO.
litical office. Because Of his work
In the oil scandal suggestions have
come from all over the country
that he enter the race for the
Democratic nomination for the
Presidency. To these he has turned
a deaf ear.
my duty to my country de.
mands that I give my whole time
and attention now to the Oil inves.
| tigation," he tells friends.
And he is doing that very thing,
without fear. without favor. with
no other desire than to right what
he considers a grievous. wrong.