Evening star., 1924-02-08
Given Hearing, at Own Re-
quest, to Explain Services
With Doheny Firm.
EXPERT PROTESTS WALSH
INTERFERENCE IN WORK
Denver Publisher Testiies of Ef-
f TO Enforce Stack Claim
to Teapot.

Alter QlSdSreement aInouS It's
members over the trend taken by the
oil inquiry the Senate oil committee
decided today to defer until Monday
its examination of William G. Nc
Adoo.
Previously it had been decided to
permit the. former Treasury secre-
tary to appear tomorrow in response
to his request that he be given an
opportunity to explain his connec-
tions with Z. L. Doheny.
This decision was reversed after a
long committee session, at which
Frederick G. Bonfils, publisher of the
Denver Post. related how his paper
had begun an expose of the Teapot
Dome situation months ago and then
had stopped. and how representa-
tives of a group of which he was a
member had made an agreement
under which Harry F. Sinclair was
TO make considerable financial con-
cessions provided the claims of others
TO rights within the Teapot reserve
were dropped. The same witness will
continue his testimony tomorrow.
Coolidge Gets Resolution.
At the same time the Walsh resolu-
tion directing President Coolidge to
proceed in the courts for cancellation
of the Doheny and Sinclair leases
reached the White House, and Mr..
Coolidge prepared statement taking
exception to certain language in the
preamble, which declares the con-
tracts were made in violation of the
law.
On the Senate floor debate was re-
sumed on the resolution requesting
the resignation of Secretary DENLY.
with Senator Walsh, democrat. Mon
tana, leading in the attack on the
Navy Secretary.
At the outset of his speech the
Montana Senator also assailed Chair
man Lenroot of the oil committee be-
cause Mr.. McAdoo's name had been
brought into the inquiry.
Asserting that he himself had
made no effort to conduct the inves-
tigation on partisan lines. Senator
Walsh continued:
1T was reserved to the chairman
of the committee, at the instigation
of the Senator from Missouri (Sen-
ator Reed) to travel outside the realm
of examination into the leases of the
naval oil reserves. to which it is, by
the resolution of the Senate restrict
ed.
To inquire into the employment by
Mr.. Doheny of counsel in matters
unrelated thereto, for the perfectly
obvious purpose of running the pros
poets of the leading candidate for the
democratic nomination for President.
Committee Hears Bonflls.
committee had listened for nearly
i
1t was because of a decision to let
him continue tomorrow that Mr.. Nc
Adoo's appearance was delayed.
The Denver publisher began by say
ing that John Leo Stack, a Denver
with the Midwest, Pioneer and other
oil companies in the Wyoming field
and that after the lease of Teapot
Dome to Sinclair Stack had come to
him and asked assistance in enfOrc-
ing his rights.
Bonfils' attorney declared the con-
tracts to be valid, and Mr.. Bonfils
said he entered into a contract with
Stack to assist him. He added that
there had been a number of rumors
about secrecy and other matters in
connection with the lease to Mr.. Sin
clair and that he sent reporter to
Interior Secretary Falls home at Three
Rivers, n. NJ, to make an investiga-
tion.
Calls Report Shocking.
A shocking and astounding" state
ment, the witness said, was brought
back. The reporter was sent back to
check up, and upon his return de-
cision was made to publish one story
attacking the Sinclair lease 'by
analysis and theory" Copies Of this
were sent to prominent members of
Congress and later Senator La Fol-
lette introduced his resolution for
the oil inquiry.
After a conference with W. c. Shep-
pard his managing editor, and 9TH
ers, he said, it was decided not to
publish the other articles, because Of
the danger of libel suits.
: "They were Iibelous If not true"
he said. 'If true, we had to prove
them true, and that would have been
difficult, because of the reluctance Of
the witnesses to be identified or
known as having given this informa-
tion."
Conferred With Sinclair.
]. w. Zevely. personal counsel to
Sinclair. visited Denver, Mr.. Bonfils
continued, and invited Bonfils and
Stack to go to New York. There they
conferred with Sinclair. They saw
him later in Kansas City and agreed,
the witness said, that Sinclair was to
pay $25O,000 in cash and hand over
32O acres in Teapot Dome, which
could be repurchased later for $780,
900.
Out of the proceeds, the witness
declared, Stack. was to get $4,000 in
cash first. and the remainder was to
be divided among Stack, Bonfils, Bon
fiIs' partner. and H. II. Schwartz
attorney for Bonflls.
The story was cut short before Its
completion by adjournment of the
committee, whose members hurried
to the Senate chamber to take part In
the debate on the DENLY resolution.
in his opening statement Senator
Walsh said he expected to show
beyond question the unfitness of
Edwin DENLY to continue as Secre-
tary Of the Navy"
Had Chance to Explain.
"Out of his own mouth Is he con-
diemned," said Senator. Walsh. HE
had every opportunity before the
committee to defend, explain, excuse
or extenuate his acts or his failure to
act.
"A great crime has been committed.
CONTINUED on Page I, Column 3.