The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1924-02-12
M,ADOO And THE OIL NESS

HE relations of William G. McAdoo and Edward L. Doheny
4 as lawyer and client. as developed by the Senate Committee
on Public Lands, which is investigating the naval oil reserve
leases, have two aspects.
One has to do with McAdoo as a private citizen and lawyer,
the other has to do with McAdoo as the leading candidate for the
Democratic nomination for President.
Doheny retained McAdoo's law firm and later McAdoo per-
sonally, to represent him in certain negotiations with the Next
can government and as legal counsellor.
The employment seems to have been a proper one. McAdoo
says it was and the Senate committee has brought out nothing to
indicate the contrary.
No connection between McAdoo and the naval oil reserve
leases has been charged. McAdoo says there was no such con-
nection and his record as a public official and as a man is such
there is no reason to doubt his statement.
No faint of the naval oil lease scandal attaches to McAdoo,
nor, considering the size of Doheny's stake in Mexico, was the
amount of the fee unusual.
McAdoo says his argument in Mexico was exactly the prin-
ciple laid down by the Wilson Administration, insisted upon by
Hughes under the Harding Administration and adopted by Mr..
Coolidge as the basis of Mexican recognition last August. The
point was Mexico had adopted a new constitution in 1917, one
article of which said aliens could not own land in Mexico.
Just as we say by law in California, Chinese cannot own land.
But we also said we meant it from the time of the enactment of
the law. Mexico was saying it was to be retroactive and to de-
clare titles lawfully acquired by Americans before 1917 to be
void and of no value.
McAdoo was urging in behalf of Doheny the same thing three
administrations, those of Wilson, Harding and Coolidge, have
urged in behalf of all American property holders in Mexico. Nc
Adoo says he never saw or knew Doheny until after he had left
the Wilson Cabinet. Thus the matter seems to sum up relatively
small so far as McAdoo the lawyer is concerned.
AS to the aspect of this matter as it relates to McAdoo ss a
candidate for the presidential nomination, that is an entirely diff
ferent thing.
Even McAdoo's most loyal friends and earnest supporters
cannot but know his connection with Doheny, even in a perfectly
legitimate way, has furnished ammunition for his opponents both
in the Democratic and Republican parties. Fair or unfair, that
is how the political game is played.
McAdoo is in the position of having to explain, and however
satisfactory the, explanation has been, that is an unfortunate po-
stion for a candidate for the presidency.
Then also there is the undoubted fact the people have be-.
come increasingly resentful of having public men take employ
ment with great corporations doing business with the Govern
ment, Immediately or soon after leaving office, however legitimate
that employment may be.
AS the situation stands at the moment, McAdoo is not in as
strong a position politically as he was before his name was linked
publicly with that of Doheny.
From the standpoint of those who believe in McAdoo, both
as a man and as a public official, this is unfortunate.
What the final reaction of the public toward the McAdoo
candidacy Will be, after it has had time to think over the
situation, remains to be seen. Our guess is it will be favorable.