Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1924-02-19
Resignation to Take Effect March 10
Accepted by President Who De-
c|ares Honesty and Integrity Of
Naval Secretary Have Not Been
|mpugned-- Assistant Roosevelt
Not ToResign--R Officials
Considering Demand Daugh-
erty Quit as Attorney Cen.
DENNY OUT MARCH 10

Washington. Feb. lS--The rcsiGna-
ton of Edwin DENLY Us secretary of
the Navy to be effective March 10
was received and accepted by presi
dent Coolidge today.
rendered voluntarily by the secre-
tary his remaining might increase
the embarrassments' IF the president
and as an outgrowth of the senate
inquiry into the leasing of naval oil
lands, the resignation marks the first
break in the cabinet which Mr.. Cool
idge took over intact upon the death
of President Harding.
Expressing regret in accepting the
resignation President Coolidge de-
clared in letter to the naval secre-
tary that you will so with the know
ledge your honesty and integrity have
not been impugned."
Mr.. DENLY on the otner hand in
formed the chief executive that 1T
will always he a gratifying thought to
ne that neither YOU nor any one else
at any time advised me to resign"
Although the action OF the naval
secretary at once started a flood of
rumors concerning the probability OF
other designations, Assistant SeCre
tary Roosevelt whose came has been
linked with that Of Mr.. DENLY in the
oil leasing cases declared that he had
not resigned.
Upon learning of his chiefs action.
Mr.. Roosevelt made an engagement
at the white house and conferred
with the president. After the con-
ference he authorized The announce
mcnt in the following statement:
My first reply to your question is
that | did not know about Secretary
Denby's reported resignation until
1890 o'clock this morning. That ans
wers the first question. which l pre-
sumo you would ask me. The second
question is whether | am to resign
also, and my answer &c that is that
| have Just been to see the president
and / am not resigninc."
AS for the question of a successor
to Mr.. DENLY it was stated authori-
tativcly that this had received little
considera ton by the president. so
far as known there is no plan in ad-
ministration circles to promote Mr..
Roosevelt to the post. The names OF
Charles r. Warren of Detroit, who
has at least tentatively accepted at
the presidents request appointment
as ambassador TO Mexico. and or
former Representative Patrick II.
Kelley. also of Michigan. former
chairman of the naval sub commit
tee of the public appropriations COM
mittee, are prominently mentioned
70 the post. There has been moth
ing to indicate, however. that these
are the only names before Mr.. Cool
idSe and his advisers.
In a statement made public late
today Secretary DENLY discussed his
resignation and pointed out that the
deferred date Of his retirement left
plenty of time for any impeachment
proceedings against him.
Therefore" he added. anyone
who says that l am rcsigning for
fear of impeachment simply lies"
Referring to the presidents recent
action in rejecting publicly the ad-
vice contained in a senate resolu-
ton requesting him to call immedi-
ately for Mr.. Denby's RESIGNATION,
the naval secretary said in the
statement:
"The president has stood up man.
fully for right and justice. The
sportsmanlike thing for me to do is
TO relieve him of the further en-
barassment OF continued political
maneuvers and partisan political
trickery."
He challenged investigation of his
acts in connection with the leasing
of naval old reserve lands before
any unprecedented tribunal and de-
c!ared his conviction that 1t could
not be proven that my action was
Continued on Page 4-coI. 81