The Omaha morning bee. [volume] (Omaha [Neb.]) 1922-1927, 1924-03-23
Them
a |
Mongers'' =
Theodore and Archie Are
Character Assassins, De-
clares Oil Magnate in
Scathing Statement.
Says He Was Framed"

| Washington, March 81. - fhs
Roosevelt brothers, Theodore ana
| Archie, who dramatically appeared
before the senate public lands com
mittee weeks ago and told of then
suspicious of wrongdoing in connec
tion with Harry F. sinclair's Least
OF Teapot Dome. came in for sar
castle denunciation tonight at tht
hands OF Sinclair.
In lengthy statement in whic-z ~
told many of the things he refused tc
testify to before the committee to
day. Sinclair denounced them both as
scandal mongers." broadcasters OF
misleading insinuations. and charac-
ter assasins.
In July. 1919" said Sinclair.
Theodore Roosevelt brought his
brother. Archie. 10 me and requested
give Archie employment. Although
the Young man was equipped with no
previous business experience. I took
him into our organization. l gave
him opportunities no other man IN
our orgs nization has had.
ti
81 tried him in one after another
Of the branches OF our business with
out success. He wanted TO live in
New York. so I placed him in the
| foreign department and there again
his work was a disappointment. He
went TO Russia in May. 1923. and at
the conclusion OF that trip I was
convinced he never would and never
could make good
Sinclair said Roosevelt's salary was
$1,000 year at first. and he raised
him steadily until when he left he
was getting $4,000 a year
These salary increases were given
TO him partly as encoura cement and
evidence OF our continuing hope. and
| partly TO enable him to meet the in
creased cost Of supporting himself
and his family.
During the last few months OF his
employment. In spite OF his record OF
failure. 1 did not wish TO discharge
him because It was reported TO me he
was looking for other employment
and I was reluctant 10 damage his
prospects.
Told Of Suspicious.
This Is the man who, as soon IS
left FOR Europe January Is. at
tempted to sssassinate my character
by offering testimony before the conn.,
mittee Of suspicious and accusations
which he himself admits to be with
out supporting evidence.
! 7 brand as absolutely false snd
malicious the suggestion in his testi-
mony that / had no business ocoa-
sion 10 go TO Europe.
Sinclair dewelt at considerable
length on the testimony of s. C. n.
! Nahlberg, his former private secre-
tary, whom Archie named as one OF
his informants. and whom Archie
said told him that Sinclair had sent
$6s 900 to the foreman Of Falls New
Mexieon ranch. Wahlberg sub
Wah'berg Framed"
7 think the evidence clearly
shows" said Sinclair, that Wahlberx,
TO use common expression. was
! framed by the RoosevelfS.''
| Concerning the sss 200. Sinclair
said. Here was Disputed faction re-
sardins material fact. fact which
Il 1t could be established would he
everywhere interpreted as an Illicit
payment that ! made for some I'M
proper purpose
The Roosev-lts knew Il would he
50 interpreted. Nevertheless. they
not only refrsined from taking any
action to establish the truth or falsity
of their conclusions. but even counsel
ed Wahlberg not to speak "a nv
counsel. Mr.. Stanford. How easy il
would have been for them 10 have
aseertained the truth.
Compared With Nanderiip.
Sinclair compared the Roosevel,s 10
Frank A. Nanderlip.
The committee had before H." he
said. "a man who had broadcast A
scandal concerning the late President
Harding. and his statements received
the public contempt they deserved
when he admitted he had no rounda-
tion except runer and suspicion. The
two RooseVeits had been before the
committee and broadcast their eontri-
buttons of suspicion and rumor. They
we're also compelled to admit under
oath they had no definite facts to
present. The parallel between the two
cases Is clear and suggestive"
The oh magnate concluded his
statement With an explanation Of
1 his transactions with Albert r. Fail.
lie explained the $685. payment 10
Fan as an advance on salary for his
services, Fall being then employed
! by Sinclair 10 40 10 Russia on an
oil concession project.