The Birmingham age-herald., 1924-02-12

in concrete block, on a dump.
 Cotton and Franklin and subsequently by myself, in Los Angeles, in connec- tion with the Mexican properties of Mir. DOheny's companies. It is clearly shown ill my letter and in the testi- mony before the committee, that neither they nor 1 have had any relation whatever to the leases made of the Teapot Dome and California naval re- serve. There is, therefore, nothing more to be said on that score. But l have sought the privilege of appearing before you in person for the purpose of contributing in any way in my power as private citizen to the ob- jects of this inquiry.
 Ut should be assumed that honor- ably conducted law practice of a citizen holding no public office is not ordinarily subject of Congressional inquiry. think it may be fairly presumed that if my name was not prominently mem tioned in connection with office my private practice as a lawyer would be of no interest to this committee or to the public Whether or not it has been drawn into this inquiry to serve a partisan political purpose, the country will judge.
 Crime Against Public
 Ut would be q crime against the public if the dragging, of the innocent into this affair should divert attention from the guilty or prevent the discov- cry of those who have betrayed the public interest. The whole country is shocked and appalled, by what has been revealed in this investigation. The fact that a former cabinet officer of this administration is already gravely iny 'volved, has raised a strong suspicion in the public mind that others may be guilty. The faith of the people in their own government is shaken and the dam aging effects upon public morals are so grave that the security of democratic in stitutions is seriously imperilled. The first duty, the imperative duty of the hour, is mercilessly to uncover. and to bring to public View and scorn and punishment every one who has be- trayed the public trust or who has been guilty of wrongdoing in this humiliat- to our common country that it would
 "This question transcends political parties and partisan consideration. Clean and incorruptible government is vital not alone to republicans and dem ocrats, but to every citizen. For my part, l am eager to see partisanship stilled in the face of so grave a danger to our common country, but it would be an inspiration to see men and women in private life and partisans of all par ties in public life united as they were in the great war in a common effort to destroy corruption and to bring the gov- ernment back to honesty.
 Gives His Reasons
 "I should like to supplement my let ter of February with some of the req sons that prevailed upon me to repre- sent MT. Doheny's companies profess sionally in his Mexican difficulties.
 Article p of the Mexican constitp- tion of May l, 1917, was an attempt Co assert ownership by the Mexican gov ernment in the mineral deposits of the subsurface of lands in Mexico. If this article should be given retroactive eff feet it would result in the confiscation of properties of American citizens law fully acquired prior to the adoption of the constitution. This presented a grave situation for American property rights in Mexico, so grave, in fact, that the Wilson administration on April 2, 1915, that Ambassador Fletcher at Mexico City, filed solemn protest against it. This attitude was consist ently maintained by the Wilson admin istration throughout it's life. When the Harding administration came in, Sec retary Hughes adopted the same policy. This policy was insisted upon by the American commissioners to Mexico, Messrs. Warren and Payne. As un- derstand, it was practically made con- dition of recognition of Mexico by the United States.
 Lesson From War
 During the year 1918 was director general of the railroads of the United States. The fuel problem was one of the most serious with which we had to deal. was then made to realize keenly the tremendous importance of fuel oil from Mexico. A great number of American industries along the At lantic seaboard were dependent upon Mexican fuel oil. The preservation of this fuel oil supply was then and is now essential to our internal economy. Not alone is this true, but the question of an adequate oil supply and of an ade- quate oil reserve is one of the most inn portant for any nation under condi- tions of modern warfare. In fact the crucial test in the next war, if one should come, is going to be not alone war machinery and appliances, but con trol of an adequate supply of petroleum to meet the needs of national defense and offense. It is no exaggeration to say that the strongest nation in pe- troleum resources will be the most likely victor in such contest. For all of these reasons, therefore, the Ameri- can government and the American peo- pie were interested in preserving the Mexican oil supply which was lawfully owned or controlled by American citizens.
 Tn 1915 called the first Pan