Atlanta tri-weekly journal. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1920-19??, 1924-02-16
PUBLIC WILL FORCE
CABINET CLEAN Up
ROBINSON ASSERTS

WASHINGTON, Feb. ia pre-
diction that public opinion will force
President Coolidge to remove every
official connected with the oil re-
serve leases was made today by Sena-
tor Robinson, Of Arkansas, the
Democratic leader, in reply to the
presidents refusal to accept the SEN
ates advice and Immediately ask for
the resignation of Secretary DENLY.
Senator Robinson read this state
ment on the senate floor after Sena-
tor Lodge, of Massachusetts, the Re-
publican leader, mad obtained per-
mission to print the presidents reply
to the senate in the Record:
"The president was in accord with
the advice of the senate in the Walsh
substitute resolution that the depart
ment of justice be not relied upon
to protect the government inter
ests, but that special counsel be en-
ployed to direct both the civil and
criminal litigation growing out of
the oil lease disclosures.
His statement makes it clear that
he does not regard the facts and cir
cumstances established before the
senate committee sufficient, and that
he las no intention of dismissing
Secretary DENLY, or anyone else re-
sponsible for the transaction, until by
additional evidence or advice from
other sources, he reaches the conclu-
sion that the protection of the pub
lie interest requires such action on
his part.
His power to reject advice from
the senate or from any other source
is undoubted but his responsibility
is emphasized if he retains officers
whose public declara tons justify the
conclusion that they will throw ev-
cry possible obstacle in the way of
the governments success in recov-
ertng and safeguarding the property
which they have improvidentIy and
recklessly conveyed Retention in
office of Secretary DENLY means that
the president for all practical pur-
poses supports the secretary's poll
cies and approves or acquiesces in
his actions.
"The congress made Secretary
DENLY its agent to administer the
naval oil reserve, and when the sem
ate unanimously found the agent
had been incompetent and derelict
in the performance Of his duty, it
could not be construed as an unwar-
ranted interference with the execu-
tlVe's prerogatiVe to so advise the
president and to ask him to dismiss
the recalcitrant agent so as to fill
his place with another who would
respect and perform his duty.
Mr., DENLY has repeatedly de-
clared that if retained in office he
will continue the same policy, and
If opportunity arises will repeat the
acts complained of regardless of the
circumstances. The senate has
unanimously condemned his action
in a resolution, and by a majority
of AZ to 81 passed another asking
the president for his removal. Is
there the slightest doubt that the
opinion of the senate reflects the
will of large majority Of the peo-
pie?
THE president, of course, can
carry the issue to the country, but
will he dare do so? Notwithstanding
his defiant attitude, it is respectfully
suggested the president soon may be
forced by public opinion to turn out
of office every one, including Secre-
tary DENLY, who encouraged or par
t1c1pated in making the secret
leases
President CooIidge's New York
speech, in which he referred to the
oil disclosures, led Senator Mcclellan
Democrat, Tennessee, to make a re-
neWed demand in the senate for i'm
mediate court action. The senator
said Mr.. COolidge's promise of prose-
BUTTONS would be approved by every
one and then added:
Everybody knows that Dchony
and Sinclair bribed Fall and that
Fail accepted the brides, and yet no
Indictment has been found against
any of the three. Why the delay?
The district attorney should move at
once. Everyone knows there is am
pie ground for Indictment"