Brownsville herald. [volume] (Brownsville, Tex.) 1910-current, 1924-02-11

the discovery ~ those who have be-
trayed the public interest"
His statement, which was in the ma
ture Of an elaboration Of his recent let
ter to Chairman Lenroot Of the COM
mittce dealing with hi services as
counsel % the Doheny companies fol-
lows:
am Informed by your chairman that
already there has been inserted i'm the
record the letter I addressed 90 him on
February vi, 1924, setting forth IN de-
tail the facts concerning the profess
sional services rendered BY the former
law firm in New York. Messrs McAdoo.
Cotton and Franklin. and subsequently,
BY myself in Los Angeles IN connec-
tion with the Mexican properties Of
Mr.. Doheny's companies. It ~ clearly
shown in my letter and in the testi-
mony before the committee that neitht
er they nor have had any reTEtion
whatever to the leases made Of the
Teapot Dome and California naval re-
serve. There is. therefore. nothing
more TO Ne said on that score. But /
have sought the privilege Of appearing
before you in person for the purpose
~ contributing in anyway in my power
az a private citizen to the objects OF
this inquiry.
Faith in Government Shaken
III has been assumed that hnnnrably
conducted law practice of " citizen hold
iHg no public office H. not ordinarily N
subject of congressional inquiry
think il may be fairly be presumed that
II pIy name was not prominently men
toned IN connection with high office my
private practice as a lawyer would be of
no interest 20 this committee or to the
pnhic Whether nr not II has been
drawn into this inquiry 10 serve N parti-
san politi' M purpose the country win
Judge
II would be crime against the public
II The dragging M innocent people into
this affair should divert attention from
the guilty or prevent the discovery or
those who have betrayed the public in
crest. The whole country IN shocked
and appalled, IN what haS been revealed
~ this investigation. The fact that
former cabinet officer of this admins
tration il already gravely involved has
raised strong suspicion IN the public
mind that others may Nv guilty. The
tdtH ~ inv .IfNpiF NV tAtlt own EbNFIN"
ment is shaken and the damaging effects
upon morale are - grave that the &C.
cmrity M democratic institutions IN seri-
ouSly lnpcrilcd. The first duty. the inn
perative duty Of the hour Is merciIessly
e. uncover and 20 bring 10 public view
and scorn and punishment every one who
has betrayed the public trust or who
has been guilty ~ wrong doing In this
humiliating and dangerous affair.
Transcends Political Parties.
This question transcends political
parties and partisan considerations.
Clean and incorruptible government Il
vital not alone 60 republicans and demo-
Gratis. but 10 every citizen. For INV part
am eager to see partisanship stilled in
the face of 20 grave danger "a our
common country. il would be an in
spifation 10 see men and women i'm pri-
vate life and partiSanS of nIl parties I'm
public life united a. they were In tho
great war in common effort to destroy
corruption and TO bring the government
back ~ honesty.
III should like to supplement my letter
of February =. with some " the seasons
that prevailed upon me to represent Mr.
noheny's companies professionally i'm his
Mexican difficulties.
Speaks OF Mexican Problem
Article ~ of the Mexican constitu-
tion Of May |. 1917. was an attempt 10
assert ownership nv the Mexican gov
crnmcnt IN the mineral deposits nf tho
SUBJ surface of lands in Mexico. III this
article should be given retroactive effect
il would result in the coafiscation ot
properties NJ American citizens lawfully
acquired prior to the adoption of that
constitution. This presented grave
situation for American property rights
in Mexico--so grave In fact. that the
Wilson administration On April -. 1913.
through Ambassador Fletcher at Mexico
City. filed a solemn protest against H.
This attitude was consistently main
tanned nv the Wilson administration
frnnffnmad nm Fnrn H