The producers news. [volume] (Plentywood, Mont.) 1918-1937, 1924-10-17
WALSH
AND HIS RECORD
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or one individual to obtain more than
go acres of this land On page 4173
# the Congressional Record GO Con-
sress and first session, Walsh said,
The lease is limited in each case to
$3.50 acres which is four sections
think | am responsible for the pro-
Vision in that respect and / am quite
willing to assume the responsibility
'or it."
Concerning an amendment offered |
by Senator Walsh, Senator Smoot re-
Piled on Page AGA Congressional Re |
cord, Il will say to the Senator that
We thought of that amendment time |
and time again and it will not reach
the situation. / will explain to the
Senator in private why it will not do
So" Just why Senator Smoot could
not explain to Senator Walsh in pub
lie, the record does not disclose.
When an attempt was made to
pass this bill on August %, 1919,
when only a few senators were
present, Senator Kenyon object
ed, saying, eff we are only to
have ten or twelve senators here
on this important bill. practically
disposing Of what is left Of the
public domain, and, as have
feared, turning it into the hands
of great interests, l do not think
the bill will be voted on this af-
ternon." Page 4248. This threat
to filibuster prevented vote be-
ing taken.
Senator Walsh replied, "Mr. Presi-
dent, if this we're the first that the
senate Of the United States had ever
heard of this legislation, there would
be some force to the suggestion that
further consideration of it ought to
be deferred until next week" This
measure, ain practically the form in
which it is now before the senate, has
been pending before this body for
five years"
During all this time Senator Walsh
had supported this measure with all
his ability.
On August 27, 1919, Senator La
Toilette spoke against this bill for
three hours, and on August %, Off
four hours. He also spoke against il
on August Both for over an hour. and
again opposed it on September End
For many days La Toilette led the
fight against this measure in one OF
the most splendid battles of his life
On September 3, 1919, on Page 4742
of the Congressional Record, Senator
Walsh says, "This genesis of this bill
goes back to bill that was introduce
ed in 1913 or 1914, it being in all es
/ sential particulars like this, although
/ of course, different somewhat in de
/ tails. That bill was introduced by my
self etc.
1t was charged upon the floor O
the senate that this was a STANDARD
/ Oil measure and would rob the public
! Of these great National resources, ant
turn them over to Standard Oil an,
other monopolies, thus destroying thu
/ Naval reserves Of the nation.
On September 3, 1919, on page 474I
/ Of the Record, La Toilette said. "Mr
/ President, / wish now to invite the at
tention Of the senate to the provision
Of the bill, particularly sections i
and 10 which have TO do with the ma
val reserves think that this phas
Of the question is of such magnitud
and is so vital to the position that tn
/ government will occupy as a sea pow
er of the world that we ought to Civ
special attention to these sections.
am going to ask the senators to fol
low me as l take up the subject. Tn
bill as drawn, will, / believe, destro
the Naval reserves set aside for tn
Navy" etc.
Then followed a long argument b
La Toilette, supported by a grea
mass of expert testimony.
/ On page 4747, La Toilette contin
ues, 81 do not want to take time un
necessarily here, but l do want t
impress upon the senate and at leas
upon the record here, the vital i'm
portance of an adequate oil supply t
the standing of the government as
sea pawer and to the position tina
cur Navy must take among the Ma
vles Of the world. We are dealing /
certain sections Of this bill with re
servations which have been made, uI
on the opinion of those who hav
thoroughly investigated this subiec
of the only areas that remain so ia
as is known to supply our Navy.
We surely ought to protect to til
very last technical limit the leg;
rights of this Government to the DO,
session and continued control of the.
Naval reserves.
This question involves the sour,
of our power among the great n;
tons of the world and as trustees
this great interest Of our government
we should not be velvet handed wit
the great oil companies that went {
these reserves in defiance Of Exec
tive order, upon the mere assuran,
of lawyers that they could fight
through and win"
La Toilette continues his argume
for the Naval reserves on pages AZ.
and ALSO Of the Record.
On September 3rd, 1919, on pa,
4754 Senator La Toilette continues:
"Mr. President, yesterday I spol
= upon certain phases Of the probe
: raised by the pending legislation al
I about the time that / yielded the flo
Z the senator from Montana. IN
: Walsh presented a letter signed
one, Joseph A. Phelan, ell examine